Wearable computer

• US 6,047,301 A
• Filed: 05/24/1996
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cato, Robert Thomas, Bjorklund, Ronald Einar
• Primary Examiner(s): MOISE, EMMANUEL LIONEL
• Application Number:
  US08/653,217
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 361/680-686, 361/730, 708/139, 708/140, 708/141, 708/142, 345/30, 345/38, 345/44, 345/45, 345/46, 359/152-154, 359/176
• US Class Current: 708/139
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt

Abstract

A wearable computer communicates with its display device via an optical link. The optical link may utilize different colored LEDs and corresponding photodetectors for transmitting and receiving the video and control signals to and from the computer and the hand-held display package. The wearable computer may communicate with a local area network by a radio communications link. The use of two antennas mounted and associated with the wearable computer eliminates any notch within a propagation pattern emanated from the antennas.

Claims

1. A data processing system comprising:

a first unit adaptable for wearing by a user, wherein said first unit includes a processor;

a second unit physically separate from said first unit, wherein said second unit includes an input or output device; and

an optical link for enabling said first unit to communicate with said second unit, wherein said optical link comprises;

a first transceiver coupled to said processor;

one or more LEDs coupled to said first transceiver; and

one or more photodetectors coupled to said input or output device and operable for receiving signals transmitted from said one or more LEDs, wherein said first transceiver and said one or more LEDs are located coextensively with said first unit, and wherein said one or more photodetectors are located coextensively with said second unit, wherein said one or more photodetectors each further comprise a gain control circuit, said gain control circuit comprising;

a photodiode;

a first amplifier having an input coupled to said photodiode;

a peak follower circuit coupled to an output of said first amplifier; and

a second amplifier having a first input coupled to an output of said peak follower circuit and a second input coupled to a reference signal, wherein an output of said second amplifier is operable for controlling a gain of said first amplifier.

2. The data processing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first unit further includes RAM, ROM, storage devices, and a display adapter coupled to said processor via a system bus, and wherein said second unit further includes a touch screen.

3. The data processing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said input or output device includes a display screen.

4. The data processing system as recited in claim 3, wherein said display screen is a touch screen.

5. The data processing system as recited in claim 3, wherein said second unit is adaptable for being hand held by said user.

6. The data processing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said optical link comprises:

a first transceiver coupled to said processor;

one or more LEDs coupled to said first transceiver; and

a first photodetector coupled to said processor and operable for receiving signals transmitted from said one or more LEDs, wherein said first transceiver and said one or more LEDs are located coextensively with said second unit, and wherein said first photodetector is located coextensively with said first unit.

7. The data processing system as recited in claim 6, wherein said optical link comprises:

a second transceiver coupled to said input or output device;

one or more LEDs coupled to said second transceiver; and

one or more photodetectors coupled to said processor and operable for receiving signals transmitted from said one or more LEDs coupled to said second transceiver, wherein said second transceiver and said one or more LEDs coupled to said second transceiver are located coextensively with said second unit, and wherein said one or more photodetectors coupled to said processor are located coextensively with said first unit.

8. A data processing system comprising:

a first unit adaptable for wearing by a user, wherein said first unit includes a processor;

a second unit physically separate from said first unit, wherein said second unit includes an input or output device; and

an optical link for enabling said first unit to communicate with said second unit, wherein said optical link comprises;

a video display controller chip operable for producing red, green, and blue color signals and vertical and horizontal synchronization signals;

first, second, and third LED drive circuits operable for receiving the red, green, and blue color signals, respectively, from said video display controller chip;

first, second, and third LEDs operable for being driven by said first, second, and third LED drive circuits, respectively, wherein said first LED outputs a red light signal associated with said red color signal, wherein said second LED outputs a green light signal associated with said green color signal, and wherein said third LED outputs a yellow light signal associated with said blue color signal;

first, second, and third photodetectors operable for receiving said red, green, and yellow light signals, respectively;

circuitry for generating a composite synchronization signal in response to receipt of said vertical and said horizontal synchronization signals, wherein said circuit for generating said composite synchronization signal drives a fourth LED, which outputs an infrared light signal associated with said composite synchronization signal; and

a fourth photodetector for receiving said infrared light signal.

9. An apparatus for transmitting information optically, said apparatus comprising:

LED drive circuitry operable for receiving said information;

one or more LEDs operable for emitting one or more light signals at one or more wavelengths when driven by said LED drive circuitry with one or more signals representing said information;

one or more photodetectors operable for receiving said one or more light signals and producing one or more electrical signals as a function of said received one or more light signals;

a first amplifier having an input coupled to each of said one or more photodetectors;

a peak follower circuit coupled to an output of said first amplifier; and

a second amplifier having a first input coupled to an output of said peak follower circuit and a second input coupled to a reference signal, wherein an output of said second amplifier is operable for controlling a gain of said first amplifier.

10. An apparatus for transmitting information optically, said apparatus comprising:

LED drive circuitry operable for receiving said information;

one or more LEDs operable for emitting one or more light signals at one or more wavelengths when driven by said LED drive circuitry with one or more signals representing said information;

one or more photodetectors operable for receiving said one or more light signals and producing one or more electrical signals as a function of said received one or more light signals;

a video display controller operable for producing red, green, and blue video color signals and vertical and horizontal synchronization signals, wherein said LED drive circuitry includes first, second, and third LED drive circuits operable for receiving the red, green, and blue color signals, respectively, and wherein said one or more LEDs include first, second, and third LEDs operable for being driven by said first, second, and third LED drive circuits, respectively, wherein said first LED outputs a red light signal associated with said red color signal, wherein said second LED outputs a green light signal associated with said green color signal, and wherein said third LED outputs a yellow light signal associated with said blue color signal, and wherein said one or more photodetectors include first, second, and third photodetectors operable for receiving said red, green, and yellow light signals, respectively;

circuitry for generating a composite synchronization signal in response to receipt of said vertical and said horizontal synchronization signals, wherein said circuit for generating said composite synchronization signal drives a fourth LED, which outputs an infrared light signal associated with said composite synchronization signal; and

a fourth photodetector for receiving said infrared light signal.