Wearable computing device with module protrusion passing into flexible circuitry

• US 5,798,907 A
• Filed: 12/02/1996
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Embedded Technologies LLC (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Via Inc. (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Janik, Craig M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/759,846
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 439/67, 439/77, 174/254, 174/268, 174/72 A, 174/117 F, 174/117 FF, 361/680-686, 361/733, 361/749, 361/827
• US Class Current: 361/679.03
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/14 Structural association of two or more printed circuits providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/361 Assembling flexible printed circuits with other printed circuits

Abstract

A wearable computing device includes at least one computing-device component module and flexible circuitry operably connected to the module. The module includes a top module portion, a bottom module portion, and at least one protrusion for holding the top module portion in substantially fixed relationship with the bottom module portion. The protrusion passes into and/or through the flexible circuitry. A plurality of such modules are also contemplated.

Claims

1. A wearable computing device, comprising:

a plurality of computing-device component modules; and

flexible circuitry operably connecting the computing-device component modules;

wherein each module comprises;

a top module portion;

a bottom module portion; and

at least one protrusion for holding the top module portion in substantially fixed relationship with the bottom module portion, the at least one protrusion passing into the flexible circuitry.

2. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the top module portion and the bottom module portion each define an exterior surface of the computing-device component module.

3. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a plurality of bosses extending from one of the top and bottom module portions toward the other of the top and bottom module portions.

4. The wearable computing device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of bosses extend substantially parallel to sides of the top and bottom module portions.

5. The wearable computing device of claim 1, further comprising additional computing-device circuitry supported in substantially fixed relationship to the flexible circuitry, the additional computing-device circuitry being supported between the top module portion and the bottom module portion.

6. The wearable computing device of claim 5, wherein the additional computing-device circuitry comprises microprocessor circuitry.

7. The wearable computing device of claim 5, wherein the additional computing-device circuitry comprises input/output circuitry.

8. The wearable computing device of claim 5, wherein the additional computing-device circuitry comprises flash memory.

9. The wearable computing device of claim 5, wherein the additional computing-device circuitry comprises random access memory.

10. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein one of the computing-device component modules comprises a power supply.

11. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion is constructed to mechanically register the flexible circuitry within the module.

12. The wearable computing device of claim 1, further comprising a wearable member connecting the plurality of modules and supporting the plurality of modules about the body of a wearer.

13. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion passes through the flexible circuitry.

14. A wearable computing device, comprising:

at least one computing-device component module; and

flexible circuitry operably connected to the at least one computing-device component module;

wherein the at least one computing-device component module comprises;

a top module portion;

a bottom module portion; and

at least one protrusion for holding the top module portion in substantially fixed relationship with the bottom module portion, the at least one protrusion passing into the flexible circuitry.

15. The wearable computing device of claim 14, wherein the at least one protrusion passes through the flexible circuitry.

16. The wearable computing device of claim 14, further comprising additional computing-device circuitry supported in substantially fixed relationship to the flexible circuitry, the additional computing-device circuitry being supported between the top module portion and the bottom module portion.

17. A wearable computing device, comprising:

a plurality of computing-device component modules; and

flexible circuitry operably connecting the computing-device component modules;

wherein each module comprises;

a top module portion;

a bottom module portion; and

means for holding the top module portion in substantially fixed relationship with the bottom module portion, the means for holding passing into the flexible circuitry.

18. The wearable computing device of claim 17, wherein the means for holding passes through the flexible circuitry.

19. The wearable computing device of claim 17, further comprising additional computing-device circuitry supported in substantially fixed relationship to the flexible circuitry, the additional computing-device circuitry being supported between the top module portion and the bottom module portion.