Clasp assembly and data interconnection for wearable computing devices

• US 9,256,253 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2013
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Peek, Gregory A., Francis, Mark R., Idsinga, Andy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US14/142,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20150185765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 773 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.03
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/42 Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7076 for connection between PCB and component, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention describe a clasp assembly for detachably coupling a first housing to a second housing. The clasp assembly to further includes a data connector to provide an input/output (I/O) interface to a computing component of the first housing, and a data connector housing corresponding to the data connector, wherein the data connector is exposed when the clasp assembly is in an open position, and wherein the data connector is disposed in the data connector housing when the clasp assembly is in a closed position.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a clasp assembly for detachably coupling a first housing to a second housing, the clasp assembly to further include;

a data connector to provide an input/output (I/O) interface to a computing component of the first housing; and

a data connector housing corresponding to the data connector, wherein the data connector is exposed when the clasp assembly is in an open position, and wherein the data connector is disposed in the data connector housing when the clasp assembly is in a closed position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the data connector of the clasp assembly comprises a data connector plug.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the data connector of the clasp assembly comprises a data connector port.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein data connector housing of the clasp assembly comprises:

a second data connector, mated to the data connector, to communicatively couple a computing component of the second member to the computing component of the first member.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the second data connector further enables power to be transferred from the first member.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the computing component of the second housing is disabled when the clasp assembly is in the open position.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the computing component of the second housing comprises at least one of a display or a user input/output (I/O) interface.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein first and second data connectors of the clasp assembly comprise first and second optical connectors, respectively, and the data connector housing of the clasp assembly further optically aligns the first and second optical connectors.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the data connector of the clasp assembly comprises at least one of a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, a FireWire connector, a Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connector, Mini DisplayPort Connector, a Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) connector, or a Thunderbolt connector.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the data connector housing of the clasp assembly comprises a cover to enclose the data connector.

11. A mobile system comprising:

a computing component;

a first housing including the computing component;

a second housing; and

a clasp assembly for detachably coupling the first housing to the second housing, the clasp assembly to further include;

a data connector to provide an input/output (I/O) interface to the computing component included in the first housing; and

a data connector housing corresponding to the data connector, wherein the data connector is exposed when the clasp assembly is in an open position, and wherein the data connector is disposed in the data connector housing when the clasp assembly is in a closed position.

12. The mobile system of claim 11, wherein the data connector of the clasp assembly comprises a data connector plug.

13. The mobile system of claim 11, wherein the data connector of the clasp assembly comprises a data connector port.

14. The mobile system of claim 11, wherein data connector housing of the clasp assembly comprises:

a second data connector, mated to the data connector, to communicatively couple a second computing component included the second member to the computing component included in the first member.

15. The mobile system of claim 14, wherein the second data connector further enables power to be transferred from the first member, and the second computing component included in the second housing is disabled when the clasp assembly is in the open position.

16. The mobile system of claim 14, wherein first and second data connectors of the clasp assembly comprise first and second optical connectors, respectively, and the data connector housing of the clasp assembly further optically aligns the first and second optical connectors.

17. The mobile system of claim 11, wherein the data connector housing of the clasp assembly comprises a cover to enclose the data connector.

18. The mobile system of claim 11, wherein the mobile system comprises a wearable computing device, and the clasp assembly is included in a wearable band for wearing on a wrist of a user.

19. The mobile system of claim 11, wherein the mobile system comprises an optical head mounted display, and the clasp assembly is included in an eyeglass frame assembly.

20. The mobile system of claim 11, wherein the mobile system comprises a wearable computing device, and the clasp assembly is included in a pendant supportable by a necklace worn by a user.