Wearable device and a docking station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12500430-B2
Application number	US-202217740715-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2022
Priority date	May 10, 2021
Publication date	Dec 16, 2025
Grant date	Dec 16, 2025

Abstract

There is provided a wearable device, comprising connectors comprising a first connector and a second connector for interfacing with another device and/or a charger; a first switch for connecting the first connector and the second connector to a battery charging circuit of the wearable device; a second switch for connecting the first connector and the second connector to a communication circuit of the wearable device; a control unit configured to: enable an electrical connection between the connectors and the battery charging circuit, when the first switch is closed and the second switch is open; and enable communication with another device for data transfer via the connectors, when the first switch is open and the second switch is closed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A wearable device, comprising
connectors comprising a first connector and a second connector for interfacing with at least one of another device or a charger; a first switch for connecting the first connector and the second connector to a battery charging circuit of the wearable device; a second switch for connecting the first connector and the second connector to a communication circuit of the wearable device; a control unit configured to:
enable an electrical connection between the connectors and the battery charging circuit, when the first switch is closed and the second switch is open; and
enable communication with another device, when interfacing with another device, for data transfer via the connectors, when the first switch is open, and the second switch is closed.

2 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are configured to have reversible polarities.

3 . The wearable device of claim 2 , comprising an alternating current bridge between the first switch and the battery charging circuit.

4 . The wearable device of claim 2 , wherein a material of the first connector and the second connector is magnetic or the wearable device comprises a casing wherein magnetic rings are placed around the first connector and the second connector inside the casing.

5 . The wearable device of claim 2 , wherein the wearable device is a smart watch or an activity bracelet.

6 . The wearable device of claim 2 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are placed symmetrically on a caseback of the wearable device.

7 . The wearable device of claim 2 , wherein the first connector is configured to i) function as a positive connector if arranged in contact with a positive connector of the charger; and wherein the second connector is configured to function as a negative connector if arranged in contact with a negative connector of the charger; or
ii) function as a negative connector if arranged in contact with a negative connector of the charger; and wherein the second connector is configured to function as a positive connector if arranged in contact with a positive connector of the charger.

8 . The wearable device of claim 2 ,
wherein the control unit is configured to close and/or open the first switch and the second switch based on an input signal received via the connectors.

9 . The wearable device of claim 1 , comprising an alternating current bridge between the first switch and the battery charging circuit.

10 . The wearable device of claim 9 , wherein a material of the first connector and the second connector is magnetic or the wearable device comprises a casing wherein magnetic rings are placed around the first connector and the second connector inside the casing.

11 . The wearable device of claim 1 ,
wherein a material of the first connector and the second connector is magnetic or the wearable device comprises a casing wherein magnetic rings are placed around the first connector and the second connector inside the casing.

12 . The wearable device of claim 1 ,
wherein the wearable device is a smart watch or an activity bracelet.

13 . The wearable device of claim 1 ,
wherein the first connector and the second connector are placed symmetrically on a caseback of the wearable device.

14 . The wearable device of claim 13 ,
wherein a surface of the caseback has, at least partly, a form of a curved dome for receiving, when interfacing with the charger, a charger head comprising a surface having, at least partly, a concave form.

15 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the first connector is configured to i) function as a positive connector if arranged in contact with a positive connector of the charger; and wherein the second connector is configured to function as a negative connector if arranged in contact with a negative connector of the charger; or
ii) function as a negative connector if arranged in contact with a negative connector of the charger; and wherein the second connector is configured to function as a positive connector if arranged in contact with a positive connector of the charger.

16 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to close and/or open the first switch and the second switch based on an input signal received via the connectors.

17 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the first switch is configured to be closed and the second switch is configured to be open by default when the wearable device is not connected to another device or a charger.

18 . A docking station, comprising
connectors comprising a first connector and a second connector for interfacing with a wearable device; a first switch for connecting the connectors to a power supply; a second switch for connecting the connectors to a communication circuit of the docking station; a control unit configured to
enable an electrical connection between the power supply and the connectors, when the first switch is closed and the second switch is open; and
enable communication with the wearable device for data transfer via the connectors, when the first switch is open and the second switch is closed.

19 . The docking station of claim 18 , comprising
a user interface for receiving input of a selection of a charging state or a communication state, wherein the first switch is closed and the second switch is open in the charging state; and the first switch is open and the second switch is closed in the communication state.

20 . The docking station of claim 18 , comprising
a port for enabling connecting the docking station to a host device.

Assignees

• Suunto Oy

Inventors

• Sepänniitty Mikko
• Tarnanen Niko
• Varjonen Eero
• Hurtta Ari

Classifications

• H02J7/42

  with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones · CPC title

• H02J7/731 Primary

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/40

  characterised by the exchange of charge or discharge related data · CPC title

• H02J2105/44

  Portable electronic devices · CPC title

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title