Watchband with integrated electronics

• US 9,292,008 B1
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MainTool
• Original Assignee: MainTool
• Inventors: Ahamed, Hussain, Kesler, Boris, Karaj, Arjaldo, Snchez, ngel, de la Serna, Gabriela
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W
• Application Number:
  US14/615,961
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 368/13, 368/282
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0015 providing information, e.g. bracelets with calendars identification bracelets G09F3/005
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/14 characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/0008 for pocket watches and wrist watches
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/04 Mounting of electronic components
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads

Abstract

A watchband with integrated electronics designed to be attachable to any standard mechanical or digital timepiece. The watchband has a flexible circuit board sandwiched between layers of watchband material, allowing for the flexibility of a normal watchband with the electronics capability of a mobile computer and fitness tracker. The watchband has an embedded heart rate sensor, body temperature sensor, ambient temperature sensor, vibration generator, inertial sensors, and wireless communication device. The watchband is powered by a rechargeable battery, which is recharged using a charging port that can be connected to a battery charger.

Claims

1. A watchband with integrated electronics, comprising:

a body-contacting layer of watchband material;

an outer layer of watchband material;

a first timepiece connection layer of watchband material;

a second timepiece connection layer of watchband material;

a flexible circuit board having a microcontroller and a wireless communication device configured to communicate with a mobile device;

wherein the body-contacting layer of watchband material is attached to the outer layer of watchband material such that the flexible circuit, connected to a rechargeable battery, is sealed in between the body-contacting layer and the outer layer, and where the first timepiece connection layer and the second timepiece connection layer are attached atop the outer layer at a timepiece length.

2. The watchband as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the flexible circuit board further comprises a heart rate sensor having a light-emitting diode and a photodiode; and

the body-contacting layer of watchband material further comprises a light-emitting diode hole and a photodiode hole;

the flexible circuit board being positioned between the body-contacting layer and outer layer of watchband material such that the light-emitting diode overlaps the light-emitting diode hole and the photodiode overlaps the photodiode hole.

3. The watchband as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the flexible circuit board further comprises a body temperature sensor; and

the body-contacting layer of watchband material further comprises a body temperature sensor hole;

the flexible circuit board being positioned between the body-contacting layer and outer layer of watchband material such that the body temperature sensor overlaps the body temperature sensor hole.

4. The watchband as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the flexible circuit board further comprises an ambient temperature sensor;

the outer layer of watchband material further comprises an ambient temperature sensor hole; and

the second timepiece connection layer of watchband material further comprises an ambient temperature sensor hole;

the flexible circuit board being positioned between the body-contacting layer and outer layer of watchband material such that the ambient temperature sensor overlaps the ambient temperature sensor hole of the outer layer of watchband material and the ambient temperature sensor hole of the second timepiece connection layer of watchband material.

5. The watchband as recited in claim 1, further comprising an ambient temperature sensor, wherein:

the ambient temperature sensor remotely connects to the flexible circuit board;

the outer layer of watchband material further comprises an ambient temperature sensor hole; and

the second timepiece connection layer of watchband material further comprises an ambient temperature sensor hole;

the ambient temperature sensor being positioned between the body-contacting layer and outer layer of watchband material such that the ambient temperature sensor overlaps the ambient temperature sensor hole of the outer layer of watchband material and the ambient temperature sensor hole of the second timepiece connection layer of watchband material.

6. The watchband as recited in claim 1, further comprising an alert device;

the alert device configured to contact an emergency service when activated.

7. The watchband as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the flexible circuit board further comprises an air quality sensor;

the outer layer of watchband material further comprises an air quality sensor hole; and

the second timepiece connection layer of watchband material further comprises an air quality sensor hole;

the flexible circuit board being positioned between the body-contacting layer and outer layer of watchband material such that air quality sensor overlaps the air quality sensor hole of the outer layer of watchband material and the air quality sensor hole of the second timepiece connection layer of watchband material.

8. The watchband as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the flexible circuit board further comprises an inertial sensor configured to detect acceleration in any direction.

9. The watchband as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the flexible circuit board further comprises a vibration generator configured to produce vibration at the direction of the microcontroller.

10. The watchband as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more rechargeable battery and a battery charger, wherein:

the flexible circuit board further comprises a charging port having metal contacts; and

the body-contacting layer of watchband material further comprises a charging port hole;

the flexible circuit board being positioned between the body-contacting layer and outer layer of watchband material such that the charging port overlaps the charging port hole, and the charging port is configured to connect to the battery charger such that the one or more rechargeable battery is recharged.

11. The watchband as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more rechargeable battery and a battery charger, wherein:

the battery charger is configured to charge the one or more rechargeable battery wirelessly.

12. The watchband as recited in claim 1, wherein:

The one or more rechargeable battery further comprises a buck/boost DC-DC converter configured to regulate the voltage output of the one or more rechargeable battery.

13. The watchband as recited in claim 1, wherein:

The one or more rechargeable battery further comprises a power management circuit configure to regulate the voltage output of the one or rechargeable battery.

14. The watchband as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first timepiece connection layer of watchband material further comprises a connection channel and a timepiece joint; and

the second timepiece connection layer of watchband material further comprises a connection channel and a timepiece joint;

the timepiece joint of the first timepiece connection layer fitted inside the connection channel of the first timepiece connection layer, and the timepiece joint of the second timepiece connection layer fitted inside the connection channel of the second timepiece connection layer.

15. The watchband as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit board further comprises rigid circuit material and one or more flexible connectors.

16. The watchband as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer layer of watchband material and the body contacting layer of watchband material further comprise a bulged middle.

17. A method of using a watchband with integrated electronics, comprising:

providing a watchband with integrated electronics comprising a body-contacting layer of watchband material;

an outer layer of watchband material;

a first timepiece connection layer of watchband material;

a second timepiece connection layer of watchband material;

a flexible circuit board having a microcontroller and a wireless communication device configured to communicate with a mobile device; and

a rechargeable battery;

wherein the body-contacting layer of watchband material is attached to the outer layer of watchband material such that the flexible circuit, connected to the rechargeable battery, is sandwiched in between the body-contacting layer and the outer layer, and where the first timepiece connection layer and the second timepiece connection layer are attached atop the outer layer at a length sufficient to admit a timepiece;

providing a timepiece;

securing the timepiece between the first timepiece connection layer and the second timepiece connection layer.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

providing an alternate timepiece;

unsecuring and removing the timepiece from the first timepiece connection layer and the second timepiece connection layer;

securing the alternate timepiece between the first timepiece connection layer and the second timepiece connection layer.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

communicating data between the microcontroller and the mobile device.