Attachable device having a flexible electronic component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11086357-B2
Application number	US-201615054725-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2016
Priority date	Aug 27, 2013
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

A dynamically flexible, attachable article, such as a wristband or an armband, includes a flexible electronic component coupled to a flexible support in a manner that is bendable or conformable to a user's wrist or other curved surface in a manner that makes the flexible electronic component easily viewable to the user. The attachable article also includes a connection mechanism disposed proximate to one or both of first and second ends of the attachable article to connect two different portions of the article together.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An attachable article, comprising:
a flexible band having a flexible support and first and second ends;
a flexible display disposed on the flexible support; and
a flexible connection mechanism disposed proximate to one or both of the first and second ends of the flexible band to connect the first and the second ends of the flexible band together,
wherein the flexible connection mechanism comprises one or more extenders removably coupled to one or both of the first and second ends of the flexible band and configured to connect the first and second ends of the flexible band together, and
wherein one or more of the extenders includes one or more electronic components communicatively connected to an electronics module electronically connected to the flexible display, and wherein the one or more electronic components comprise a battery, a computer readable memory, a processor, a communication module, a sensor, or combinations thereof.

2. The attachable article of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electronics module including a processor; and
a driver coupled to the processor of the electronics module.

3. The attachable article of claim 1 , wherein the one or more extenders are removably coupled to one or both of the first and second ends of the flexible band via a bus connection and/or a magnetic connection.

4. The attachable article of claim 1 , wherein the flexible connection mechanism comprises a plurality of extenders, the extenders being removably coupled to one another.

5. The attachable article of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of extenders are removably coupled to one another via a bus connection and/or a magnetic connection.

6. The attachable article of claim 1 , further comprising a reference element provided on the flexible band at a position such that, when the reference element is placed adjacent to a predetermined point on a user's wrist, the first and second ends of the band meet to form a discontinuity in the flexible display at a position adjacent to a side of the user's wrist.

7. The attachable article of claim 6 , wherein the reference element is provided on the flexible band such that, when the reference element is placed adjacent to the predetermined point on the user's wrist comprising a top or a bottom of the user's wrist, the discontinuity in the flexible display occurs at a position adjacent to the outer side of the user's wrist.

8. The attachable article of claim 6 , wherein the reference element is provided on the flexible band such that, when the reference element is placed adjacent to the predetermined point on the user's wrist, the flexible display is continuously visible on a top of the user's wrist, a bottom of the user's wrist, and an inner side of the user's wrist.

9. The attachable article of claim 1 , wherein the one or more extenders are removably coupled to one or both of the first and second ends of the flexible band via a magnetic connection.

10. An attachable article comprising:
a flexible band having a flexible support and first and second ends;
a flexible display disposed on the flexible support; and
a flexible connection mechanism disposed proximate to one or both of the first and second ends of the flexible band to connect the first and the second ends of the flexible band together,
wherein the flexible connection mechanism comprises one or more extenders removably coupled to one or both of the first and second ends of the flexible band and configured to connect the first and second ends of the flexible band together,
wherein the flexible support is coupled to the flexible display via an interlayer disposed therebetween, wherein the interlayer comprises a foam or rubber material,
wherein one or more of the extenders includes one or more electronic components communicatively connected to an electronics module electronically connected to the flexible display, and
wherein the one or more electronic components comprise a battery, a computer readable memory, a processor, a communication module, a sensor, or combinations thereof.

11. An attachable article, comprising:
a unitary, flexible band having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end on the unitary, flexible band, the unitary, flexible band comprising a flexible support;
a flexible display entirely disposed on the flexible support between the first and second ends of the unitary, flexible band; and
a flexible connection mechanism disposed proximate to one or both of the first and second ends of the unitary, flexible band to connect the first and the second ends of the unitary, flexible band together,
wherein the flexible connection mechanism comprises one or more extenders removably coupled to one or both of the first and second ends of the unitary, flexible band and configured to connect the first and second ends of the unitary, flexible band together,
wherein one or more of the extenders includes one or more electronic components communicatively connected to an electronics module electronically connected to the flexible display, and
wherein the one or more electronic components comprise a battery, a computer readable memory, a processor, a power input port, a communication module, a sensor, a display, or combinations thereof.

12. The attachable article of claim 11 , wherein the one or more extenders comprise a plurality of extenders, each of the plurality of extenders having a different unique identifier indicative of the respective extender, a location of the respective extender, functionality of the respective extender, or combinations thereof.

13. The attachable article of claim 12 , wherein the one or more electronic components comprise at least the communication module, the communication module being a wireless-based communication module configured to facilitate wireless communication with the electronics module, and wherein the electronics module is configured to obtain the unique identifier from each of the one or more extenders via the respective wireless-based communication module.

Assignees

• Flexterra Inc

Inventors

• Inagaki Philippe
• Huitema Hjalmar Edzer Ayco

Classifications

• G04G9/04 Primary

  by controlling light sources, e.g. electroluminescent diodes {(G04G9/0058 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G04G17/08

  Housings · CPC title

• G04G21/04

  using radio waves (radio-controlled time-pieces G04R) · CPC title

• G06F1/163 Primary

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

• A44C5/0053

  Flexible straps · CPC title