Modular smart necklace

• US 9,898,039 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Moore, Douglas A., Chen, Tiffany L., Dayal, Rajiv
• Primary Examiner(s): THAKER, NIDHI VIVEK
• Application Number:
  US14/817,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20170038792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 36167901-6793, 36167955-67959, 36167903
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/1656 with passive imaging devices, e.g. cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof

Abstract

A smart necklace includes a first pod having a proximate connector and a component electrically coupled to the proximate connector that can receive input data or output data. The necklace also includes a second pod having a proximate connector and a component electrically coupled to the proximate connector that can receive input data or output data. The necklace also includes a curved main unit having a first connector removably, pivotably and electrically coupled to the proximate connector of the first pod and a second connector configured to be removably, pivotably and electrically coupled to the proximate connector of the second pod. The main unit also includes a mobile processor for receiving the input data from at least one of the first pod or the second pod, determining output data based on the input data, and outputting the output data via the first pod or the second pod.

Claims

1. A modular computing necklace comprising:

a first pod having an outer casing, a proximate connector mechanically coupled to the outer casing, and a first component electrically coupled to the proximate connector and configured to at least one of receive input data or output data;

a second pod having an outer casing, a proximate connector mechanically coupled to the outer casing, and a second component electrically coupled to the proximate connector and configured to at least one of receive input data or output data;

a biometric security pod having an outer casing, a proximate connector mechanically coupled to the outer casing, and a biometric sensor configured to detect biometric information; and

a main unit having;

an outer casing having a curvature,

a first connector coupled to the outer casing and configured to be removably, pivotably and electrically coupled to the proximate connector of at least one of the first pod, the second pod, or the biometric security pod,

a second connector coupled to the outer casing and configured to be removably, pivotably and electrically coupled to the proximate connector of at least one of the first pod, the second pod, or the biometric security pod such that the outer casing of the main unit can rest on a back of a neck and the outer casing of at least one of the first pod, the second pod, or the biometric security pod can each rotate about a shoulder,

a battery for providing power to the first component and the second component,

a memory configured to store an authorized biometric, and

a mobile processor electrically coupled to the first connector and the second connector and configured to;

determine a desired function to be performed,

determine that insufficient components exist when the mobile processor cannot perform the desired function using any components that are electrically connected to the mobile processor,

output a notification via at least one of the first pod or the second pod indicating that additional components are required for the mobile processor to perform the desired function when the insufficient components exist,

receive the input data from at least one of the first pod or the second pod,

determine output data based on the received input data and the desired function to be performed when sufficient components exist,

output the output data via at least one of the first pod or the second pod when the sufficient components exist, and

prevent the output data from being output when the detected biometric information fails to match the stored authorized biometric.

2. The modular computing necklace of claim 1, further comprising a third pod having an outer casing and a proximate connector mechanically coupled to the outer casing and a fourth pod having an outer casing and a proximate connector coupled to the outer casing, and wherein the first pod further includes a distal connector configured to be removably and electrically coupled to the proximate connector of the third pod and the second pod further includes a distal connector configured to be removably and electrically coupled to the proximate connector of the fourth pod.

3. The modular computing necklace of claim 2, wherein the outer casing of the third pod and the outer casing of the fourth pod are each configured to extend downward across the shoulder or a chest.

4. The modular computing necklace of claim 2, wherein the third pod further includes a third component electrically coupled to the proximate connector and the fourth pod further includes a fourth component electrically coupled to the proximate connector and wherein the mobile processor of the main unit is configured to communicate with each of the first component, the second component, the third component, the fourth component, and the biometric sensor via a pass through communication protocol.

5. The modular computing necklace of claim 1, further comprising a spacer pod having an outer casing, a proximate connector configured to be removably and electrically coupled to the first connector of the main unit, and a distal connector electrically connected to the proximate connector and configured to be removably and electrically coupled to the proximate connector of the first pod.

6. The modular computing necklace of claim 5, wherein the outer casing of the spacer pod is flexible such that it can bend to fit a contour of a body.

7. The modular computing necklace of claim 1, further comprising a third pod having an outer casing and a proximate connector mechanically coupled to the outer casing and wherein the main unit further includes a third connector coupled to the outer casing, positioned between the first connector and the second connector of the main unit, and configured to be removably and electrically coupled to the proximate connector of the third pod such that the third pod can extend down a back when coupled to the third connector of the main unit.

