Attachable device having a flexible electronic component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016282899-A1
Application number	US-201615054725-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 26, 2016
Priority date	Aug 27, 2013
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

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

1 . An attachable article, comprising:
a band having a flexible support and first and second ends; a flexible electronic component disposed on the flexible support; and a connection mechanism disposed proximate to one or both of the first and second ends of the band to connect two different portions of the band together, wherein the attachable article is dynamically flexible.

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

3 .- 51 . (canceled)

52 . The attachable article of claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism comprises one or more extenders removably coupled to one or both of the first and second ends of the band and configured to connect the first and second ends of the band together.

53 . The attachable article of claim 52 , wherein the one or more extenders are removably coupled to one or both of the first and second ends of the band via a bus connection and/or a magnetic connection.

54 . (canceled)

55 . (canceled)

56 . The attachable article of claim 52 , wherein the connection mechanism comprises a plurality of extenders, the extenders being removably coupled to one another.

57 . The attachable article of claim 56 , wherein the plurality of extenders are removably coupled to one another via a bus connection and/or a magnetic connection.

58 .- 63 . (canceled)

64 . The attachable article of claim 52 , wherein one or more of the extenders includes one or more electronic components communicatively connected to an electronics module electronically connected to the flexible electronic component.

65 . The attachable article of claim 64 , wherein the one or more electronic components comprise at least one of a battery, a computer readable memory, a processor, a power input port, a communication port, or a display.

66 .- 82 . (canceled)

83 . The attachable article of claim 1 , further comprising a reference element provided on the 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 electronic component at a position adjacent to a side of the user's wrist.

84 .- 93 . (canceled)

94 . The attachable article of claim 83 , wherein the reference element is provided on the 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 electronic component occurs at a position adjacent to the outer side of the user's wrist.

95 . (canceled)

96 . (canceled)

97 . The attachable article of claim 83 , wherein the reference element is provided on the band such that, when the reference element is placed adjacent to the predetermined point on the user's wrist, the flexible electronic component is continuously visible on the top of the user's wrist, the bottom of the user's wrist, and an inner side of the user's wrist.

98 .- 118 . (canceled)

119 . The attachable article of claim 1 , wherein the flexible support is coupled to the flexible electronic component via an interlayer disposed therebetween.

120 . The attachable article of claim 119 , wherein the interlayer comprises a foam or rubber material.

121 . The attachable article of claim 119 , wherein the interlayer comprises adhesive, the adhesive configured to mechanically couple portions of the flexible electronic component to corresponding portions of the flexible support.

122 . (canceled)

123 . An attachable article, comprising:
a band having a flexible support and first and second ends; a flexible electronic component disposed on the flexible support; a connection mechanism disposed proximate to one or both of the first and second ends of the band to connect two different portions of the band together; and a bending limiting structure that limits the bending radius of the flexible support to a range within a bending tolerance of the flexible electronic component, wherein the attachable article is dynamically flexible.

124 . The attachable article of claim 123 , wherein the flexible electronic component has a minimum critical bending radius at which the flexible electronic component can bend without impairing the flexible electronic component, and wherein the bending tolerance of the flexible electronic component is defined in part by the minimum critical bending radius.

125 . The attachable article of claim 123 , wherein the bending limiting structure comprises a plurality of spacers disposed between sections of the flexible support, wherein the flexible support is made of a first material and the spacers are made of a second material, the second material being stiffer than the first material.

126 . The attachable article of claim 123 , wherein the bending limiting structure comprises a plurality of grooves formed in an underside of the flexible support, each of the plurality of grooves configured to limit bending of a corresponding portion of the flexible display.

127 . The attachable article of claim 123 , wherein the bending limiting structure comprises a plurality of links interconnected with hinges, wherein the hinges limit bending of the flexible electronic component when disposed on the flexible support within the bending tolerance of the flexible electronic component.

128 . The attachable article of claim 127 , wherein the hinges include protrusions that interact to limit the range of bending motion of the hinge.

Assignees

• Polyera Corp

Inventors

• Inagaki Philippe
• Huitema Hjalmar Edzer Ayco

Classifications

• A45F5/00

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

• G06F1/163 Primary

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

• G04G21/04

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

• A44C5/0053

  Flexible straps · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title