Patent Application
20190286068
The present invention relates generally to portable electronic devices, and, more particularly, relates to a wrist-worn time keeping device including
In the last decade “smart phone” devices have become increasingly common. These devices, in addition to providing cellular telephony functionality, also operate substantially as a general purpose computing device that can run application programs, store data, acquire and play media files, and many other tasks. Accordingly it is common for people to carry the phone device with them most of the time. Since these devices are powered by rechargeable batteries, it is not unusual for the battery charge to get low at times and places where there isn't access to a way to recharge the phone battery.
One way this problem has been addressed is with a portable “power pack,” which is a device that includes, typically, a large capacity rechargeable battery that can be used to recharge a phone battery or provide power to other portable devices. However these portable battery packs tend to be bulky, and inconvenient to carry. Since they serve no other purpose, it is not uncommon for a person to forget to bring their portable battery back when they go somewhere. Sometimes a person may plan to not be away for very long, and end up being away longer a expected, without having a way to recharge their phone battery.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.
The invention provides a wrist-worn watch device including power reserve for portable electronic devices that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that are capable of providing power to recharge a battery of a portable electronic device such as a cellular telephone device.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a wrist-worn watch device that includes a body. The body has an internal volume and an external face on which a visual time keeping indicator disposed. The time indicator is controlled by a time keeping circuit that is also disposed in the internal volume of the body. A primary battery is also disposed in the internal volume of the body that exclusively powers the time keeping circuit. A secondary battery is also disposed in the internal volume of the body, with a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory is a machine readable storage memory device. The watch device further includes a first wrist strap portion that is coupled to the body at a proximal end of the first wrist strap portion by a first coupling. The first wrist strap portion includes a first electrical connector having a first mechanical arrangement that is disposed at a distal end of the first wrist strap portion, and that is electrically connected to the non-volatile memory and the secondary battery through the first coupling. The watch device further includes a second wrist strap portion that is coupled to the body at a proximal end of the second wrist strap portion by a second coupling. The second wrist strap portion includes a second electrical connector having a second mechanical arrangement that is disposed at a distal end of the second wrist strap portion and that is electrically connected to the non-volatile memory and the secondary battery through the second coupling.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of retaining pins extending perpendicularly from the first wrist strap portion at the distal end on an inward-facing side of the first wrist strap portion. The watch device can further include the second wrist strap portion having a plurality of retaining holes arranged along a length of the second wrist strap portion configured to receive and retain the pair of retaining pins at an outward-facing surface of the second wrist strap portion.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the first connector being configured as a micro-USB B-plug connector.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the first connector and second connector having different mechanical and electrical arrangements.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention provides that the non-volatile memory comprises removable memory card.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention provides a solar power source that provides electric power only to the time keeping circuit and primary battery.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention provides that the first coupling comprises a first protrusion at a first end of the body that fits within a cavity formed by a first support member at the proximal end of the first wrist strap portion, and the second coupling comprises a second protrusion at a second end of the body that fits within a cavity formed by a second support member at the proximal end of the second wrist strap portion.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention provides that the plurality of electrical contacts are disposed at a bottom of each of the first and second protrusions at the first and second ends, respectively of the body, and that the plurality of contacts of the first protrusion mate with a corresponding contact on an end of the first wrist strap portion and the plurality of contacts of the second protrusion each mate with corresponding contact on an end of the second wrist strap portion.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a wrist-worn watch device including power reserve for portable electronic devices, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time.
“In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, azimuth or positional relationships indicated by terms such as “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “inside”, “outside”, “front”, “back”, “head”, “tail” and so on, are azimuth or positional relationships based on the drawings, which are only to facilitate description of the embodiments of the present invention and simplify the description, but not to indicate or imply that the devices or components must have a specific azimuth, or be constructed or operated in the specific azimuth, which thus cannot be understood as a limitation to the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.
In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, terms such as “installed”, “coupled”, “connected” should be broadly interpreted, for example, it may be fixedly connected, or may be detachably connected, or integrally connected; it may be mechanically connected, or may be electrically connected; it may be directly connected, or may be indirectly connected via an intermediate medium. As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above-mentioned terms in the embodiments of the present invention according to the specific circumstances
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.
