Smart-watch with user interface features

• US 8,467,270 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2011
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Gossweiler, Richard Carl III, Miller, James Brooks
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W
• Application Number:
  US13/281,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20130107674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/13, 368/88, 368/281, 368/282, 242/65.WS, 63/11.3, 63/3, 224/164, 224/165, 379/433.1, 455/556.2, 455/566, 455/575.1, 455/575.6, 345/173, 345/175
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/06 Electric connectors, e.g. conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/083 Watches distributed over several housings
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/08 Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces

Abstract

A smart-watch can include a wristband, a base, a battery and a first auxiliary component. The wristband can include a voltage line. The base can be coupled to the wristband and include a housing, a processor, and a wireless transceiver in communication with the processor. The wireless transceiver can be configured to connect to a wireless network. The battery can be coupled to the housing and be in communication with the processor and the voltage line. The first auxiliary component can be coupled to the wristband in communication with the voltage line and be powered by the battery.

Claims

1. A smart-watch comprising:

a wristband including;

a voltage line,

a data line, and

a clock line;

a base coupled to the wristband and including;

a housing,

a processor in communication with the data line and the clock line, and

a wireless transceiver in communication with the processor, the wireless transceiver configured to connect to a wireless network;

a battery coupled to the housing and in communication with the processor and the voltage line; and

a first touchpad located on a first side of the base, the first touchpad in communication with the data line and the clock line, the first touchpad being powered by the battery and configured to provide tactile interaction between a user and the smart-watch; and

a second touchpad located on a second side of the base opposite the first side, the second touchpad in communication with the data line and the clock line, the second touchpad being powered by the battery and configured to provide tactile interaction between the user and the smart-watch, the processor being configured to provide a coordinated output based on a tactile-based user input to the first touchpad relative to a tactile-based user input to the second touchpad, the coordinated output including at least one of a pinch function, a stretch function and a tap up or down function.

2. The smart-watch of claim 1, wherein the first and second touchpads are located on the wristband.

3. The smart-watch of claim 2, wherein the first touchpad forms a first modular component removably connected to the wristband via a linkage providing communication between the first touchpad and the data line and providing communication between the first touchpad and the clock line.

4. The smart-watch of claim 1, wherein the base includes a watch face and a bezel region surrounding the base, the bezel region having a surface in communication with the processor and configured to provide a tactile-based user input to the processor.

5. A smart-watch comprising:

a wristband;

a base coupled to the wristband and including;

a housing,

a processor,

a wireless transceiver in communication with the processor, the wireless transceiver configured to connect to a wireless network; and

a watch face and a bezel region surrounding the base, the bezel region having a surface in communication with the processor and configured to provide a tactile-based user input from the bezel region to the processor;

a battery coupled to the housing and in communication with the processor;

a first touchpad located on a first side of the base, the first touchpad in communication with the processor and configured to provide tactile interaction between a user and the smart-watch; and

a second touchpad located on a second side of the base opposite the first side, the second touchpad in communication with the processor and configured to provide tactile interaction between the user and the smart-watch, the processor being configured to provide a coordinated output based on a tactile-based user input to the first touchpad relative to a tactile-based user input to the second touchpad, the coordinated output including at least one of a pinch function, a stretch function and a tap up or down function.

6. The smart-watch of claim 5, wherein the first and second touchpads are located on the wristband.

7. The smart-watch of claim 6, wherein the wristband includes a voltage line, a data line and a clock line, the first and second touchpads each being in communication with the data line and the clock line.

8. The smart-watch of claim 7, wherein the first touchpad is removably connected to the wristband via a first linkage providing communication between the first touchpad and the data and clock lines and the second touchpad is removably connected to the wristband via a second linkage providing communication between the second touchpad and the data and clock lines.