Smart-watch including flip up display

• US 8,902,714 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• 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:
  US13/770,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20130163390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 368/4, 368/10, 368/13, 368/278, 368/281, 368/282, 348/14.02, 348/211.2, 379/43.01, 379/433.04, 379/433.1, 379/433.13, 382/100, 382/103, 455/414.2, 455/556.1, 455/566, 455/575.3
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/06 with attached measuring instruments, e.g. pedometer, barometer, thermometer or compass in combination with a tachometer which winds up the clockwork G04B5/206
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57

Abstract

A smart-watch can include a wristband, a base, and a flip up portion. The base can be coupled to the wristband and include a housing, a processor, a wireless transceiver, and a tactile user interface. The wireless transceiver can be configured to connect to a wireless network. The tactile user interface can be configured to provide interaction between a user and the smart-watch. The flip up portion can be displaceable between an open position exposing the base and a closed position concealing the base. Further, the flip up portion can include: a top display exposed when the flip up portion is in the closed position, and an inside display opposite the top display. The inside display can be concealed when the flip up portion is in the closed position and be exposed when the flip up portion is in the open position.

Claims

1. A smart-watch comprising:

a housing configured to connect a wristband;

at least one processor;

a wireless transceiver in communication with the at least one processor and configured to receive information wirelessly;

a user interface in communication with the at least one processor and configured to provide interaction between a user and the smart-watch;

a camera in communication with the at least one processor; and

a flip up portion in communication with the at least one processor, the flip up portion being displaceable between an open position and a closed position and including;

a top display exposed when the flip up portion is in the closed position, and

an inside display opposite the top display, the inside display being at least partially concealed when the flip up portion is in the closed position and being exposed when the flip up portion is in the open position,

wherein the flip up portion forms a viewfinder for the camera when in the open position and is configured to display information regarding an item visible within the viewfinder concurrently with an image of the item, while the image is visible within the viewfinder.

2. The smart-watch of claim 1, wherein the top display displays a first set of information for viewing and the inside display displays a second set of information, comprising the information regarding the item visible within the viewfinder, for viewing, different from the first set of information, the first set of information being considered acceptable for public viewing by a user.

3. The smart-watch of claim 2, wherein:

the second set of information is displayed on the inside display when the flip up portion is in the open position,

the inside display being in an off condition with the second set of information not being displayed when the flip up portion is in the closed position, and

the inside display displaying a portion of the second set of information when the flip up portion is in an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position.

4. The smart-watch of claim 1, wherein the additional information regarding the image is received from a computing device via the wireless transceiver.

5. The smart-watch of claim 1, wherein the top display and inside display comprise a translucent LCD having an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface forming the top display and the inner surface forming the inside display.

6. The smart-watch of claim 1, wherein the top display and inside display are formed of smart glass, wherein the inside display is illuminated when the flip up portion is in the open position with a frosted display acting as a diffuser.

7. The smart-watch of claim 1, wherein the flip up portion is at least partially transparent when in the open position to form the viewfinder.

8. The smart-watch of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a touch screen display.

9. The smart-watch of claim 1, further comprising one or more light emitting diodes arranged on an edge of the inside display, the one or more light emitting diodes configured to illuminate the inside display when the flip up portion is in the open position.

10. A smart-watch comprising:

a housing configured to connect to a wristband;

at least one processor;

a wireless transceiver in communication with the at least one processor and configured to receive information wirelessly;

a camera in communication with the at least one processor; and

a flip up portion in communication with the at least one processor and displaceable between an open position and a closed position, the flip up portion forming a viewfinder for the camera when in the open position and configured to display information regarding an item visible within the viewfinder, the information including product information when the item is a product or including directional information when the item is a geographic location, wherein the flip up portion is at least partially transparent when in the open position to form the viewfinder.

11. The smart-watch of claim 10, wherein the information related to the image includes product information when a product is displayed in the viewfinder.

12. The smart-watch of claim 10, wherein the information related to the image includes directional information when a geographic location is displayed in the viewfinder.

13. The smart-watch of claim 12, wherein the flip up portion is at least partially transparent when in the open position to form the viewfinder and is configured to display the directional information and the geographic location simultaneously.

14. The smart-watch of claim 10, wherein the information regarding the image is received from a computing device via the wireless transceiver.

15. The smart-watch of claim 14, further comprising one or more light emitting diodes arranged on an edge of the inside display, the one or more light emitting diodes configured to illuminate the inside display when the flip up portion is in the open position.

16. A smart-watch comprising:

a housing configured to connect to a wristband;

at least one processor;

a wireless transceiver in communication with the at least one processor and configured to receive information wirelessly;

a camera in communication with the at least one processor; and

a flip up portion in communication with the at least one processor and displaceable between an open position and a closed position, the flip up portion forming a viewfinder for the camera when in the open position and configured to display information regarding an item visible within the viewfinder,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

(i) activate the camera when the flip up portion is in the open position and (ii) activate an image retrieval system that generates additional information related to an image captured by the camera when the flip up portion is in the open position.

17. The smart-watch of claim 16, wherein the flip up portion is at least partially transparent when in the open position to form the viewfinder.

18. The smart-watch of claim 16, wherein the information regarding the image is received from a computing device via the wireless transceiver.

19. The smart-watch of claim 16, wherein the flip up portion includes a top display exposed when the flip up portion is in the closed position, and an inside display opposite the top display, the inside display being concealed when the flip up portion is in the closed position and being exposed when the flip up portion is in the open position, the top display displaying a first set of information for viewing and the inside display displaying a second set of information for viewing different from the first set of information, the first set of information being considered acceptable for public viewing by a user.