Wearable electronic device

• US 9,792,787 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2016
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kosonen, Matti, Myyrylainen, Sami
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US15/083,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20160210826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 3404071, 3404073, 34053911, 3406861, 34087002, 34087003
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services

Abstract

An apparatus including an elongated apparatus structure configured to fit around a body part of a user and an actuator configured to change shape of the elongated apparatus structure. The actuator is configured to change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part of the user based on an action the apparatus is performing.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an elongated apparatus structure configured to fit around a body part of a user;

an actuator configured to change shape of the elongated apparatus structure to tighten or loosen the elongated apparatus structure around the body part of the user; and

a pressure sensor configured to detect compression force of the elongated apparatus structure against skin of the body part of the user;

wherein the actuator is configured to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, to achieve a predefined contact pressure of the apparatus structure against the skin of the body part of the user, in response to the pressure sensor detecting the compression force of the apparatus structure against the skin of the body part of the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication unit physically part of the elongated apparatus structure, the communication unit configured to receive wireless signals from a remote device, the wireless signals indicating activity in the remote device;

wherein the actuator is configured to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, in response to the communication unit receiving the wireless signals indicating activity in the remote device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a processing unit physically separate from the elongated apparatus structure, the processing unit configured to cause transmission of wireless signals in response to activity in the processing unit;

a communication unit physically part of the elongated apparatus structure, the communication unit configured to receive the wireless signals from the processing unit;

wherein the actuator is configured to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, in response to the communication unit receiving the wireless signals from the processing unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication unit configured to receive an indication of an incoming wireless signal;

wherein the actuator is configured to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, in response to the communication unit indicating receipt of an indication of an incoming wireless signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication unit configured to receive an incoming wireless signal;

wherein the actuator is configured to automatically tighten the elongated apparatus structure around the body part of the user in response to initiating receipt of a wireless signal by the communication unit and automatically loosen the elongated apparatus structure around the body part of the user in response to ending the receipt of the wireless signal by the communication unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second sensor configured to detect body signal data related to at least one of heart rate, skin moisture, or blood pressure of the user;

wherein the actuator is configured to automatically tighten the elongated apparatus structure around the body part of the user in response to initiating receipt of body signal data of the user by the second sensor and automatically loosen the elongated apparatus structure around the body part of the user in response to ending the receipt of body signal data of the user by the second sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory configured to store parameters specifying the predefined contact pressure of the apparatus structure against the skin of the body part of the user;

wherein the memory is configured to store changes in the parameters when the elongated apparatus structure is fitted to a different user, to establish a fitting that corresponds to the settings.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory configured to store parameters specifying the predefined contact pressure of the apparatus structure against the skin of the body part of the user; and

a processing unit coupled to the actuator, the pressure sensor, and the memory, the processing unit configured to control the actuator to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, to achieve the predefined contact pressure of the apparatus structure against the skin of the body part of the user, in response to the pressure sensor detecting the compression force of the apparatus structure against the skin of the body part of the user.

9. A method comprising:

controlling an apparatus comprising a pressure sensor, an elongated apparatus structure configured to fit around a body part of a user, and an actuator configured to change shape of the elongated apparatus structure; and

controlling the actuator to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, to achieve a predefined contact pressure of the apparatus structure against skin of the body part of the user, in response to the pressure sensor detecting a compression force of the apparatus structure against the skin of the body part of the user.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving at a communication unit physically part of the elongated apparatus structure, wireless signals from a remote device, the wireless signals indicating activity in the remote device; and

controlling the actuator to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, in response to the communication unit receiving the wireless signals indicating activity in the remote device.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving at a communication unit physically part of the elongated apparatus structure, wireless signals from a processing unit physically separate from the elongated apparatus structure, the wireless signals indicating activity in the processing unit; and

controlling the actuator to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, in response to the communication unit receiving the wireless signals indicating activity in the processing unit.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving an indication of an incoming wireless signal at a communication unit of the apparatus; and

controlling the actuator to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, in response to the communication unit indicating receipt of an indication of an incoming wireless signal.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving an incoming wireless signal at a communication unit of the apparatus; and

