Wearable electronic devices having a multi-use single switch and methods of use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019187812-A1
Application number	US-201816226308-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2018
Priority date	Dec 19, 2017
Publication date	Jun 20, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wearable electronic device includes a body defining an aperture therethrough, sized and shaped to receive a digit of a user. The wearable electronic device may include a processor housed in the body and an input device at least partially extending from an outer surface of the body to receive input from another digit of the user. The input device has an actuating surface that is movable between a first position and a second position. Movement of the actuating surface between the first position and second position provides an input to the processor. The wearable electronic device includes a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to send electronic transmissions to an external electronic device, the electronic transmissions corresponding to the inputs received from the user, and a power source for providing power to the processor, the input device, and the transmitter.

First claim

1 . A method of controlling an external electronic device with a wearable electronic device, the method comprising:
receiving, by an input device of the wearable electronic device communicatively coupled to a processor of the wearable electronic device, a first input, the first input characterized by a first combination of input parameters; and transmitting by a transmitter of the wearable electronic device a first signal based on the first input, the first signal corresponding to a first command to be executed by the external electronic device.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first input is associated to the first command by the processor of the wearable electronic device and the first command is included in the first signal transmitted by the transmitter to the external electronic device.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first input is associated to the first command by a processor of the external electronic device.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first combination of input parameters includes at least one input parameter selected from a group consisting of: an input nature, an input direction, an input duration, and an input actuation pressure.

5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the first combination of input parameters comprises at least two input parameters selected from a group consisting of: an input nature, an input direction, an input duration, and an input actuation pressure.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the first combination of input parameters comprises at least three input parameters selected from a group consisting of: an input nature, an input direction, an input duration, and an input actuation pressure.

7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the first combination of input parameters comprises an input nature, an input direction, an input duration, and an input actuation pressure.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the input device, a second input, the second input characterized by a second combination of input parameters, wherein the second combination of input parameters is different from the first combination of input parameters; and transmitting, by the transmitter, a second signal based on the second input, the first signal corresponding to a second command to be executed by the external electronic device, wherein the second command is different from the first command.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the input device comprises a joystick, and wherein receiving, by the input device a first input includes receiving, by the joystick, at least one movement selected by a group consisting of: a side-to-side movement of the joystick, an up and down movement of the joystick, and a depression of the joystick.

10 . The method of claim 1 wherein receiving, by the input device of the wearable electronic device, the first input includes receiving, by the input device of the wearable electronic device worn on a first digit of a user, the first input corresponding to an actuation of the input device by a second digit of the user.

Assignees

• North Inc

Inventors

• Choi Jaehong
• Stipancik Marie
• Pretti Jennifer Anne
• Griffin Jason T

Classifications

• G06F1/163

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

• G06F2203/0331

  Finger worn pointing device · CPC title

• G06F3/0338 Primary

  with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks · CPC title

• G05G9/047

  the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks {(for switches H01H25/04)} · CPC title

• G06F1/169 Primary

  the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes (G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033) · CPC title