Wearable display device, corresponding systems, and method for presenting output on the same

• US 20130222270A1
• Filed: 02/28/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Winkler, David P., Erpenbeck, Michael J., Johnson, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,947,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3861 carried in a hand or on fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0233 Including a rotatable display body part
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 : by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 : by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An electronic device can include detectors for altering the presentation of data on one or more displays. In a wearable electronic device, a flexible housing can be configured to enfold about an appendage of a user, such as a user'"'"'s wrist. A display can disposed along a major face of the flexible housing. A control circuit can be operable with the display. A gaze detector can be included to detect a gaze direction, and optionally a gaze cone. An orientation detector can be configured to detect an orientation of the electronic device relative to the user. The control circuit can alter a presentation of data on the display in response to a detected gaze direction, in response to detected orientation of the wearable electronic device relative to the user, in response to touch or gesture input, or combinations thereof. Secondary displays can be hingedly coupled to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A wearable electronic device, comprising:

a flexible housing configured to enfold about an appendage of a user;

a display disposed along a major face of the flexible housing;

a gaze detector; and

a control circuit, operable with the display and the gaze detector, and configured to alter a presentation of data on the display in response to a detected gaze direction.

2. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is operable to determine a gaze cone corresponding to the detected gaze direction and alter the presentation of the data by presenting the data on a portion of the display disposed within the gaze cone.

3. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is operable to alter the presentation of the data by one of rotating the data based upon the detected gaze direction, moving the data on the display based upon the detected gaze direction, or combinations thereof.

4. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch sensitive display, wherein the control circuit is further configured to additionally alter the presentation of the data in response to touch input along the touch sensitive display.

5. The wearable electronic device of claim 4, wherein the control circuit is configured to override alteration of the presentation of the data on the display in response to the detected gaze direction in response to the touch input.

6. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is operable to configure the display in a first operational mode when the flexible housing is enfolded about the appendage of the user, and configure the display in a second operational mode when the flexible housing is elongated.

7. A wearable electronic device, comprising:

a wearable housing;

a display disposed along a major face of the wearable housing;

a communication circuit; and

a control circuit, operable with the display and the communication circuit, and configured to receive a display image with the communication circuit and render the display image as a background image on the display.

8. The wearable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the control circuit is operable to change the background image when a predetermined criterion is met.

9. The wearable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the predetermined criterion is an expiration of a timer.

10. The wearable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the predetermined criterion is a detected mood of a wearer.

11. The wearable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the predetermined criterion is a detected health condition of a wearer.

12. The wearable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the display comprises a touch sensitive display, wherein the predetermined criterion comprises an object touching the touch sensitive display.

13. A wearable electronic device, comprising:

a wearable housing;

a primary display disposed along a major face of the wearable housing and configured to alter a physical geometry as the wearable housing bends or flexes; and

a secondary display coupled to the wearable housing by a hinged connection so as to be rotatable relative to the wearable housing.

14. The wearable electronic device of claim 13, wherein the hinged connection is configured to allow the secondary display to rotate between at least a first orientation relative to the wearable housing to a second, angularly displaced orientation relative to the wearable housing.

15. The wearable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the hinged connection is preloaded with a tensioning device configured to open the secondary display from the first orientation to the second, angularly displaced orientation.

16. The wearable electronic device of claim 15, further comprising a retaining device configured to oppose preloading of the tensioning device to retain the secondary display in the first orientation.

17. The wearable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the hinged connection comprises a motor configured to automatically open the secondary display from the first orientation to the second, angularly displaced orientation.

18. The wearable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the motor is configured to open the secondary display from the first orientation to the second, angularly displaced orientation in response to a device event.

19. The wearable electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a control circuit operable with the primary display and the secondary display, wherein the control circuit is configured to display data with continuity between the primary display and the secondary display when the secondary display is in the first orientation.

20. The wearable electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a control circuit operable with the primary display and the secondary display, wherein the control circuit is configured to display data with discontinuity between the primary display and the secondary display when the secondary display is in the second, angularly displaced orientation.