Touch sensitive wearable band apparatus and method

• US 8,098,141 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Vanska, Anssi Ilmari, Saunamaki, Jarkko Tapio
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US12/395,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20100219943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/653, 340/654, 340/665, 340/691.1, 340/691.6, 340/691.8, 368/281, 345/173, 345/174
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprises a touch sensitive wearable band having a touch sensing circuit; and an electronic device configured to receive signals generated from the touch sensing circuit to provide an indication to a user of the touch sensitive wearable band. In accordance with an another example embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises providing a touch sensitive wearable band having a touch sensing circuit; and configuring an electronic device to receive signals generated from the touch sensing circuit to provide an indication to a user of said touch sensitive wearable band.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a touch sensitive wearable band having a first touch sensing circuit; and

an electronic device configured to receive signals generated from said first touch sensing circuit to provide a function for a user of said touch sensitive wearable band, said electronic device being electrically coupled with said touch sensitive wearable band.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first touch sensing circuit is configured to sense a first stationary finger touch location along a surface of said wearable band, wherein said signals comprise an indication of said first stationary finger touch location.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first touch sensing circuit is further configured to sense a first sliding finger touch direction along said surface of said wearable band, wherein said signals further comprise an indication of said first sliding finger touch direction.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first touch sensing circuit is further configured to sense a second stationary finger touch location along said surface of said wearable band, wherein said signals further comprise an indication of said second stationary finger touch location.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said touch-sensing circuit is configured to measure capacitance.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said touch-sensing circuit is configured to measure resistance.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said touch-sensing circuit is configured to measure inductance.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a display connected with said electronic device.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a wireless transmitter is connected with said electronic device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first touch sensing circuit is configured to sense a first sliding finger touch direction along a surface of said wearable band, wherein said signals further comprise an indication of said first sliding finger touch direction.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first touch sensing circuit is further configured to sense a second sliding finger touch direction along said surface of said wearable band, wherein said signals further comprise an indication of said second sliding finger touch direction.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electronic device includes a second touch-sensing circuit disposed on a rim of said electronic device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said second touch sensing circuit is configured to sense a first stationary finger touch location along said rim, wherein said signals comprise an indication of said first stationary finger touch location.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said second touch sensing circuit is further configured to sense a first sliding finger touch direction along said rim, wherein said signals further comprise an indication of said first sliding finger touch direction.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said second touch sensing circuit is further configured to sense a second stationary finger touch location along said rim, wherein said signals further comprise an indication of said second stationary finger touch location.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said second touch sensing circuit is configured to sense a first sliding finger touch direction along said rim, wherein said signals further comprise an indication of said first sliding finger touch direction.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said second touch sensing circuit is further configured to sense a second sliding finger touch direction along said rim, wherein said signals further comprise an indication of said second sliding finger touch direction.

18. A method comprising:

configuring an electronic device to receive signals generated from a first touch sensing circuit to provide a function for a user of a touch sensitive wearable band, said electronic device being electrically coupled with said touch sensitive wearable band.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said first touch sensing circuit is configured to sense a first stationary finger touch location along a surface of said wearable band, wherein said signals comprise an indication of said first stationary finger touch location.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said first touch sensing circuit is further configured to sense a first sliding finger touch direction along said surface of said wearable band, wherein said signals further comprise an indication of said first sliding finger touch direction.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said first touch sensing circuit is further configured to sense a second stationary finger touch location along said surface of said wearable band, wherein said signals further comprise an indication of said second stationary finger touch location.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said first touch sensing circuit is configured to sense a first sliding finger touch direction along a surface of said wearable band, wherein said signals further comprise an indication of said first sliding finger touch direction.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said first touch sensing circuit is further configured to sense a second sliding finger touch direction along said surface of said wearable band, wherein said signals further comprise an indication of said second sliding finger touch direction.

24. A method comprising:

sensing a first touch using a first touch sensing circuit, wherein said first touch sensing circuit disposed with a touch sensitive wearable band;

receiving signals at an electronic device, wherein said signals generated from said first touch sensing circuit; and

providing a function to a user of said touch sensitive wearable band, wherein said function relates to said first touch.