Links

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016014245-A1
Application number	US-201414330355-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 14, 2014
Priority date	Jul 14, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus can include links where each of the links includes a link-to-link mechanical interface and a link-to-link electrical interface, where the links include a circuitry link and a battery link, where the circuitry link is mechanically coupled to the battery link via at least one pair of link-to-link mechanical interfaces and where the circuitry link is electrically coupled to the battery link via at least one pair of link-to-link electrical interfaces.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
links wherein each of the links comprises a link-to-link mechanical interface and a link-to-link electrical interface, wherein the links comprise a circuitry link and a battery link, wherein the circuitry link is mechanically coupled to the battery link via at least one pair of link-to-link mechanical interfaces and wherein the circuitry link is electrically coupled to the battery link via at least one pair of link-to-link electrical interfaces.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry link comprises a processor.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry link comprises memory.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the link-to-link electrical interface comprises a clock signal contact and a data signal contact.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the link-to-link mechanical interface comprises a magnet.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the link-to-link mechanical interface comprises a key and a keyway.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the links comprise a master link that comprises a processor and wherein the circuitry link comprises a slave link.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the links comprises an address.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the address comprises a relational address that depends on physical ordering of the links.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry link comprises detection circuitry.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the detection circuitry comprises a microphone.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the detection circuitry comprises an electromagnetic energy sensor.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry link comprises emission circuitry.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the emission circuitry comprises an electromagnetic energy emitter.

15 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry link comprises an accelerometer.

16 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the links comprise a chemical reservoir link.

17 . A method comprising:
transmitting data via a plurality of link-to-link electrical interfaces of a string of mechanically coupled links.

18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising transmitting electrical power from one of the links to another one of the links wherein the other one of the links comprises circuitry and powering the circuitry by electrical power.

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the transmitting electrical power comprises transmitting the electrical power via at least one pair of the link-to-link electrical interfaces.

20 . A wrist-wearable apparatus comprising:
a string of mechanically and electrically coupled links wherein the links comprise a battery link that powers circuitry of another one of the links.

21 . The wrist-wearable apparatus of claim 20 wherein the battery link and the other link are detachable from the string and operable in a detached state.

22 . The wrist-wearable apparatus of claim 21 wherein in the detached state, the battery link and the other link comprise transmission circuitry that transmits data wirelessly to the string of links.

23 . A wrist-wearable apparatus comprising:
a string of mechanically and communicatively coupled links.

24 . The wrist-wearable apparatus of claim 23 wherein each of at least two of the links comprises a respective address.

25 . The wrist-wearable apparatus of claim 23 comprising a plug-in module received by a socket of one of the links.

Assignees

• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Zaitsev Grigori
• Ruiz Jose Rodolfo
• Waltermann Rod D
• Burdette Brian Alan
• Luna Joaquin F

Classifications

• H04M1/02

  Constructional features of telephone sets · CPC title

• G06F1/163 Primary

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

• H04M2250/12

  including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion · CPC title

• G04G17/083

  Watches distributed over several housings · CPC title

• G06F1/16

  Constructional details or arrangements · CPC title