Wearable device

• US 10,031,483 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Seo, Ho-Seong, Kim, Dong-Churl
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Matey, Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/010,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20160223992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/147 Watchcase itself used as fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/1486 Arrangements for fixing to a bracelet building watches into bracelets (montre marquise) G04B37/12; arrangements for hanging pocket- or other watches on chains G04B37/1446
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/02 Component assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 19/00 Electric power supply circuits specially adapted for use in electronic time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 19/10 Arrangements for supplying back-up power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt

Abstract

A wearable device is provided. The wearable device includes a first strap portion attached or detached from a body portion and provided to allow the body portion to be worn on a human body, a second strap portion provided in the body portion to be exchanged with the first strap portion, electrically connected to the body portion, and having at least one member to provide a signal generated from the members to the body portion, and a connecting portion electrically connecting the body portion with the first strap portion or electrically connecting the body portion with the second strap portion.

Claims

1. A wearable device, the wearable device comprising:

a body portion of the wearable device;

a connecting portion mechanically securing and electrically connecting the body portion with a first strap portion or mechanically securing and electrically connecting the body portion with a second strap portion;

the first strap portion configured to be attached or detached from the connecting portion and provided to allow the connecting portion to be worn on a human body; and

the second strap portion configured to;

be detachably exchanged with the first strap portion,

be electrically connected to the connecting portion, and

have a battery and at least one member to provide a signal generated from the at least one member to the body portion via the connecting portion,

wherein the connecting portion comprises a spring pin-type connecting member, the spring pin-type connecting member including a first connecting module provided between the first strap portion and the body portion and detachably coupling the first strap portion to the body portion via the connecting portion, and

wherein the first connecting module comprises;

a first pin body pulled in between the first strap portion and the body portion, and

first protrusion portions provided to project from both ends of the first pin body, at least one of the first protrusion portions elastically driven from the first pin body.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the members comprise at least one of a module providing body information to the body portion via the connecting portion, or a module providing multiple functions to the body portion via the connecting portion.

3. The wearable device of claim 2,

wherein the members comprise, at least one of a body information detecting module, an energy harvesting module, an automatic contacting module, a wireless recharge module, an automatic recharge module, a light emission module, a global positioning system (GPS) module, a camera module, a speaker module, a haptic module, or a put-on-body detecting module, and

wherein the second strap portion comprises at least one member having the function.

4. The wearable device of claim 2, wherein the second strap portion comprises:

a power supply strap portion allowing the members to supply power to the main body or having an own power source; and

a multi-module strap portion receiving power from the main body and providing multiple functions to the main body.

5. The wearable device of claim 4, wherein the main body further comprises a detecting device configured to detect attachment or detachment of the second strap portion or attachment or detachment of at least one of the power supply strap portion or the multi-module strap portion.

6. The wearable device of claim 5, wherein the detecting device comprises at least one of a mechanical button switch, a pogo terminal portion, a pressure sensor, or a hall sensor.

7. The wearable device of claim 6,

wherein, when the first strap portion is coupled to the body portion via the connecting portion, the detecting device is further configured to detect a signal indicating the coupling of the first strap portion according to at least any one of whether to be pressed, whether an electrical signal is applied, and whether a detecting signal is applied, and

wherein, when the second strap portion is coupled to the body portion via the connecting portion, the detecting device is further configured to detect a signal indicating the coupling of the second strap portion through an opposite operation of an operation performed when the first strap portion is coupled, and the body portion controls an operation of the member by recognizing the second strap portion.

8. The wearable device of claim 7,

wherein at least one of the first strap portion or the second strap portion is coupled to the body portion via the connecting portion, and

wherein according to a signal value detected by the detecting device, the body portion controls a user setting as the first strap portion is coupled to the body portion via the connecting portion, controls the user setting as the power supply strap portion is coupled, or controls the user setting as the multi-module strap portion is coupled.

9. The wearable device of claim 4,

wherein the power supply strap portion is coupled to the body portion via the connecting portion, and

wherein the detecting device comprises a voltage detecting device configured to detect a voltage of the power supply strap portion and a recharging circuit configured to recharge the battery of the body portion according to a signal detected by the voltage detecting device.

10. The wearable device of claim 4,

wherein the power supply strap portion is coupled to the body portion via the connecting portion,

wherein the power supply strap portion comprises a first communication circuit configured to transfer a signal generated according to attachment or detachment from the body portion to the body portion via the connecting portion, and

wherein the detecting device comprises a second communication circuit configured to receive a signal from the first communication circuit and a recharging circuit configured to recharge the battery of the body portion according to a signal value transferred to the second communication circuit.

11. The wearable device of claim 10, wherein the connecting portion comprises a two pin-type electrical connection terminal.

12. The wearable device of claim 4,

wherein the multi-module strap portion is coupled to the body portion via the connecting portion,

wherein the multi-module strap portion comprises a first communication circuit configured to transfer a signal generated by attachment or detachment of the multi-module strap portion to the body portion via the connecting portion, and

wherein the body portion comprises a second communication circuit configured to receive a signal from the first communication circuit and at least one processor configured to supply power to the member and recharge the battery of the body portion receiving a signal from the member according to a signal value transferred to the second communication circuit.

13. The wearable device of claim 12, wherein the connecting portion comprises a four pin-type electrical connection terminal that communicates the signal from the member with the body portion provides power to the member.

14. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the first strap portion and the second strap portion are formed of at least one material of a metal, leather, silicone, urethane, ceramic, or fabric or of at least one material of a metal mixed with a mineral powder comprising at least one of tourmaline, ceramic, jade, germanium, leather, silicone, urethane, ceramic, or fabric.

15. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the second strap portion comprises at least one of a one-body strap including one piece in which a band for fixing and a band for adjustment are connected with each other or a separable strap including a separable body in which an end and another end are separated or coupled with each other.

16. The wearable device of claim 15,

wherein the body portion comprises the first strap portion, and

wherein the connecting portion comprises a first adapter portion detachably connecting the first strap portion to the body portion via the connecting portion.

17. The wearable device of claim 16, wherein the first adapter portion is provided to surround a surface of the body portion or between an end of the band for fixing and the body portion and between an end of the band for adjustment and the body portion.

18. The wearable device of claim 16, wherein a sealing member is further provided in the first adapter portion to prevent a foreign material from entering a body terminal portion provided in the body portion.

19. The wearable device of claim 15,

wherein the connecting portion is seated surrounding a rear surface of the body portion and comprises a connection terminal portion connected with a body terminal portion provided at a surface of the body portion, and

wherein a second adapter portion is provided to be connected with the band for fixing and the band for adjustment between the band for fixing and the band for adjustment as a single body or to be separated.

20. The wearable device of claim 15,

wherein the connecting portion is provided at an end of the band for fixing and an end of the band for adjustment and comprises a pair of connection terminal portions electrically connected with the body terminal portion provided at both ends of the body portion, and

wherein the second adapter portion is provided at the end of the band for fixing and at the end of the band for adjustment as a single body or to be separated.

21. The wearable device of claim 19, wherein a sealing member is further included between the body terminal portion and the connection terminal portion.

22. The wearable device of claim 21, wherein the sealing member comprises at least one of a rubber material, a silicone material, a urethane material, or a synthetic resin material.

23. The wearable device of claim 15,

wherein the second strap portion further comprises a bezel portion surrounding the body portion, and

wherein the band for fixing and the band for adjustment are detachably coupled to the bezel portion.

24. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the spring pin-type connecting member further comprises:

a second connecting module compatibly provided with the first connecting module, provided between the second strap portion and the body portion, and electrically coupling the body portion with the second strap portion so that a signal from the member is transferred to the body portion via the connecting portion.

25. The wearable device of claim 24, wherein the first connecting module further comprises:

a first lever portion provided in the first pin body and projected from an inside of the first pin body to an outside of the body portion to drive the first protrusion portions.

26. The wearable device of claim 25, wherein the second connecting module comprises:

a second pin body pulled in between the first strap portion and the body portion;

second protrusion portions provided to project from both ends of the second pin body, at least one of the second protrusion portions elastically driven from the second pin body;

a connecting pin portion provided in the second protrusion portions and electrically connecting the body portion with the second strap portion; and

a connector pin portion provided in the second pin body, provided to project to an inside of the second strap portion, and electrically connecting the connecting pin portion with the member.

27. The wearable device of claim 26, wherein the connecting pin portion and the connector pin portion comprise at least any one of a two pin-type or a four pin-type.

28. The wearable device of claim 26, wherein the second pin body and the second protrusion portions further comprise an insulation coating layer.

29. The wearable device of claim 26,

wherein a first sealing member is provided in the first strap portion and the body portion to seal a coupled surface between the first strap portion and the body portion, and

wherein a second sealing member is provided in the second strap portion and the body portion to seal a coupled surface between the second strap portion and the body portion.

30. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein a short circuit preventing circuit is further included between the body portion and the first strap portion to restrict an inflow of an electrical signal of a body terminal portion electrically connecting the body portion with the second strap portion.

31. The wearable device of claim 30,

wherein the short circuit preventing circuit is provided in a coupling portion where the connecting portion is mounted, and

wherein the connecting portion is provided to restrict a contact short circuit depending on whether the coupling portion has a contact.

32. The wearable device of claim 30, wherein the short circuit preventing circuit is provided to restrict a short circuit by deactivating power supply depending on whether there is power supply pairing between the body portion and the first and second strap portions according to attachment or detachment of the first and second strap portions.

33. A wearable device, the wearable device comprising:

a body portion of the wearable device;

a connecting portion mechanically securing and electrically connecting the body portion with a first strap portion or mechanically securing and electrically connecting the body portion with a second strap portion;

the first strap portion configured to be attached or detached from the connecting portion and provided to allow the connecting portion to be worn on a human body; and

the second strap portion configured to;

be detachably exchanged with the first strap portion,

be electrically connected to the connecting portion, and

have a battery and at least one member to provide a signal generated from the at least one member to the body portion via the connecting portion,

wherein the connecting portion comprises;

a first coupling portion coupling the first strap portion with the body portion; and

a second coupling portion coupling the second strap portion with the body portion, and a pogo pin-type connecting member electrically connecting the member with the body portion according to coupling of the body portion.

34. The wearable device of claim 33, wherein the pogo pin-type connecting member comprises:

a pogo pin member provided in the body portion by insert bonding or insert molding; and

a pad portion provided in the second strap portion and contacting the pogo pin member to be electrically connected with the pogo pin member.

35. The wearable device of claim 34,

wherein the first strap portion further comprises a first sealing member tightly contacting a periphery of the pogo pin member, and

wherein a second sealing member is projectingly provided at a periphery of the pad portion to tightly contact the periphery of the pogo pin member.

36. The wearable device of claim 35, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member comprise at least one of a rubber material, a silicone material, a urethane material, or a synthetic resin material.