The present invention provides a novel and efficient wrist watch device that include a power source that can be charged, and subsequently used to recharge the batter of a portable electronic device. Referring now to
Accordingly, the watch device can include a time keeping circuit 102, which is a mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical time keeping system that is commonly referred to as a “movement.” The time keeping circuit includes a time regulator that control the measurement of the passage of time. The time keeping circuit controls a time indicator 104, which can be any known time indicator system, include a liquid crystal display, hands (e.g. hour and minute hands), or a combination. The time indictor can be adjusted by a time adjust assembly, which can directly move the tune indicator as indicated by line 110, or cause the time keeping circuit to move the time indictor as indicated by line 108. In general, the time indicator indicates a time of day, and can further include date, and other functions, as provided by the time keeping circuit 102. The time keeping circuit, if it is electrically operated, can be power by a primary battery 112, which can be a single non-rechargeable electrochemical cell. In some embodiments, the time keeping circuit can be mechanically driven, obviating the need for the primary battery 112. In some embodiments, battery 112 can be a rechargeable battery, and the watch device 100 can further include a solar power source 113 that provides electric energy to the battery 112. The solar power source can include, for example, a light sensitive material that can be disposed on an exposed surface of the watch device, such as on the watch face. The light sensitive material produces electricity, as is well known, upon being exposed to light.
The watch device 100 further includes a secondary battery 114 that includes one or more rechargeable cells. In some embodiments a fuel gauge circuit 116 can be connected in series with the secondary battery 114 to track how much charge is in the secondary battery 114. An example of a fuel gauge circuit is sold by Maxim integrated under the designation DS2782, and can provide an output that indicates the state of charge of the secondary battery 114 on a data line 118. The information provided on data line 118 can be used to control a charge indicator 119 on the face of the watch device 100 along with the time indicator system 104. For example, a three segment liquid crystal display can be used to indicate several level of approximal battery charge. In other embodiments and more detailed indication can be given, such as, for example, a percentage (e.g. 0%-100%). The information on line 118 can be accessed by the time keeping circuit 102 or act directly on the charge indicator 119. The secondary battery 114 is further connected to both a first connector circuit 122 and a second connector circuit 126. The first and second connector circuits 122, 126, each include a mechanical connector for electrically interfacing with another device, along with any necessary circuitry. Circuity in the connector circuits 122, 126 can protect against, for example, electrostatic discharge, provide signal conditioning, and so on. The first connector circuit 122 include a female connector, such as a female Universal Serial Bus (USB) micro-B connector. A female USB micro-B connector is common for receiving a mating male connector coupled to a power source and/or computing device. Female USB micro-B connectors are commonly used on cellular telephone devices to receive electrical power to recharge a battery as well as provide access to the memory in the cellular telephone device. The male connector of the second connector circuit 126 can be a male USB micro-B connector, or another male connector such as, for example, that developed by Apple, Inc. under the trade name “Lighting.” Furthermore, the male connector of the second connector circuit 126 is extendible, meaning it can be moved between a retracted position when not in use, and an extended position for connecting to a corresponding female connector.
The first and second connector circuits 122, 126 can be further connected to a memory device 120, such as, for example, a flash memory card that can be mounted in a “slot” connector in the body of the watch device. Data lines 124 connect the first connector circuit 122 to the memory device 120, as lines 128 connect the memory device to the second connector circuit 26. Thus, the memory device can be accessed from both the first and second connector circuits 122. 126.
In general, the first connector circuit 122 connects to a device that provides power to the secondary battery 114 to recharge the secondary battery 114. If the device connected to the first connector circuit 122 is a computing device, then it can access the memory in the memory device 120 as well. The secondary connector circuit 126 is designed to connect to a portable electronic device that has a rechargeable battery that can be recharged by the secondary battery 114.
The watch device 200 further includes a first wrist strap portion 214 and a second wrist strap portion 216, each having a proximal end 213, 215, respectively, coupled to the body 202 of the watch device 200. At a distal end 211 of the first wrist strap portion 214 is first connector 218 that can be, for example, a female connector such as a female USB micro-B connector. The first connector 218 can be oriented such that a male connector is inserted into the first connector 218 generally in line with the length of the first wrist strap portion 214, which is the line between the proximal 213 and distal end 211 when the first wrist strap portion 214 is flat. Similarly, the second wrist strap portion 216 includes a second connector 220 that can be a male electrical connector. The second connector can be moveable between a retracted position inside the distal end 217 of the second wrist strap 216, and an extended position where the connector extends beyond the distal end 217 of the second wrist strap portion 216. Each of the first and second connectors 218, 220 can include connector circuitry disposed inside the respective wrist strap portions 214, 216. Further, the first and second connectors 218, 220 are electrically connected by conductor elements through the respective wrist strap portions 214, 216 from the distal ends 211, 217 to the proximal ends 213, 215 to connectors that pass through the sides of the body 202 to electrically connect with the elements inside the internal volume 203. The wrist strap portions 214, 216 can be retained on the body 202 by screws 222, 224, respectively, that pass through a transverse channel in the proximal end of each wrist strap portion, and extend into holes on opposing features that protrude from the body 202.
