Modular movement that is fully functional standalone and interchangeable in other portable devices

• US 7,946,758 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WIMM Labs
• Inventors: Mooring, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KAYES, SEAN PHILLIP
• Application Number:
  US12/024,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20090196124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 368/88, 368/276, 368/309, 368/281, 340/407.1, 340/407.2
• US Class Current: 368/276
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/005 with cover or protection device which can be completely removed, either by lifting off or by sliding, or by turning (protection covers, protection cases also against humidity)
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/1413 Separable means
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/008 Mounting, assembling of components
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/08 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49584 having case, cover, or back

Abstract

A portable device comprising a modular movement is disclosed. The modular movement has a body housing a plurality of layers that include a top layer of glass, and a movement subassembly for displaying information, including time, wherein the modular movement includes all parts necessary for power and operation, including the displaying of the information, such that the modular movement is fully functional standalone. The portable device further includes a case, which includes a receptacle for removably receiving the modular movement without need for a tool, such that the modular movement is user-interchangeable with another case of another portable device.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a modular movement having a body housing a plurality of layers, including;

a top layer of glass,

a movement subassembly for displaying information, including time,

wherein the modular movement includes all parts necessary for power and operation, including the displaying of the information, such that the modular movement is fully functional standalone;

a case, the case including a receptacle for removably receiving the modular movement without need for a tool, such that the modular movement is user-interchangeable with another case of another portable device;

wherein the receptacle is formed as an opening in a back of the case and the case includes a latching mechanism for removably retaining the modular movement, the latching mechanism being calibrated to account for when the case is worn and the modular movement is inserted into the receptacle, the modular movement is held in inside the receptacle at least in part by a wearer'"'"'s body; and

wherein the modular movement can be used, operated and recharged both alone and when inserted into the case.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the modular movement and the receptacle in the case are standard sizes, such that a plurality of different modular movements manufactured and sold by one set of manufacturers fit within receptacles of a plurality of different cases manufactured and sold by another set of manufacturers.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the case comprises a watch case that is wearable on a wrist of a user, and wherein the modular movement is further removably insertable into a second case of a device that is not wearable by the user.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the modular movement is water resistant.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is formed in the case with a set of sidewalls whose number, shape, size, and depth are substantially similar to those of the modular movement.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the case is further provided with a faceplate that aids in retaining the modular movement inside the case and defines which portions of a front of the modular movement are visible through the case.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the depth of the modular movement and the case are substantially similar so that when the modular movement is inserted into the receptacle, one side of the modular movement in an open end of the receptacle is approximately coplanar with a back of the case, and wherein the glass that is open through the faceplate is approximately coplanar with a top of the case.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the faceplate has a shape different from that of the modular movement.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the body houses a mechanical movement comprising:

components of a raw movement including a main plate, bridges, a train, a winding and setting mechanism and a regulator; and

a timing system, an escapement, a mainspring, and a time display, wherein the time display is covered by the glass of the modular movement.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the body houses an electronic movement, and the plurality of layers further includes a battery.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the electronic movement comprising a quartz movement.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic movement comprises a computer-based modular movement, wherein the top layer of glass comprises a touchscreen and the plurality of layers further includes:

a printed circuit board including a memory and a processor for executing software that displays a user interface on the touchscreen and operates the modular movement,

the battery, and

a communications interface for receiving data remotely that is displayed and updated on the touchscreen.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the portable device further includes one or more external batteries, wherein the modular movement is configured to selectively determine whether to draw the power from at least one of:

the battery, the one or more external batteries, and combination both.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the user interface of the modular movement is controlled by a user interacting with the touchscreen through touch, such that a button or a dial for controlling the user interface are completely absent from both the modular movement and the case.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein once the modular movement is inserted into the receptacle of the case, the modular movement automatically determines characteristics of the case and configures the user interface based at least in part on the characteristics of the case.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the user interface displayed on the touchscreen of the modular movement may include an icon carousel comprising a scrollable display of icons that are laid out along an arc of a wheel across the touchscreen, where only a subset of the icons on each side of a center position are visible on the touchscreen at a time;

wherein the user may rotate/scroll the icons around the icon carousel to a left or right with a swipe of a finger in a corresponding direction along the icon carousel and when the icon carousel stops rotating, an icon in the center position is a currently active icon that can be selected or activated via finger touch.

17. A modular movement, comprising:

a movement subassembly comprising,

a touchscreen;

a printed circuit board including a memory and a processor for executing software that displays a user interface on the touchscreen and operates the modular movement,

a battery, and

wherein the movement subassembly is a complete working mechanism; and

a body that houses the movement subassembly such that the touchscreen is integrated with the body, and

wherein the modular movement is removably insertable into a case of a portable device without tools and in a manner whereby the touchscreen of the modular movement is visible through the case;

wherein the modular movement can be used, operated and recharged both alone and when inserted into the case; and

wherein the user interface of the modular movement is controlled by a user interacting with the touchscreen through touch, such that a button or a dial for controlling the user interface are completely absent from the modular movement.

18. The modular movement of claim 17 wherein the modular movement is water resistant.

19. The modular movement of claim 17 wherein the user interface of the modular movement is controlled by a user interacting with the touchscreen through touch, such that a button or a dial for controlling the user interface are completely absent from both the modular movement and the case.

20. The modular movement of claim 19 wherein once the modular movement is inserted into the case, the modular movement automatically determines characteristics of the case and configures the user interface based at least in part on the characteristics of the case.

21. The modular movement of claim 18 wherein the user interface displayed on the touchscreen of the modular movement may include an icon carousel comprising a scrollable display of icons that are laid out along an arc of a wheel across the touchscreen, where only a subset of the icons on each side of a center position are visible on the touchscreen at a time;

wherein a user may rotate/scroll the icons around the icon carousel to a left or right with a swipe of a finger in a corresponding direction along the icon carousel and when the icon carousel stops rotating, an icon in the center position is a currently active icon that can be selected or activated via finger touch.

22. The modular movement of claim 17 wherein the portable device further includes one or more external batteries, and wherein the modular movement is configured to selectively determine whether to draw power from at least one of:

the battery, the one or more external batteries, and combination both.

23. A portable device comprising:

a modular movement having a body housing a plurality of layers, including;

a touchscreen,

a printed circuit board including a memory and a processor for executing software that displays a user interface on the touchscreen and operates the modular movement,

a battery, and

a case, wherein the case includes a receptacle for removably receiving the modular movement without need for a tool, such that the modular movement is interchangeable with at least a second portable device;

wherein the modular movement can be used, operated and recharged both alone and when inserted into the case; and

wherein the user interface of the modular movement is controlled by a user interacting with the touchscreen through touch, such that a button or a dial for controlling the user interface are completely absent from both the modular movement and the case.