Wearable computer

• US 6,336,126 B1
• Filed: 10/05/1999
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bjorklund, Ronald Einar, Cato, Robert Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): MOISE, EMMANUEL LIONEL
• Application Number:
  US09/412,125
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 708/139, 361/681-686, 358/310, 359/152, 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 the 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 processor is coupled to a first RF transceiver and antenna.

2. The data processing system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a second RF transceiver and antenna operable for communicating with said first RF transceiver; and

a server computer coupled to said second RF transceiver and antenna, wherein said server computer is capable of communicating with said processor via said first and second RF transceivers and antennas.

3. 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;

an optical link for enabling said first unit to communicate with said second unit; and

means for physically attaching said second unit to said first unit, wherein the input or output device includes an output display.

4. The data processing system as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

means for supplying electrical power from said first unit to said second unit when said second unit is physically attached to said first unit.

5. 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 first unit is mounted in a holster.

6. A wearable computer, comprising:

a first unit including a processor, wherein said first unit is adaptable for mounting on a user'"'"'s body; and

a pair of RF antennas adaptable for mounting on said user'"'"'s body to provide a 360 degree propagation pattern around said user, said pair of RF antennas coupled to said first unit through a transceiver and operable for permitting said first unit to communicate with another data processing device.

7. The wearable computer as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

a second unit including a display device, wherein said second unit is adaptable for being hand-held by said user; and

means for permitting communications between said first and second units.

8. The wearable computer as recited in claim 7, wherein said permitting means comprises:

a tether wire coupled between said first and second units, said tether wire carrying video, control, and power signals.

9. The wearable computer as recited in claim 7, wherein said permitting means comprises:

an optical link for enabling said first unit to communicate with said second unit.

10. The wearable computer as recited in claim 9, wherein said optical link comprises:

a transceiver coupled to said processor;

one or more LEDs coupled to said transceiver; and

one or more photodetectors coupled to said display device and operable for receiving signals transmitted from said one or more LEDs, wherein said 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.

11. 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; and

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,

wherein the light signals are wirelessly coupled to the LEDs and the photodetectors.

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

LED drive circuitry operable for receiving said information,

one or more LEDs operable for emittng 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; and

one or more light wavelength selective filters through which said one or more light signals pass before being received by said one or more photodetectors.

13. 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; and

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, wherein said information includes red, green, and blue video color signals.

14. 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; and

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, wherein said information includes vertical and horizontal synchronization signals.