Wearable devices and associated systems

• US 9,651,992 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Smart Patents LLC
• Inventors: Stotler, James G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amadiz, Rodney
• Application Number:
  US14/590,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20150133193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 345 11- 31, 345 11, 345156, 345173-174
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 9/0053 having special functions
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 9/02 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• 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: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0216 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 : for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 : for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 : for image or video messaging

Abstract

A wearable computing device can have a processor, a memory, and a display so operatively coupled to the processor and the memory as to display an output therefrom. The processor and the memory can be positioned in a resiliently flexible body. The resiliently flexible body can include a first end and an opposed second end, a first edge and an opposed second edge, wherein the first and the second edges extend between the first end and the opposed second end. The body can also have a wearer-engagement portion positioned between the first end and an intermediate region, wherein the finger-engagement portion of the resiliently flexible body circumferentially so extends around a longitudinally extending axis positioned parallel to the first end and spaced apart from the resiliently flexible body as to define an open interior region, wherein the interior region of the wearer-engagement portion defines an inner surface extending between the first edge and the second edge and between the first end and the intermediate region, wherein the wearer engagement portion further defines an outer surface positioned outward of the interior region and opposite the interior surface. A display portion of the body can be positioned between the intermediate region and the second end, wherein the display is positioned in the display portion on a same side of the resiliently flexible body as the outer surface of the wearer-engagement portion. A user input device can be positioned opposite the interior surface and outward of the interior region, and between the first end and the display portion.

Claims

1. A finger-wearable computing device comprising:

a processor, and a memory;

a ring-type holder having a wall extending circumferentially around a longitudinally extending axis, wherein the wall extends longitudinally of the axis between a first open end and a second open end positioned in an opposed relationship relative to the first open end, wherein the wall defines an open interior bore extending between the first open end and the opposed second open end, wherein the open interior bore is sufficiently sized as to slidably receive a wearer'"'"'s index finger therein and wherein the wall is correspondingly sized to overlie and matingly engage with the wearer'"'"'s index finger positioned in the open interior bore so as to retain the ring-type holder in a user-selected position overlying the wearer'"'"'s index finger, and wherein the wall defines an inner surface so exposed to the open interior bore as to contact the wearer'"'"'s index finger received therein;

a first display operatively coupled with the processor and the memory to display an output therefrom, wherein the first display is resiliently flexible, wherein the first display comprises a first microphone-speaker and a second microphone-speaker at opposite ends of the first display, wherein the first microphone-speaker is at a first end of the first display, when worn on a wearer'"'"'s left hand, that is toward a proximal end of a wearer'"'"'s left index finger and, when worn on a wearer'"'"'s right hand, that is toward a distal end of a wearer'"'"'s right index finger, wherein the second microphone-speaker is at a second end of the first display, when worn on the wearer'"'"'s left hand, that is toward a distal end of the wearer'"'"'s left index finger and, when worn on the wearer'"'"'s right hand, that is toward a proximal end of the wearer'"'"'s right index finger, and wherein the processor is configured to operate the first microphone-speaker as a microphone and the second microphone-speaker as a speaker when the finger-wearable computing device is worn on the wearer'"'"'s left hand for up-to-the-ear phone use, and is configured to operate the first microphone-speaker as a speaker and the second microphone-speaker as a microphone when the finger-wearable computing device is worn on the wearer'"'"'s right hand for up-to-the-ear phone use; and

a second display operatively coupled with the processor and the memory to display an output therefrom and defining a user input device positioned outward of the wall and in opposed relationship to a wearer'"'"'s thumb when the wearer'"'"'s index finger is matingly engaged within the open interior bore defined by the wall, wherein the user input device is operatively coupled with the processor and the memory to permit a wearer to invoke machine executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform a selected task, and wherein the first display is relatively larger than the second display and is operatively coupled with the second display so as to reproduce a display output from the second display on the first display and to provide an indicator of a relative location of the wearer'"'"'s thumb in relation to a surface of the user input device;

wherein the first display is flexibly coupled to the wall of the ring-type holder and configured to pivot between an open position in which the output on the first display and the output on the second display are viewable by the wearer and a closed position in which the first display covers the output on the second display and conforms to a shape of the wall.

2. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises one of a touch-responsive device configured to emit one or more signals in response to being touched by the wearer'"'"'s thumb, and a thumb-actuable track pad.

3. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 1, wherein the open interior bore defines a longitudinal axis and the wall defines a relatively longer portion extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and a relatively shorter portion extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein at least one of the open ends defines an arched-type support extending between the relatively shorter portion of the wall to the relatively longer portion of the wall.

4. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 3, wherein the relatively longer portion of the wall comprises an electrical coupler configured to electrically couple a display device to the ring-type holder.

5. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 4, wherein the first display is electrically coupled to the ring-type holder through the electrical coupler.

6. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 3, wherein the relatively shorter longitudinal portion of the wall has a length sized to fit between a wearer'"'"'s first and second knuckles positioned at opposing ends of a middle phalanx of the wearer'"'"'s index finger.

7. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 6, wherein the relatively shorter longitudinal portion of the wall has a length sized to permit the wearer'"'"'s index finger to flex when the wearer'"'"'s index finger is frictionally engaged within the open interior bore defined by the wall.

8. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 7, wherein each of the first and the second open ends defines a corresponding transition between the relatively shorter longitudinal portion of the wall to the relatively longer longitudinal portion of the wall, and wherein the transitions are asymmetrically arranged relative to each other.

9. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the user input device has a convex contour corresponding to a contour of an outer surface of the wall.

10. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises a first user input device positioned in opposed relationship to the wearer'"'"'s thumb when the wearer'"'"'s index finger is frictionally engaged within the open interior bore, wherein the finger-wearable computing device further comprises a second user input device positioned outward of the wall and circumferentially spaced apart from the first user input device.

11. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 10, wherein the first user input device has a convex outer contour and wherein the second user input device has a convex outer contour.

12. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 11, wherein one or both of the first user input device and the second user input device comprises one of a thumb-actuable track pad and a touch-responsive device configured to emit one or more signals in response to being touched by the wearer'"'"'s thumb.

13. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 10, wherein one or both of the first user input device and the second user input device is resiliently flexible.

14. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 1, wherein the user input device is resiliently flexible.

15. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 14, wherein the wall further comprises a shape memory alloy configured to assume a predetermined form embedded in a flexible material.

16. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 1, wherein the wall defines a first edge extending longitudinally relative to the longitudinal axis between the first open end and the opposed second open end, wherein the wall further defines a second edge extending longitudinally relative to the longitudinal axis between the first open end and the opposed second open end, wherein the circumferentially extending wall extends between the first edge and the second edge such that the first edge and the second edge are circumferentially opposed relative to each other.

17. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 16, wherein the first edge of the wall is spaced apart from the second edge of the wall to define a gap opening to the open interior bore.

18. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 16, wherein a first portion of the wall adjacent the first edge of the wall and a second portion of the wall adjacent the second edge of the wall are positioned in overlapping relation with each other when the wearer'"'"'s index finger is not inserted in the open interior bore.

19. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 18, wherein the wall is sufficiently resilient that the overlapping relation of the first wall portion and the second wall portion permits an interior dimension of the open interior bore to expand as the wearer'"'"'s index finger urges the wall outwardly upon insertion of the wearer'"'"'s index finger into the bore.

20. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises a thumb track pad having a sensor configured to detect a position of a marker point on the wearer'"'"'s thumb in relation to the track pad.

21. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 1, further comprising a directional sensor configured to determine which of the first microphone-speaker and the second microphone-speaker is positioned upward.

22. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless transceiver configured to control a remote electronic device.

23. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 22, wherein the remote electronic device is one or more of an augmented reality device, a gaming device, and electronic glasses.

24. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency antenna configured to receive ambient energy to power the finger-wearable computing device.

25. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 1, further comprising a transceiver configured for cellular telephone communication.

26. A finger-wearable computing device comprising:

a processor, and a memory;

a ring-type holder having a wall extending circumferentially around a longitudinally extending axis, wherein the wall extends longitudinally of the axis between a first open end and a second open end positioned in an opposed relationship relative to the first open end, wherein the wall defines an open interior bore extending between the first open end and the opposed second open end, wherein the open interior bore is sufficiently sized as to slidably receive a wearer'"'"'s index finger therein and wherein the wall is correspondingly sized to overlie and matingly engage with the wearer'"'"'s index finger positioned in the open interior bore so as to retain the ring-type holder in a user-selected position overlying the wearer'"'"'s index finger, and wherein the wall defines an inner surface so exposed to the open interior bore as to contact the wearer'"'"'s index finger received therein;

a first display operatively coupled with the processor and the memory to display an output therefrom, wherein the first display is resiliently flexible, wherein the first display comprises a first microphone-speaker and a second microphone-speaker at opposite ends of the first display, wherein the first microphone-speaker is at a first end of the first display, when worn on a wearer'"'"'s left hand, that is toward a proximal end of a wearer'"'"'s left index finger and, when worn on a wearer'"'"'s right hand, that is toward a distal end of a wearer'"'"'s right index finger, wherein the second microphone-speaker is at a second end of the first display, when worn on the wearer'"'"'s left hand, that is toward a distal end of the wearer'"'"'s left index finger and, when worn on the wearer'"'"'s right hand, that is toward a proximal end of the wearer'"'"'s right index finger, and wherein the processor is configured to operate the first microphone-speaker as a microphone and the second microphone-speaker as a speaker when the finger-wearable computing device is worn on the wearer'"'"'s left hand for up-to-the-ear phone use, and is configured to operate the first microphone-speaker as a speaker and the second microphone-speaker as a microphone when the finger-wearable computing device is worn on the wearer'"'"'s right hand for up-to-the-ear phone use; and

a second display operatively coupled with the processor and the memory to display an output therefrom and defining a user input device positioned outward of the wall and in opposed relationship to a wearer'"'"'s thumb when the wearer'"'"'s index finger is matingly engaged within the open interior bore defined by the wall, wherein the user input device is operatively coupled with the processor and the memory to permit a wearer to invoke machine executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform a selected task, and wherein the first display is relatively larger than the second display and is operatively coupled with the second display so as to reproduce a display output from the second display on the first display and to provide an indicator of a relative location of the wearer'"'"'s thumb in relation to a surface of the user input device;

wherein the first display is mechanically coupled to the wall of the ring-type holder by a pivotable coupler configured to pivot the first display between an open position in which the output on the first display and the output on the second display are viewable by the wearer and a closed position in which the first display covers the output on the second display and conforms to a shape of the wall.

27. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 26, further comprising a directional sensor configured to determine which of the first microphone-speaker and the second microphone-speaker is positioned upward.

28. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 26, further comprising a wireless transceiver configured to control a remote electronic device.

29. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 28, wherein the remote electronic device is one or more of an augmented reality device, a gaming device, and electronic glasses.

30. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 26, further comprising a radio frequency antenna configured to receive ambient energy to power the finger-wearable computing device.

31. The finger-wearable computing device according to claim 26, further comprising a transceiver configured for cellular telephone communication.