;

controlling the actuator to automatically tighten the elongated apparatus structure around the body part of the user in response to initiating receipt of a wireless signal by the communication unit and automatically loosen the elongated apparatus structure around the body part of the user in response to ending the receipt of a wireless signal by the communication unit.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting body signal data with a second sensor in the apparatus, the body signal data related to at least one of heart rate, skin moisture, or blood pressure of the user;

controlling the actuator to automatically tighten the elongated apparatus structure around the body part of the user in response to initiating receipt of body signal data of the user by the second sensor and automatically loosen the elongated apparatus structure around the body part of the user in response to ending the receipt of body signal data of the user by the second sensor.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing parameters in a memory of the apparatus, the parameters specifying the predefined contact pressure of the apparatus structure against the skin of the body part of the user; and

controlling the memory to store changes in the parameters when the elongated apparatus structure is fitted to a different user, to establish a fitting that corresponds to the settings.

16. An apparatus comprising:

an elongated apparatus structure configured to fit around a body part of a user;

an actuator configured to change shape of the elongated apparatus structure to tighten or loosen the elongated apparatus structure around the body part of the user; and

a sensor positioned by the elongated apparatus structure proximate to the body part of the user, the sensor configured to detect body signal data related to at least one of heart rate, perspiration, or blood pressure of the user;

wherein the actuator is configured to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part of the user, in response to receipt by the sensor of body signal data of the user related to at least one of heart rate, perspiration, or blood pressure of the user.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the actuator further comprises:

a wire having one end connected to the elongated apparatus structure; and

a motor with a reduction gear configured to pull on an opposite end of the wire to change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a communication unit physically part of the elongated apparatus structure, the communication unit configured to receive wireless signals from a remote device, the wireless signals indicating activity in the remote device;

wherein the actuator is configured to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, in response to the communication unit receiving the wireless signals indicating activity in the remote device.

19. An apparatus comprising:

an elongated apparatus structure configured to fit around a body part of a user;

an actuator configured to change shape of the elongated apparatus structure to tighten or loosen the elongated apparatus structure around the body part of the user; and

a pressure sensor configured to detect compression force of the elongated apparatus structure against the body part of the user;

a second sensor positioned by the elongated apparatus structure proximate to the body part of the user, the second sensor configured to detect body signal data related to at least one of heart rate, perspiration, or blood pressure of the user;

wherein the actuator is configured to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, in response to the pressure sensor detecting the compression force of the apparatus structure against the body part of the user; and

wherein the actuator is configured to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part of the user, in response to receipt by the second sensor of body signal data of the user related to at least one of heart rate, perspiration, or blood pressure of the user.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the actuator further comprises:

a wire having one end connected to the elongated apparatus structure; and

a motor with a reduction gear configured to pull on an opposite end of the wire to change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

a communication unit physically part of the elongated apparatus structure, the communication unit configured to receive wireless signals from a remote device, the wireless signals indicating activity in the remote device;

wherein the actuator is configured to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, in response to the communication unit receiving the wireless signals indicating activity in the remote device.

22. A method comprising:

controlling an apparatus comprising a sensor, an elongated apparatus structure configured to fit around a body part of a user, and an actuator configured to change shape of the elongated apparatus structure, the sensor positioned by the elongated apparatus structure proximate to the body part of the user, the sensor configured to detect body signal data related to at least one of heart rate, perspiration or blood pressure of the user; and

controlling the actuator to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, in response to receipt by the sensor of body signal data of the user related to at least one of heart rate, perspiration, or blood pressure of the user.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

controlling the actuator to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, in response to a pressure sensor detecting a compression force of the apparatus structure against the body part of the user, the pressure sensor positioned by the elongated apparatus structure proximate to the body part of the user and configured to detect compression force of the elongated apparatus structure against the body part of the user.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving at a communication unit physically part of the elongated apparatus structure, wireless signals from a remote device, the wireless signals indicating activity in the remote device; and

controlling the actuator to automatically change tightness of the elongated apparatus structure around the body part, in response to the communication unit receiving the wireless signals indicating activity in the remote device.