Wearable electronic device

• US 9,615,161 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Baek, In Ho, Lee, So Young, Jung, Ji Yeon, Han, Sang Woo, Heo, Chang Ryong, Shim, In Seok
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US14/837,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20160066078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 84743, 340576, 34053912, 345173, 345156, 348158, 348 36, 381 74, 381309, 381380, 439131, 455465, 701541, 600483, 702 19, 715864, 2807282, 343702, 441 64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0241 using relative motion of the body parts to change the operational status of the telephone set, e.g. switching on/off, answering incoming call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A wearable electronic device is provided. The wearable electronic device includes a first part including a first sound output module, a second part including a second sound output module, a third part disposed between the first part and the second part, a flexible first connection unit configured to connect a first end of the first part and a first end of the third part, and a flexible second connection unit configured to connect a first end of the second part and a second end of the third part.

Claims

1. A wearable electronic device comprising:

a first part including a first sound output module;

a second part including a second sound output module;

a third part disposed between the first part and the second part, the third part comprising a battery, a processor, a wireless communication module, and a memory;

a flexible first connector configured to connect a first end of the first part and a first end of the third part; and

a flexible second connector configured to connect a first end of the second part and a second end of the third part,

wherein the third part has a housing with a greater diameter than the flexible first connector and the flexible second connector.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a second end of the first part and a second end of the second part comprise a connectable or separable structure or configuration.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the connectable or separable structure or configuration is implemented to be attracted by a magnetic force.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first sound output module comprises a first ear tip and the second sound output module comprises a second ear tip.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first ear tip is disposed adjacent to a second end of the first part and the second ear tip is disposed adjacent to a second end of the second part.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein

the first ear tip is formed with a specified first angle with respect to a length direction of the first part;

the second ear tip is formed with a specified second angle with respect to a length direction of the second part; and

the second angle is identical to the first angle.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first part and the second part respectively comprise a first housing and a second housing including a material with a higher rigidity than the flexible first connector or the flexible second connector.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing of the third part comprises a material with a higher rigidity than the flexible first connector or the flexible second connector.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein at last one of the second end of the first part and the second end of the second part comprises a sensor.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a hall sensor.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein

the first part has a first length;

the second part has a second length; and

the first length and the second length are substantially identical to each other.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the third part has a third length and the third length is longer than the first length or the second length.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the length of the flexible first connector is substantially identical to the length of the flexible second connector.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein

the first part is bent in a length direction with a first curvature radius;

the second part is bent in a length direction with a second curvature radius; and

the second curvature radius is substantially identical to the first curvature radius.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the third part is bent in a length direction with a third curvature radius.

16. The device of claim 1,

wherein at least one of the first part and the second part comprises at least one of an audio module, a speaker, a microphone, an indicator, a switch, a hall sensor, a touch sensor, an acceleration sensor, a motion sensor, an electrical connection, and a button, and

wherein the third part comprises at least one of a wired communication module, and a vibration motor.

17. The device of claim 16,

wherein the wireless communication module is configured to connect to an external device wirelessly, and

wherein the processor is configured to:

respond to at least part of a connecting operation or a separating operation between a second end of the first part and a second end of the second part, and

perform a switching operation between a first state of being paired with an external device through the wireless communication module and a second state of transmitting/receiving sound data to/from an external device through the wireless communication module.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to switch from the first state into the second state during the separating operation and switches from the second state into the first state during the connecting operation.

19. The device of claim 17, further comprising at least one user interface configured to receive a user input, wherein at least part of the user interface is disabled or deactivated in the first state and at least part of the user interface is enabled or activated in the second state.

20. The device of claim 17, further comprising at least one sensor configured to detect the connecting operation or the separating operation, wherein the sensor is in a turn-on state in the first state and in the second state.