The first wrist strap portion can further include a pair of posts or prongs 222 that extend from the side of the first wrist strap 214 that faces the wearer's wrist at or near the distal end 211. The prongs 222 mate with, and are retained by holes formed through the second wrist strap portion 216 by friction or mechanical interference. By pushing the prongs 222 through a set of the holes in the second wrist strap portion 216, the watch device 200 can be worn on a user's wrist. This arrangement of fastening the wrist strap portions 214, 216 together allows clearance for the first and second connectors 218, 220 to connect to other devices.
The watch device 806, via a second connector 810 at the distal end of the second wrist strap, can connect to a portable, battery powered electronic device, such as a cellular telephone device 812. In this arrangement, the secondary battery in the watch device 806 provides charge to the battery of the cellular telephone device 812 so that it can be recharged, or to simply power the cellular telephone device 812. In addition, through an application or interface on the cellular telephone device 812, the user can access the memory in the watch device 806, and add, remove, or copy files and/or other data. to/from the memory in the watch device. In actual usage, the watch device would ordinarily only be connected to either the computing device/charger, or to the cellular telephone device (or similar portable electronic device).
As shown here, the support members 1108, 1110 extend from the proximal end of their respective wrist strap portion 1104, 1106, and are sized and shaped to receive a protruding portion 1116, 1118, respectively, on each end of the body. The protruding portions 1116, 1118 generally point down, and are angle away from a vertical direction, from top to bottom of the body 1102, in opposite directions. At the bottom of each protruding portion 1116, 1118 are several separate electrical contacts that mate with corresponding contacts disposed at the proximal ends of the wrist strap portions 1104, 1106. Thus, for example, protruding portion 1118 fits into cavity 1120 in the second support member 1110.
In the first wrist strap portion 1104, for example, a connector at the proximal end which mates with first protruding portion 1116 is connected to several separate, corresponding conductors 1114 that, while shown here outside of first wrist strap portion 1104, are disposed within wrist strap portion 1104. The conductors 1114 connect corresponding contacts at the proximal end with contacts in a first connector 1112 at the distal end of the first wrist strap portion. The first connector 1112 protrudes from the distal end, generally in the same direction(i.e. not angled) with respect to the wrist strap portion 1104 when the wrist strap portion 1104 is flat/straight. A first cover 1122 can be used to cover and protect the first connector when the first connector is not in use. The first cover is coupled to the distal end of the first wrist strap portion at the opposing sides of the distal end of the first wrist strap portion, and is rotatable about an axis between the points where it is coupled to the distal end of the wrist strap portion 1104, as indicated by arrow 1124. A pair of retaining protrusions 1138 extend from the first cover 1122, and are sized to fit into holes in the second wrist strap portion 1108 to hold the first and second wrist strap portions together about a user's wrist by being inserted into retaining holes 1136. Likewise, the second cover 1126 at the distal end of the second wrist strap portions 1106 includes a pair of retaining protrusions 1134 that are inserted into retaining holes 1140 in the first wrist strap portion 1104 to further hold the two wrist strap portions together.
The second wrist strap portion includes a second connector 1128, shown here separate from the distal end of the second wrist strap portion 1106, but which is assembled into the distal end of the second wrist strap portion 1106. The second connector 1128 includes a plurality of electrical contacts that mate with corresponding contacts in a connector of a portable electronic device. When connected to the portable electronic device, an electrical current can be provided to the portable electronic device from the secondary battery inside the body 1102 to recharge a battery of the portable electronic device or otherwise power the portable electronic device. The second connector 1128 is coupled to conductors that pass through the second wrist strap portion 1106 to the connector at the proximal end of the second wrist strap portion in the second support member 1110 to interface with corresponding contacts at the bottom of the second protrusion 1118.
The second connector 1128 is protected by a cover 1126 that, like cover 1122, is rotatable in the direction of arrow 1132. Thus, the second connector 1128 can be exposed for connecting it to the portable electronic device by rotating the cover 1126 to expose the second connector 1128. A bottom portion 1130 can couple to the cover 1126 to further protect the second connector 1128 when the second connector 1128 is not being used to connect to a portable electronic device.
A wrist watch device has been disclosed that includes a time keeping circuit powered by a first or primary battery cell, and which further includes a secondary battery capable of recharging the battery of a portable electronic device, such as a cellular telephone device. The secondary battery is charged through a connector disposed at the distal end of the first wrist strap portion, by, for example, connecting to a power source (e.g. computer, power converter). The secondary battery can be used to recharge the battery of the portable electronic device through a connector at the distal end of the second wrist strap portion, is configured to mate with the power/data connector of the portable electronic device. Accordingly, the wrist watch device solves the problem of having to either carry a bulky external battery pack or a plug-in charger when travelling in order to recharge a portable electronic device. Integrating the secondary battery into the watch device allow the user to have an emergency power source in the event the battery of the user's phone, for example, become discharged, and the user does not have a separate battery power pack or power converter. The watch is small enough to be convenient to wear, and yet large enough to house a secondary battery that can provide a substantial charge.
