Electronic bracelet

• US 9,288,836 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Clement, Joelle, Clement, Patrick, Moret, Antoine
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US13/421,041
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0007 Bracelets specially adapted for other functions or with means for attaching other articles
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0084 Bracelets in the form of a ring, band or tube of rigid material C-spring-type bracelets A44C5/12
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/105 with links made of one piece and linked together by one connecting element
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A bracelet including a plurality of circuits. The plurality of circuits includes a wireless communication circuit configured to communicate with a first device, a near-field communication circuit configured to communicate with a second device via a near-field communication antenna, and a power supply circuit including a battery. The first device is remote from the bracelet. The power supply circuit is configured to supply power to one or more of the plurality of circuits.

Claims

1. A bracelet configured to assist a second device in performing a near-field communication (NFC) transaction with a near-field communication (NFC) device, the bracelet comprising:

a near-field communication (NFC) circuit configured to, in response to the bracelet being placed proximate to the near-field communication (NFC) device, exchange data related to the near-field communication (NFC) transaction with the near-field communication (NFC) device;

a wireless communication circuit configured to wirelessly communicate the data related to the near-field communication (NFC) transaction to the second device;

a power supply circuit configured to supply power to one or more of the near-field communication (NFC) circuit and the wireless communication circuit,

wherein the near-field communication (NFC) circuit is configured to transmit, to the near-field communication (NFC) device, authentication information to authenticate the near-field communication (NFC) transaction, wherein the authentication information includes unique information included in a subscriber identity circuit of the second device, and

wherein the bracelet is configured to (i) operate as a companion device of the second device, and (ii) use the unique information included in the subscriber identity circuit of the second device to communicate with the near-field communication (NFC) device;

a plurality of display devices arranged along an outer surface of the bracelet; and

a display circuit configured to display data on the plurality of display devices, wherein each of the plurality of display devices comprises a capacitive sensor configured to generate an output in response to touch;

wherein the display circuit is configured to display, on the plurality of display devices, i) a first set of characters at a first time, and ii) a second set of characters at a second time;

wherein the first set of characters includes at least one of letters, numerals, symbols, shapes, and colors;

wherein the second set of characters includes a rearrangement of the first set of characters; and

wherein the second time corresponds to one or more of the capacitive sensors on the plurality of display devices having sensed touch within a predetermined time.

2. The bracelet of claim 1, wherein the second device is a smartphone, a tablet, or a personal computer.

3. The bracelet of claim 1, wherein:

the near-field communication (NFC) circuit includes a first antenna;

the wireless communication circuit includes a second antenna;

the power supply circuit includes a battery; and

the first antenna, the second antenna, and the battery are distributed throughout the bracelet.

4. The bracelet of claim 1, wherein:

the second device has more processing power and storage capability than the bracelet; and

the bracelet is configured to off-load, to the second device, operations requiring the processing power and storage capability of the second device.

5. The bracelet of claim 1, wherein:

the near-field communication (NFC) circuit includes a first antenna, and the near-field communication (NFC) circuit is configured to receive power from a power source via the first antenna, and

the power supply circuit includes a battery, and the power supply circuit is configured to charge the battery using the power received by the near-field communication (NFC) circuit via the first antenna.

6. The bracelet of claim 1, wherein:

in response to a first user of the bracelet shaking hands with a second user of a second bracelet, the near-field communication (NFC) circuit is configured to

transmit identification information of the first user to the second bracelet, and

receive identification information of the second user from the second bracelet.

7. The bracelet of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor to sense movement of a portion of an arm of a user wearing the bracelet, wherein the sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an electronic compass, and a microphone; and

a signal generator circuit configured to generate a signal in response to the movement to control a function of (i) the second device or (ii) at least one of the wireless communication circuit, the near-field communication (NFC) circuit, and the power supply circuit.

8. The bracelet of claim 7, wherein at least one of the wireless communication circuit, the near-field communication (NFC) circuit, and the power supply circuit includes the sensor and the signal generator circuit.

9. The bracelet of claim 1, further comprising:

a capacitive sensor configured to generate an output in response to touch; and

a signal generator circuit configured to generate a signal in response to the output of the capacitive sensor to control a function of (i) the second device or (ii) at least one of the wireless communication circuit, the near-field communication (NFC) circuit, and the power supply circuit.

10. The bracelet of claim 1, wherein the bracelet is configured to be locked or unlocked based on a user touching a predetermined sequence of one or more of the first set of characters displayed on the bracelet.

11. The bracelet of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor configured to sense environmental data related to environment surrounding the bracelet,

wherein the sensor includes one or more of a light sensor and a microphone, and

wherein the display circuit is configured to turn off or turn on at least a portion of the plurality of display devices according to the environmental data sensed by the light sensor or the microphone.

12. The bracelet of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor configured to sense biometric data of a user of the bracelet,

wherein the sensor includes one or more of a temperature sensor, a blood-pressure sensor, and a pulse sensor, and

wherein the display circuit is configured to turn off or turn on at least a portion of the plurality of display devices according to the biometric data sensed by the temperature sensor, the blood-pressure sensor, or the pulse sensor.

13. The bracelet of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor to sense movement of a portion of an arm of a user wearing the bracelet, wherein the sensor includes one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an electronic compass, and a microphone,

wherein the display circuit is configured to turn off or turn on the display devices according to the movement sensed by the accelerometer, the gyroscope, the electronic compass, or the microphone.

14. The bracelet of claim 1, further comprising a second power supply circuit configured to supply power to one or more of the near-field communication (NFC) circuit and the wireless communication circuit.

15. The bracelet of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless communication circuit is configured to download an application from the second device; and

at least one of the near-field communication (NFC) circuit, the wireless communication circuit, and the power supply circuit is configured to operate based on the application downloaded from the second device.

16. The bracelet of claim 15, further comprising a customizing circuit configured to customize the application based on a configuration of the at least one of the near-field communication (NFC) circuit, the wireless communication circuit, and the power supply circuit.

17. The bracelet of claim 1, wherein the near-field communication (NFC) transaction comprises a near-field communication (NFC) payment transaction.