Body wearable information processing terminal device

• US 6,619,835 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Kita, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lindinger, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US09/858,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20010043514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 368/11, 368/281-282, 368/10
• US Class Current: 368/281
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0015 providing information, e.g. bracelets with calendars identification bracelets G09F3/005
• 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: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature
• 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 2001/3855 carried in a belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• 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

Abstract

A function module unit having a memory function is removably attached on one of wrist bands, while a function module unit having a sensor function is removably attached to the other wrist band. On both wrist bands, bus line wires are embedded along the longitudinal direction. Each of the bus line wires comprises a Vcc line, a serial data line, a clock data line, and a ground line. Each of these lines is provided with a connector member which is exposed on the back surface of the wrist band at a position corresponding to the function module unit.

Claims

1. A body wearable information processing device driven by a battery with predetermined capacity information, the device comprising:

a case body including a display which displays data, a control circuit which performs a predetermined function, and a first memory which stores received module data;

a band connected to the case body for removable attachment to a human body, and including a bus line wire extending along a longitudinal direction of the band and a first terminal electrically connected to the bus line wire; and

a function module or modules removably attached to the band and each including a second memory which stores module data indicative of each of the function modules, an electric circuit, and a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal,

wherein the control circuit comprises a memory controller which reads the module data from the second memory of the function module or modules which are attached to the band and writes the read module data into the first memory, and an output unit which compares a sum information of power consumption of the function module or modules corresponding to the read module data stored in the first memory with predetermined capacity information and outputs a result of the comparison.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bus line wire is embedded in the band and comprises a power source line, data line, clock line, and a ground line.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bus line wire comprises a first line which transmits power from the battery and data, and a second line for grounding.

4. A body wearable information processing device driven by a battery with predetermined capacity information, the device comprising:

a case body including a display which displays data, a control circuit which performs a predetermined function, and a first memory which stores received module data; and

a band connected to the case body and including function modules and a connector which removably connects the function modules, each of the function modules including an electronic circuit and a second memory which stores module data indicative of each of the function modules,

wherein the control circuit includes a memory controller which reads the module data from the second memory of each of the function modules and writes the read module data into the first memory, and an output unit which compares a sum information of power consumption of the function modules corresponding to the read module data stored in the first memory with the predetermined capacity information and outputs a result of the comparison.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein:

the case body includes a first terminal electrically connected to the control circuit;

each of the function modules includes a signal line connected to the electronic circuit and second terminals connected to both ends of the signal line;

the function modules are connected to each other through the second terminals; and

the case body and the function modules are electrically connected through the first terminal and second terminals.

6. A body wearable information processing device driven by a battery with predetermined capacity information, the device comprising:

a case body including a display which displays data, a control circuit which performs a predetermined function, and a first memory which stores received module data; and

a band connected to the case body and including function modules and a connector which removably connects the function modules, each of the function modules including a second memory which stores module data indicative of the function modules, a signal line, and second terminals connected to both ends of the signal line,

wherein the control circuit includes a memory controller which reads the module data from the second memory of each of the function modules and writes the read module data into the first memory and an output unit which compares a sum information of power consumption of the function modules corresponding to the read module data stored in the first memory with the predetermined capacity information and outputs a result of the comparison.

7. A body wearable information processing device driven by a battery with predetermined capacity information, the device comprising:

a case body including a display which displays data, a control circuit which performs a predetermined function, a communication controller which controls optical data communication, and a first memory which stores received module data;

a band connected to the case body and removably attachable to a human body and including a bus line wire extending along a longitudinal direction of the band, a first terminal electrically connected to the bus line wire, a first light emitting unit electrically connected to the bus line wire, and a first light receiving unit electrically connected to the bus line wire; and

a function module or modules removably attached to the band and each comprising a second memory which stores module data indicative of each of the function modules, an electronic circuit, a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal, a second light receiving unit which is arranged to face the first light emitting unit, and a second light emitting unit which is arranged to face the first light receiving unit, wherein the control circuit includes a memory controller which reads the module data from the second memory of each of the function module or modules which are attached to the band and writes the read module data into the first memory and an output unit which compares a sum information of power consumption of the function module or modules corresponding to the read module data stored in the first memory with the predetermined capacity information and outputs a result of the comparison.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the bus line wire is embedded in the band and includes a power source line, a data communication line for optical data communication, and a ground line.

9. A body wearable information processing device driven by a battery with predetermined capacity information, the device comprising:

a case body including a display which displays data, a control circuit which performs a predetermined function, and a first memory which stores received module data;

a band connected to the case body and which is connected to the case body and removably attachable to a human body, and including a first coil for an electromagnetic induction; and

a function module or modules which are removably attached to the band and each including a second coil for an electromagnetic induction, a second memory which stores module data indicative of each of the function modules, and an electric circuit;

wherein the control circuit comprises a transfer controller which transfers one of power from the battery and data between the first coil and second coil, a memory controller which reads the module data from the second memory of each of the function module or modules which are attached to the band and writes the read module data into the first memory and an output unit which compares a sum information of power consumption of the function module or modules corresponding to the read module data stored in the first memory with the predetermined capacity information and outputs a result of the comparison.