8. The modular computing necklace of claim 1, wherein the first pod or the second pod is a camera pod including a camera configured to detect image data, an output pod including at least one of a vibration unit, a speaker, or a display configured to output data, a microphone pod including a microphone configured to detect audio data, a network communication pod including a network access device configured to communicate with a second device via a network, a GPS pod including a GPS unit configured to detect location data, an accelerometer pod including an accelerometer configured to detect an acceleration, a solar pod including at least one solar cell configured to convert sunlight to electrical power, a motion pod including a motion-to-power converter configured to convert kinetic energy to electrical power, a health pod including at least one of heart rate sensor configured to detect a heart rate or a respiration sensor configured to detect a respiration rate, an emergency display pod including at least one of a display or a machine readable output device configured to display or output emergency information, an alert pod including at least one of a network access device or a pod processor configured to transmit an alert to an emergency contact, a name pod including a display configured to display a name, a telepresence pod including at least one of a network access device or a pod processor configured to allow communication with a third party via the camera pod and the output pod, a USB pod including a USB connector configured to connect to a remote device and a memory electrically coupled to the USB connector and configured to store data, a recorder pod including an input device configured to receive an input and a memory configured to store data in response to receiving the input, a significant other pod including a memory configured to store a message and at least one of including a second output device configured to output the message or a pod processor configured to transmit the message to another pod for outputting, a smart key pod including a smart key device configured to remotely control a remote device, a tag pod including a removable tag configured to transmit a beacon and a reader device configured to detect the beacon, a braille pod including a refreshable braille display configured to output data in braille format, or a button pod including at least one button configured to receive input data.

9. The modular computing necklace of claim 1, wherein the first pod further includes a pod processor electrically coupled to the first component and the mobile processor of the main unit and configured to convert data that is transmitted between the first component and the mobile processor of the main unit.

10. The modular computing necklace of claim 1, further comprising at least two camera pods each including a camera configured to detect image data and including a proximate connector configured to be electrically coupled to the main unit, wherein the mobile processor of the main unit is configured to determine stereo image data including distance information based on the detected image data from the at least two camera pods.

11. The modular computing necklace of claim 1, wherein:

one of the proximate connector of the first pod or the first connector of the main unit includes a receptacle that is pivotably connected to the outer casing and electrically connected to the outer casing via a flexible cable, and that includes;

at least one socket electrically connected to the flexible cable, and

a first physical connection feature; and

the other of the proximate connector of the first pod or the first connector of the main unit includes a plug that includes;

a second physical connection feature configured to be removably connected to the first physical connection feature, and

at least one pin configured to be received by and electrically connected to the at least one socket when the second physical connection feature is connected to the first physical connection feature.

12. A modular computing necklace comprising:

a camera pod having an outer casing, a distal connector mechanically coupled to the outer casing, a proximate connector mechanically coupled to the outer casing, and a camera electrically coupled to the proximate connector and configured to detect image data;

an accelerometer pod having an outer casing, a distal connector mechanically coupled to the outer casing, a proximate connector mechanically coupled to the outer casing, and an accelerometer configured to detect an acceleration;

an output pod having an outer casing, a distal connector mechanically coupled to the outer casing, a proximate connector mechanically coupled to the outer casing, and at least one of a speaker or a vibration unit configured to output data;

a biometric security pod having an outer casing, a distal connector mechanically coupled to the outer casing, a proximate connector mechanically coupled to the outer casing, and a biometric sensor configured to detect biometric information; and

a main unit having;

an outer casing having a curvature,

a first connector coupled to the outer casing and configured to be removably, pivotably and electrically coupled to the proximate connector of one of the camera pod, the accelerometer pod, the output pod, or the biometric security pod;

a second connector coupled to the outer casing and configured to be removably, pivotably and electrically coupled to the proximate connector of one of the camera pod, the accelerometer pod, the output pod, or the biometric security pod, such that the outer casing of the main unit can rest on a back of a neck and the outer casing of each of the pods coupled to the first connector and the second connector can each rotate with a curve of a shoulder and the outer casing of one of the pods that is not directly coupled to the main unit can extend farther downwards across a chest or the shoulder than the pods that are directly coupled to the main unit,

a battery for providing power to the camera and the at least one of the speaker or the vibration unit,

a non-transitory memory configured to store at least one of map data or object data and to store an authorized biometric, and

a processor electrically coupled to the first connector and the second connector and configured to;

determine a desired function to be performed,

determine that insufficient components exist when the processor cannot perform the desired function using any components that are electrically connected to the processor,

instruct the at least one of the vibration unit or the speaker to output insufficient component information indicating that additional components are required for the processor to perform the desired function when the insufficient components exist,

receive the detected image data and the detected acceleration,

determine output data based on the image data and data, the acceleration, and the desired function to be performed when sufficient components exist,

instruct the at least one of the vibration unit or the speaker to output the output data when the sufficient components exist, and

prevent the output data from being output when the detected biometric information fails to match the stored authorized biometric.

