Wearable device and control method therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10345893-B2
Application number	US-201415527659-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2014
Priority date	Nov 17, 2014
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

A wearable device according to one embodiment of the present specification detects the shape and grip strength of the hand on the basis of the tendons of a wearer's wrist, and can change a display position of an image on the basis of the rotating direction of the wearable device. In addition, the wearable device can sense context information of the wearer by using the tendons of the wrist, thereby providing an improved information providing method.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable device configured to be worn on a wrist, the wearable device comprising:
a display;
a first sensor configured to sense changes of anatomical structure located relative to the wrist;
a second sensor configured to sense orientation of the wearable device relative to a reference; and
a processor configured to:
cause the display to display a first image at a first location;
identify hand shape and grip strength of a user wearing the wearable device based on input from the first sensor;
identify rotation of the wearable device based on input from the second sensor; and
cause the display to stop displaying the first image at the first location and display the first image at a second location that is in a first direction from the first location, when the identified rotation of the wearable device occurs in a second direction, and while the identified hand shape matches a defined hand shape and the identified grip strength is equal to or greater than a threshold value during a defined period of time, wherein the first direction is determined according to the second direction.

2. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
cause the display to stop displaying the first image at the second location and display the first image at a third location that is in a third direction from the second location, when the identified hand shape matches a defined hand shape, the identified grip strength is equal to or greater than a threshold value during the defined period of time, and the identified rotation of the wearable device occurs in a fourth direction, wherein the third direction corresponds to the fourth direction.

3. The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a speaker; wherein the processor is further configured to:
identify rotation of the wearable device in a third direction based on input from the second sensor; and
cause the speaker to provide audio output related to the first image when the identified rotation of the wearable device occurs in the third direction within a defined period of time after the rotation in the second direction.

4. The wearable device of claim 3 , wherein the information related to the first image comprises at least one of weather information, current time information, current date information, received message information, message sender information, or current schedule information.

5. The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a speaker; and
a microphone; wherein the processor is further configured to:
control the wearable device based on a voice command received via the microphone.

6. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the identifying of the rotation occurs when movement of the wearable device is within a defined range of movement.

7. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the display comprises a flexible display that is at least partially located in the wearable device.

8. The wearable device of claim 7 , wherein the flexible display comprises a plurality of display panels.

9. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the display is a projector that causes the first image to be projected onto an outer surface of the wearable device.

10. The wearable device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
change projection direction of the first image according to the second direction of the identified rotation.

11. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine the second location at which the first image is displayed based on the orientation of the wearable device sensed by the second sensor.

12. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
set a current orientation of the wearable device as a reference orientation, when the identified grip strength is less than a threshold value and any movement of the wearable device is within a defined range according to input from the second sensor;
cause the display to display a second image at a third location when the identified rotation is in the second direction relative to the reference orientation; and
cause the display to display a third image at a fourth location when the identified rotation is in a third direction, which is opposite that of the second direction.

13. The wearable device of claim 12 , wherein the first image, the second image, and the third image comprise different information.

14. The wearable device of claim 13 , wherein at least one of color, brightness, or contrast of the first image displayed at the second location is different from that of the first image displayed at the first location.

15. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the first image displayed at the second location comprises only a portion of data of the first image displayed at the first location.

16. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the anatomical structure includes a tendon.

17. A method of controlling a wearable device having a display and configured to be worn on a wrist, the method comprising:
sensing, using a first sensor, changes of an anatomical structure located relative to the wrist;
sensing, using a second sensor, orientation of the wearable device relative to a reference;
displaying, on the display, a first image at a first location;
identifying hand shape and grip strength of a user wearing the wearable device based on input from the first sensor;
identifying rotation of the wearable device based on input from the second sensor; and
stopping the displaying of the first image at the first location and displaying the first image at a second location that is in a first direction from the first location, when the identified rotation of the wearable device occurs in a second direction, and while the identified hand shape matches a defined hand shape and the identified grip strength is equal to or greater than a threshold value during a defined period of time, wherein the first direction is determined according to the second direction.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
stopping the displaying the first image at the second location and displaying the first image at a third location that is in a third direction from the second location, when the identified hand shape matches a defined hand shape, the identified grip strength is equal to or greater than a threshold value during the defined period of time, and the identified rotation of the wearable device occurs in a fourth direction, wherein the third direction corresponds to the fourth direction.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
identifying rotation of the wearable device in a third direction based on input from the second sensor; and
producing audio output at a speaker that is related to the first image, when the identified rotation of the wearable device occurs in the third direction within a defined period of time after the rotation in the second direction.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one of color, brightness, or contrast of the first image displayed at the second location is different from that of the first image displayed at the first location.

21. A wearable device configured to be positioned on a wrist, the wearable device comprising:
a display;
a first sensor configured to sense changes of anatomical structure located relative to the wrist;
a second sensor configured to sense orientation of the wearable device relative to a reference; and
a processor configured to:
cause the display to display a

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Juhwan
• Park Sihwa

Classifications

• G03B21/10

  Projectors with built-in or built-on screen · CPC title

• G09G2380/02

  Flexible displays · CPC title

• G06F3/14

  Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} · CPC title

• G09G2354/00

  Aspects of interface with display user · CPC title

• G06F3/04845

  for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour · CPC title