Multi-component communication devices and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10606313-B2
Application number	US-201715728205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2017
Priority date	Feb 11, 2016
Publication date	Mar 31, 2020
Grant date	Mar 31, 2020

Abstract

Various arrangements of communication devices are presented. A combined battery and processing unit may be present that includes a housing, a battery, one or more processors; a microphone, and a speaker. The battery and the one or more processors may be permanently installed within the housing. The communication device could include a wristband, having a wristband housing defining a slot that opens on a first side and a second side of the wristband, to removably install the combined battery and processing unit within the slot of the wristband while the wristband is being worn by a user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A two-way communication device, comprising:
a combined battery and processing unit, comprising: a housing, a battery, one or more processors; a microphone, and a speaker, wherein:
the one or more processors, the battery, the microphone, and the speaker are housed by the housing;
the battery and the one or more processors are permanently installed with the housing; and
a lock flex and a lock protrusion located on the lock flex; and
a wristband, comprising:
a wristband housing defining a slot that opens on a first side and a second side of the wristband, to removably install the combined battery and processing unit within the slot of the wristband while the wristband is being worn by a user, wherein:
the combined battery and processing unit is aligned with a top surface of the wristband housing and a bottom surface of the wristband housing along a direction which lies perpendicular to a user's skin;
the slot is located between the top surface of the wristband housing and the bottom surface of the wristband housing;
the slot defined by the wristband housing permits the combined battery and processing unit to be installed and removed from the first side of the wristband housing and the second side of the wristband housing such that, when the combined battery and processing unit is installed, the combined battery and processing unit is located under the top surface of the wristband housing and above the bottom surface of the wristband housing; and
the wristband housing further defines a lock receptacle, wherein:
lock flex flexes inward when the combined battery and processing unit is being installed in the wristband; and
when the combined battery and processing unit is installed in the wristband, the lock flex at least partially unflexes and the lock protrusion removably couples with the lock receptacle of the wristband housing.

2. The two-way communication device of claim 1 wherein the wristband housing further defines a window on the top surface of the wristband when worn by the user.

3. The two-way communication device of claim 2 , wherein the combined battery and processing unit further comprises a display that is located on the housing of the combined battery and processing unit such that when the combined battery and processing unit is installed in the wristband, the display is visible through the window of the wristband.

4. The two-way communication device of claim 2 , wherein the combined battery and processing unit further comprises a button that is located on the housing of the combined battery and processing unit such that when the combined battery and processing unit is installed in the wristband, the button is accessible through the window of the wristband, wherein the button enables two-way communication using the combined battery and processing device.

5. The two-way communication device of claim 1 , wherein the wristband defines: a plurality of coupling holes configured to receive a wristband clasp; and a clasp mounting bracket configured to receive the wristband clasp.

6. The two-way communication device of claim 5 , further comprising the wristband clasp, wherein the wristband clasp is inserted into the clasp mounting bracket and one or more coupling holes of the plurality of coupling holes to removably attach the wristband to the user.

7. A two-way communication device, comprising:
a combined battery and processing unit, comprising: a housing, a battery, one or more processors; a microphone, and a speaker, wherein:
the one or more processors, the battery, the microphone, and the speaker are housed by the housing; and
the battery and the one or more processors are permanently installed with the housing; and
a wristband, comprising:
a wristband housing defining a slot that opens on a first side and a second side of the wristband, to removably install the combined battery and processing unit within the slot of the wristband while the wristband is being worn by a user, wherein:
the slot defined by the wristband housing permits the combined battery and processing unit to be installed and removed from the first side of the wristband housing and the second side of the wristband housing; and
the wristband housing further defines a lock receptacle and the combined battery and processing unit further comprises: a lock flex and a lock protrusion located on the lock flex, wherein:
lock flex flexes inward when the combined battery and processing unit is being installed in the wristband; and
when installed, the lock flex at least partially unflexes and the lock protrusion removably couples with the lock receptacle of the wristband housing.

8. The two-way communication device of claim 1 , wherein the wristband is made from a single piece of material.

9. A communication apparatus, comprising:
a combined power and processing unit, comprising: a power storage means, housing means, a processing means; an audio output means, a lock flexing means, and a protrusion means, wherein:
the processing means, the power storage means, and the audio output means are housed by the housing means; and
the power storage means and the processing means are permanently installed with the housing means; and
a wristband means, comprising:
a wristband housing means defining a slot that opens on a first side and a second side of the wristband means, to removably install the combined power and processing unit within the slot of the wristband means while the wristband means is being worn by a user, wherein:
the combined battery and processing unit is aligned with a top surface of the wristband housing means and a bottom surface of the wristband housing means along a direction which extends radially from a wearer's arm;
the slot is located between the top surface of the wristband housing means and the bottom surface of the wristband housing means;
the slot defined by the wristband housing means permits the combined power and processing unit to be installed and removed from the first side of the wristband housing means and the second side of the wristband housing means such that, when the combined battery and processing unit is installed, the combined battery and processing unit is located under the top surface of the wristband housing means and above the bottom surface of the wristband housing means; and
the wristband housing means further defines a lock receptacle means, wherein:
the lock flexing means flexes inward when the combined battery and processing unit is being installed in the wristband means; and

when the combined power and processing unit is installed, the lock flexing means at least partially unflexes and the protrusion means removably couples with the lock receptacle means of the wristband housing.

10. The communication apparatus of claim 9 wherein the wristband housing means further defines a window means on the top of the wristband means when worn by the user.

11. The communication apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the combined power and processing unit further comprises a display means that is located on the housing means of the combined power and processing unit such that when the combined power and processing unit is installed in the wristband means, the display means is visible through the window means of the wristband means.

12. The communication apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the combined power and processing unit further comprises a user input means that is located on the housing means of the combined power and processing unit such that when the combined power and processing unit is installed in the wristband means, the user input means is accessible through the window means of the wristband means.

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Assignees

• Dish Tech Llc

Inventors

• Vanduyn Luke
• Marten Neil T

Classifications

• G06F1/1635

  Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter · CPC title

• H04B1/385

  Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets · CPC title

• G06F1/163 Primary

  Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt · CPC title