MODULAR FUNCTIONAL BAND LINKS FOR WEARABLE DEVICES

• US 20160094259A1
• Filed: 02/17/2015
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Weber, Douglas J., Shadle, Brian, Lee, Alex M., Lancaster-Larocque, Simon R., Hatanaka, Motohide, Herman, David S., Wieler, Patrick S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,553,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/00 Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps settings for holding gems or the like A44C17/02; devices for putting-on or pulling-off bracelets A47G25/901
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0007 Bracelets specially adapted for other functions or with means for attaching other articles
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/02 Link constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/083 Watches distributed over several housings
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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 1/724094 Interfacing with a device worn on the user's body to provide access to telephonic functionalities, e.g. accepting a call, reading or composing a message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wearable device is coupled to a band including multiple modular functional band links that are each electrically and mechanically connected to one or more other of the band links and/or the wearable device and include one or more electronic components. In various implementations, the wearable device may receive identifiers from each of the band links, determine functionality available using the identifiers, and communicate with the band links to utilize the determine functionality. In some implementations, the band links may include multiple different output devices and the wearable device may determine to provide an output pattern and signal the respective output devices according to the output pattern. In various implementations, the band links may include multiple different input devices and the wearable device may receive input indications from the input devices and perform an action based on a pattern in which the input indications were detected by the respective input devices.

Claims

1. A band system for a wearable device, comprising:

a wearable device; and

multiple modular functional band links that each include an electronic component and electrically and mechanically connect to at least one of the wearable device or another of the multiple modular functional band links;

wherein the wearable device;

receives identifiers from each of the multiple modular functional band links;

determines functionality available via the multiple modular functional band links utilizing the received identifiers; and

communicates with one of the multiple modular functional band links to utilize the determined functionality.

2. The band system of claim 1, wherein the electronic component comprises at least one of a battery, an input device, an output device, a haptic device, a display, a sensor, an actuator, a processor, an electricity generator, a photovoltaic cell, a camera, a photo sensor, an indicator, an accelerometer, a speedometer, a compass, a gyroscope, a global positioning system, a thermometer, a hygrometer, a blood pressure sensor, a sweat sensor, a magnetic field sensor, an antenna, a vibrator, a speaker, a track wheel, a track ball, a touch sensor, a button, a slider, or a force sensor.

3. The band system of claim 1, wherein the identifiers each include information specifying the electronic component included in the respective modular functional band link and uniquely identifying the respective modular functional band link.

4. The band system of claim 1, wherein the wearable device uses the identifiers to address communications to the multiple modular functional band links.

5. The band system of claim 1, wherein the electrical connection comprises at least one of a power connection, a ground connection, or a communication connection.

6. The band system of claim 1, wherein a first of the modular functional band links electrically and mechanically connects to at least one of a second of the modular functional band links or the wearable device via a pin that includes conductive portions separated by nonconductive portions.

7. The band system of claim 6, wherein the first of the modular functional band links electrically connects to the pin via flexible conductive material extending from the first of the first of the modular functional band links.

8. The band system of claim 7, wherein the pin is rotatable with respect to the first of the first of the modular functional band links and the flexible conductive material remains electrically connected to the pin despite rotation.

9. The band system of claim 1, wherein a first of the modular functional band links is communicably connected to at least one of a second of the modular functional band links or the wearable device via a fiber optic connection.

10. The band system of claim 1, wherein a first of the modular functional band links electrically connects to at least one of a second of the modular functional band links or the wearable device via conductive portions of a groove that contact conductive portions of a tongue that is inserted into the groove.

11. The band system of claim 1, wherein:

the multiple modular functional band links include multiple input components; and

the wearable device receives input indications from the multiple input components and performs an action based on a pattern in which the input indications were detected by the respective multiple input components.

12. The band system of claim 1, wherein:

the multiple modular functional band links include multiple output components; and

the wearable device determines to provide an output pattern using the multiple output components and signals the multiple output components according to the pattern.

13. The band system of claim 1, wherein the multiple modular functional band links are configured to be:

connected in multiple sequences;

connected omitting one of the multiple modular functional band links;

or

connected utilizing an additional modular functional band link.

14. The band system of claim 1, wherein the multiple modular functional band links include multiple batteries that are connected in at least one of series or parallel.

15. The band system of claim 14, wherein the multiple batteries are chargeable by coupling the wearable device to a power source.

16. The band system of claim 15, wherein the multiple modular functional band links are configured to be disconnected from the wearable device and connected to a power adapter that is operable to charge the multiple batteries by coupling to the power source.

17. The band system of claim 1, further comprising at least one modular band link without an electronic component that is mechanically connect to at least one of the wearable device or one of the multiple modular functional band links.

18. The band system of claim 17, at least one modular band link electrically connects at least one of two of the multiple modular functional band links or one of the multiple modular functional band links and the wearable device.

19. A band system for a wearable device, comprising:

a wearable device; and

multiple modular functional band links that electrically and mechanically connect to at least one of the wearable device or another of the multiple modular functional band links;

wherein;

the multiple modular functional band links each include an input component and the wearable device receives input indications from the multiple modular functional band links and performs an action based on a pattern in which the input indications were detected by the respective modular functional band links;

or

the multiple modular functional band links each include an output component and the wearable device determines to provide an output pattern using the multiple modular functional band links and signals the multiple modular functional band links according to the pattern.

20. A method for utilizing functional components of band system for a wearable device, comprising:

receiving identifiers at a wearable device from multiple modular functional band links connected to the wearable device;

determining functionality available via the multiple modular functional band links utilizing the received identifiers; and

communicating with one of the multiple modular functional band links to utilize the determined functionality.