Wirelessly coupled accessory system for an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11992116-B2
Application number	US-202117478695-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2021
Priority date	Apr 17, 2019
Publication date	May 28, 2024
Grant date	May 28, 2024

Abstract

A wearable electronic device includes a watch body including a touch-sensitive display configured to receive a first input and a first wireless circuit configured to receive a wireless input signal. The wearable electronic device further includes a band coupled to the watch body and configured to attach the watch body to a user and a wireless module coupled to the band and including an input device configured to receive a second input and a second wireless circuit configured to transmit the wireless input signal to the first wireless circuit in response to receiving the second input.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable electronic device comprising:
a watch body comprising:
a touch-sensitive display configured to receive a first input; and
a first wireless circuit configured to receive a wireless input signal;

a band coupled to the watch body and configured to attach the watch body to a user; and
a wireless module coupled to the band and comprising:
an input device configured to receive a second input; and
a second wireless circuit configured to transmit the wireless input signal to the first wireless circuit in response to receiving the second input.

2. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the wireless module further comprises:
a battery operably coupled to the second wireless circuit; and
a charging coil operably coupled to the battery and configured to receive wireless power from an external device.

3. The wearable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein:
the input device further comprises a tactile dome switch;
the tactile dome switch is configured to collapse in response to the second input; and
the wireless input signal is transmitted in response to the collapse of the tactile dome switch.

4. The wearable electronic device of claim 3 , wherein:
the band defines an opening;
the wireless module comprises an enclosure that is positioned at least partially within the opening;
the battery and the charging coil are positioned within the enclosure;
the band comprises an outer layer that defines an exterior surface of the band;
the tactile dome switch is located remote from the enclosure of the wireless module;
the tactile dome switch is positioned below the outer layer of the band; and
a flexible circuit extends along a length of the band and electrically couples the tactile dome switch to the second wireless circuit.

5. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the wireless module is configured to transmit:
a wireless beacon signal to an external device; and
a public encryption key to the external device; and

the external device is configured to:
determine a location of the wireless module based at least in part the wireless beacon signal;
prepare an encrypted location report using the public encryption key, the encrypted location report including the location of the wireless module; and
wirelessly transmit the encrypted location report to a remote server.

6. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the input device comprises a capacitive touch sensor;
the second input is a touch input; and
the capacitive touch sensor is configured to detect the touch input along an exterior surface of the wireless module.

7. The wearable electronic device of claim 6 , wherein:
the capacitive touch sensor includes an array of capacitive nodes;
the touch input is a gesture touch input; and
the array of capacitive nodes are configured to detect the gesture touch input.

8. The wearable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to scroll a list of items displayed on the touch-sensitive display in response to the gesture touch input provided to the wireless module.

9. A system comprising:
an electronic device comprising:
a housing;
a touch-sensitive display configured to receive a first input; and
a first wireless circuit configured to:
receive a wireless input signal; and
transmit a wireless output signal; and

an accessory coupled to the housing and comprising:
a wireless module coupled to the accessory and comprising:
a speaker;
an input device that is configured to receive a second input; and
a second wireless circuit configured to:
transmit the wireless input signal to the first wireless circuit of the electronic device, in response to receiving the second input; and
receive the wireless output signal from the first wireless circuit, wherein the wireless module is configured to, in response to receiving the wireless output signal, produce an audible output using the speaker.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the system is an electronic watch;
the electronic device is a watch body; and
the accessory is a band that is configured to attach the watch body to a wrist.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the band defines an opening;
the wireless module comprises an enclosure comprising:
an upper housing defining an upper flange; and
a lower housing defining a lower flange;

the enclosure of the wireless module is positioned in the opening; and
the upper flange and the lower flange engage a portion of the band surrounding the opening.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the band defines an opening;
the wireless module is positioned in the opening;
the wireless module comprises an enclosure;
the enclosure comprises an upper housing and a lower housing; and
the upper housing defines a portion of a clasp for the band.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the band defines an opening;
the wireless module is positioned in the opening; and
the wireless module further comprises:
a battery operably coupled to the second wireless circuit;
a charging coil operably coupled to the battery and configured to receive wireless power from an external charging device; and
a magnetic element that is configured to couple the wireless module to the external charging device.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the wireless module further comprises a near-field communication (NFC) antenna that is configured to wirelessly couple with a separate device that is proximate to the wireless module; and
the NFC antenna is integrated with a wireless charging coil.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the electronic device is a tablet computing system; and
the accessory is a protective case for the tablet computing system.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the input device comprises an accelerometer; and
the second input corresponds to a motion of the wireless module.

17. A wireless module configured to be integrated with a watch having a touch-sensitive display and a first wireless circuit, the wireless module comprising:
an enclosure configured to be inserted in an opening of a watch band of the watch;
a battery positioned within the enclosure;
a wireless charging coil positioned within the enclosure and operably coupled to the battery;
an input device that is configured to receive an input; and
a second wireless circuit configured to transmit a wireless input signal to the first wireless circuit of the watch in response to receiving the input.

18. The wireless module of claim 17 , wherein:
the enclosure includes an upper flange and a lower flange that are configured to engage a portion of the watch band that surrounds the opening; and
the watch includes a watch body comprising:
a watch battery;
a watch wireless charging coil operably coupled to the watch battery;
the touch-sensitive display configured to receive a touch input; and
the first wireless circuit configured to receive the wireless input signal.

19. The wireless module of claim 17 , wherein:
the second wireless circuit is configured to transmit a UWB beacon signal to an external device; and
the wireless module is configured to estimate a distance between the wireless module and the external device based on a transmission time of the UWB signal.

20. The wireless module of claim 19 , wherein:
the wireless module is configured to transmit a public encryption key to the external device; and
the external device is configured to:
determine

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Perkins Ryan C
• Copeland Devon K
• De Jong Erik G

Classifications

• A45F5/1508

  Holders or carriers for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or digital music players · CPC title

• A45F5/155

  Holders or carriers for thin, flat, rectangular articles, e.g. ID badges or cards · CPC title

• A45F5/00 Primary

  Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping · CPC title

• A61B5/1116

  Determining posture transitions · CPC title

• E05B73/0005

  using chains, cables or the like (chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006) · CPC title