Systems, articles and methods for wearable electronic devices that accommodate different user forms
First Claim
1. A closed annular wearable electronic device having a variable circumference, the closed annular wearable electronic device comprising:
- a first pod structure positioned at least approximately on the circumference, wherein the first pod structure includes a first housing formed of a substantially rigid material, the first housing including an inner volume that contains a first electrical circuitry and a first sensor to detect a signal from a user;
a second pod structure positioned at least approximately on the circumference, wherein the second pod structure includes a second housing formed of a substantially rigid material, the second housing including an inner volume that contains a second electrical circuitry and a second sensor to detect a signal from the user, and wherein the first and the second sensors are physically spaced apart from one another by a circumferential spacing C and by an angular spacing θ
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at least one continuous, closed annular adaptive coupler that physically couples the first pod structure and the second pod structure, wherein a length of the at least one adaptive coupler is variable and the circumferential spacing C between the first and second sensors is variable, and wherein the angular spacing θ
between the first and the second sensors is at least approximately constant regardless of the length of the at least one adaptive coupler; and
at least one flexible electrical connection that communicatively couples the first electrical circuitry to the second electrical circuitry, the at least one flexible electrical connection in a folded configuration when the circumferential spacing C is at a minimum and the at least one flexible electrical connection at least partially unfolded from the folded configuration when the circumferential spacing C is greater than the minimum.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Wearable electronic devices that provide robustness against variations in user form are described. The wearable electronic devices include a set of pod structures arranged in an annular configuration having a variable circumference, with adaptive physical coupling between adjacent pairs of pod structures. Adaptive physical coupling advantageously accommodates different user sizes, forms, and movements and enhances the overall ergonomics of the wearable electronic devices. Adaptive physical coupling also maintains substantially constant and/or equal angular spacing between components of the wearable electronic devices regardless of the form of the user.
290 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A closed annular wearable electronic device having a variable circumference, the closed annular wearable electronic device comprising:
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a first pod structure positioned at least approximately on the circumference, wherein the first pod structure includes a first housing formed of a substantially rigid material, the first housing including an inner volume that contains a first electrical circuitry and a first sensor to detect a signal from a user; a second pod structure positioned at least approximately on the circumference, wherein the second pod structure includes a second housing formed of a substantially rigid material, the second housing including an inner volume that contains a second electrical circuitry and a second sensor to detect a signal from the user, and wherein the first and the second sensors are physically spaced apart from one another by a circumferential spacing C and by an angular spacing θ
;at least one continuous, closed annular adaptive coupler that physically couples the first pod structure and the second pod structure, wherein a length of the at least one adaptive coupler is variable and the circumferential spacing C between the first and second sensors is variable, and wherein the angular spacing θ
between the first and the second sensors is at least approximately constant regardless of the length of the at least one adaptive coupler; andat least one flexible electrical connection that communicatively couples the first electrical circuitry to the second electrical circuitry, the at least one flexible electrical connection in a folded configuration when the circumferential spacing C is at a minimum and the at least one flexible electrical connection at least partially unfolded from the folded configuration when the circumferential spacing C is greater than the minimum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21, 22, 23)
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11. A wearable electronic device comprising:
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a set of pod structures arranged in a closed annular configuration having a variable continuous circumference, each pod structure in the set of pod structures including a respective housing formed of a substantially rigid material, the respective housing of each pod structure in the set of pod structures including a respective inner volume that contains a respective electrical circuitry and a respective sensor to detect signals from a user, wherein each pod structure in the set of pod structures is positioned adjacent two other pod structures in the set of pod structures at least approximately on the continuous circumference, and wherein the respective sensors of each pair of adjacent pod structures are physically spaced apart from one another in the closed annular configuration by a circumferential spacing C and an angular spacing θ
;at least one closed continuous annular adaptive coupler that physically couples each pod structure in the set of pod structures to two adjacent pod structures in the set of pod structures and physically binds the set of pod structures in the closed continuous annular configuration, wherein a length of the at least one adaptive coupler is variable and the circumferential spacing C between the respective sensors of each pair of adjacent pod structures is variable, and wherein the angular spacing θ
between the respective sensors of each pair of adjacent pod structures is at least approximately constant regardless of the length of the at least one adaptive coupler; anda set of flexible electrical connections, wherein each flexible electrical connection communicatively couples a respective pair of two of the electrical circuitries, each flexible electrical connection in a folded configuration when the circumferential spacing C is at a minimum and each flexible electrical connection at least partially unfolded from the folded configuration when the circumferential spacing C is greater than the minimum. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24)
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Specification