13. The modular computing necklace of claim 12, wherein the output data includes at least one of object identification data based on the detected image data or navigation data based on the detected image data and the detected acceleration.

14. The modular computing necklace of claim 12, further comprising at least one of a microphone pod including a microphone configured to detect audio data, a network communication pod including a network access device configured to communicate with a second device via a network, a GPS pod including a GPS unit configured to detect location data, a solar pod including at least one solar cell configured to convert solar power to electrical power, a motion pod including a motion-to-power converter configured to convert kinetic energy to electrical power, a health pod including at least one of heart rate sensor configured to detect a heart rate or a respiration sensor configured to detect a respiration rate, an emergency display pod including at least one of a display or a machine readable output device configured to display or output emergency information, an alert pod including at least one of a network access device or a pod processor configured to transmit an alert to an emergency contact, a name pod including a display configured to display a name, a telepresence pod including at least one of a network access device or a pod processor configured to allow communication with a third party via the camera pod and the output pod, a USB pod including a USB connector configured to connect to a remote device and a memory electrically coupled to the USB connector and configured to store data, a recorder pod including an input device configured to receive an input and a memory configured to store data in response to receiving the input, a significant other pod including a memory configured to store a message and at least one of including a second output device configured to output the message or a pod processor configured to transmit the message to another pod for outputting, a smart key pod including a smart key device configured to remotely control a remote device, a tag pod including a removable tag configured to transmit a beacon and a reader device configured to detect the beacon, a braille pod including a refreshable braille display configured to output data in braille format, or a button pod including at least one button configured to receive input data.

15. The modular computing necklace of claim 12, further comprising a second camera pod including a second camera configured to detect additional image data and a proximate connector electrically coupled to the main unit, wherein the processor of the main unit is configured to determine stereo image data including distance information based on the detected image data from the camera pod and the second camera pod.

16. The modular computing necklace of claim 12, wherein:

one of the proximate connector of the camera pod or the first connector of the main unit includes a receptacle that is pivotably connected to the outer casing and electrically connected to the outer casing via a flexible cable, and that includes at least one socket electrically connected to the flexible cable and a first physical connection feature, and

wherein the other of the proximate connector of the camera pod or the first connector of the main unit includes a plug that includes a second physical connection feature configured to be removably connected to the first physical connection feature and at least one pin configured to be received by and electrically connected to the at least one socket when the second physical connection feature is connected to the first physical connection feature.

17. A kit for use with a modular computing necklace comprising:

a biometric security pod having a distal connector, a proximate connector, and a biometric sensor configured to detect biometric information;

a main unit having a first connector, a second connector, and a processor configured to;

determine a desired function to be performed,

determine that insufficient components exist when the processor cannot perform the desired function using any components that are electrically connected to the processor,

determine insufficient component information including a notification that additional components are required for the processor to perform the desired function when the insufficient components exist, and

prevent interaction with the modular computing necklace when the biometric security pod is disconnected from the main unit; and

a plurality of pods each having an outer casing, a distal connector, and proximate connector configured to be mechanically and electrically coupled to at least one of the first connector of the main unit or a distal connector of another pod, wherein the kit is at least one of;

a blind kit including;

a camera pod having a camera electrically coupled to the proximate connector and configured to detect image data,

an accelerometer pod having an accelerometer electrically coupled to the proximate connector and configured to detect an acceleration,

an output pod having at least one of a speaker or a vibration unit electrically coupled to the proximate connector and configured to output data received from the processor of the main unit when sufficient components exist and to output the insufficient component information when the insufficient components exist, and

a telepresence pod including at least one of a network access device or a pod processor electrically coupled to the proximate connector and configured to allow communication with a third party via the camera pod and the output pod;

a navigation kit including;

the camera pod,

the accelerometer pod,

the output pod, and

a GPS pod including a GPS unit electrically coupled to the proximate connector and configured to detect location data;

an exercise kit including;

the accelerometer pod,

a health pod having at least one of a heart rate sensor or a respiration sensor configured to detect a heart rate or a respiration rate, and

a motion pod including a motion-to-power converter electrically coupled to the proximate connector and configured to convert motion power to electrical power;

or

a sporting event kit including;

the output pod,

the camera pod,

a network communication pod including a network access device electrically coupled to the proximate connector and configured to communicate with a second device via a network, and

a recorder pod including an input device configured to receive an input and a memory configured to store the image data in response to receiving the input.