Patent Publication Number: US-6336126-B1

Title: Wearable computer

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/653,217, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,301. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates in general to data processing systems, and in particular, to a wearable computer with a hand-held display device. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     In recent years, because of the fast development in electronic technology, computers have become faster in operation and more compact in structure. Because they are high performance, low cost and easy to carry, portable and hand-held personal computers have become more and more popular. 
     Typical hand-held computers that are rich in function and long in battery life are cumbersome and heavy. Functions such as bar code scanners, hard files, batteries, wireless LAN (local area network) adapters, etc. take up space and have considerable weight. This makes long-term use of these devices tiring to the user. 
     Thus, there is a need in the art for a hand-held computer that is more lightweight for the user to hold for long periods of time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention satisfies the foregoing need by mounting the processor, hard files, adapter cards, antenna, batteries, and all other computer-associated components, except for the display, which could include touch, pen or voice input, on a user&#39;s belt, backpack, or any other wearable accessory. The display and touch screen can be packaged in a separate ultra-lightweight unit that the operator can hold. Communication between the wearable computer and the hand-held display may be achieved by a wireless link, such as a four-color optical link. 
     The present invention can also be used within a wireless network (LAN or WAN (wide area network)) by providing for wireless radio (RF) communications between the wearable computer and a computer server also employing RF communications equipment. The use of two patch antennas mounted on opposite sides of the person&#39;s body eliminates any gaps in the propagation pattern emanated from the transceiver coupled to the wearable computer. 
     When not in use, the hand-held display package can be mounted to the wearable computer for storage. Additionally, with such a storage configuration, electrical terminals can be provided so that a larger power supply associated with the wearable computer can charge a smaller battery pack powering the hand-held display package. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates in block diagram form, an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a user holding an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates use of the present invention within a LAN; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a circuit diagram of a photodetector-amplifier-gain control circuit used in the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates propagation patterns of the use of two antennas in conjunction with the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 further illustrates the two antenna embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a belt clip for mounting the present invention on a belt; 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the mounting of the display unit with the main computer unit; 
     FIG. 9 illustrates an apparatus for recharging batteries within the display unit; 
     FIG. 10 illustrates in partial block diagram form and partial circuit diagram form an optical link in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 illustrates use of a holster to carry the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 illustrates use of an over-the-shoulder strap to carry the present invention; and 
     FIG. 13 illustrates use of a neck strap to carry the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits have been shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details concerning timing considerations and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
     Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by the same reference numeral through the several views. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a user holding an embodiment of the present invention. Wearable unit  113  of the computer, which may include the central processing unit (CPU), memory and storage devices, adapter cards, communications antenna, power supply/batteries, display adapter, and other computer-associated components, except for the display and touch screen, are mounted on belt  20  attached to the user. Display circuitry and touch screen  138  are mounted within display package  195 , which is shown being held by the user. 
     Also shown is antenna  167  coupled to wearable unit  113 , which, as described further below, is adaptable for permitting wireless communications between the wearable computer and a wireless network or other communications link. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a special high-speed optical link allows unit  113  to communicate wirelessly with display package  195 . The distance between unit  113  and display package  195  can be at an arm&#39;s length, so it will be possible to achieve data rates necessary to control display device  138 , such as a flat panel display device, e.g., a liquid crystal color VGA screen, a field emission display (FED), a plasma screen, etc. A battery (not shown) is used within display package  195  to provide power to the display circuitry. 
     Referring next to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of the wearable computer illustrated in FIG.  2 . Unit  113  comprises CPU  110  coupled by system bus  112  to read only memory (ROM)  116 , random access memory (RAM)  114 , input/output (I/O) adapter  118 , communications adapter  134 , and display adapter  185 . 
     I/O adapter  118  couples bus  112  to such storage devices as hard disk or optical disk  120 , and tape storage  140 . 
     Communications adapter  134 , is coupled to transceiver  165 . Transceiver  165  is operable for transmitting and receiving RF radio signals via antenna  167  to a corresponding transceiver and antenna associated with a network server (not shown), as discussed below with respect to FIG.  3 . Alternatively, an optical or other wireless link, or a wired link may also be used for communications with the network server. 
     Power is supplied to unit  113  by power supply  101 , which may utilize some type of battery  103 . Power from battery  103  is supplied via link  102 , which may be a part of bus  112 . 
     Display package  195  incudes optical link transceiver  180  coupled to display interface  186  and user interface adapter  190 . User interface adapter  190  and display interface  186  are coupled to display screen  138 , which may be a touch screen operable for permitting input to the computer by a user. To facilitate such a touch screen, user interface adapter  190  may include a touch controller. 
     Battery  196  coupled to each of the aforementioned portions of display package  195  supplies power to these portions. Battery  196  may be smaller than battery  101  to maintain the lightweight characteristic of display package  195 . 
     Communications between display package  195  and unit  113  is performed via optical link circuitry. 
     Optical link transceiver  180  may include one or more light emitting diodes (“LEDs”)  27  for converting electrical signals into optical signals to be transmitted for detection by one or more photodetectors  25  coupled to optical link transceiver  160 . Likewise, optical link transceiver  160  may include one or more LEDs  21  operable for converting electrical signals carrying video and control information for transmission and reception by one or more photodetectors  26  coupled to optical link transceiver  180 . Alternatively, solid state lasers could be used instead of LEDs. Photodetectors  25  and  26  operate to convert the received optical signals into electrical signals carrying video and/or control information. 
     Referring next to FIG. 10, there is shown one embodiment for the optical link circuitry. Standard video display controller chip  1000  can be used to drive display  138 : red, green, blue, horizontal sync (H sync) and vertical sync (V sync). Such chips output digital sync pulses, but the color signals are analog. 
     Video display controller chip  1000  includes circuitry  1001  for outputting the red, green and blue analog signals and circuitry  1002  for outputting the digital horizontal and vertical sync signals. Video display controller chip  1000  may be a portion of display adapter  185 . 
     FIG. 10 also illustrates a portion of optical link transceiver  160  for converting the color and sync outputs from circuits  1001  and  1002 , respectively, into optical signals to be transmitted to optical link transceiver  180 , a portion of which is also illustrated in FIG.  10 . 
     The red, green and blue color signals are received by LED drive circuits  1003 - 1005 , respectively, which drive LEDs  21  comprised of LED  1006  for transmitting the red color signal via a red light. LED  1007  for transmitting the green color signal using a green light, and LED  1008  for transmitting the blue color signal using a yellow light. 
     Receipt of such optical signals from red, green, and yellow diodes  21  is done by corresponding photodetectors  26  in display package  195 . 
     It is possible to create a composite sync signal that contains both horizontal and vertical sync information. This may be performed by using composite sync generating circuit  1015  and driving LED  1016  to transmit the information using infrared (I) light. Thus, four different color LEDs  21  could be used to transmit the video signals from unit  113  to four photodetectors  26  in display package  195 . Interference-type filters  401  can be placed in front of each of photodetector  26  to insure that the red signal is only received by the photodetector designated for the red signal, etc. Thus, the red light from LED  1006  is passed through red interference filter  1009  and received by photodetector  1012  to reproduce the red color signal. The green light from LED  1007  is passed through green interference filter  1010  and received by photodetector  1013  to reproduce the green color signal. And, the yellow light is received from LED  1008  and passed through yellow interference filter  1011  to be received by photodetector  1014  to reproduce the blue color signal. Likewise, the infrared light signal received from LED  1016  is passed through infrared interference filter  1017  to be received by photodetector  1018  to reproduce the composite sync signal. 
     Such interference filters  401  are available from Mellis Griot, Inc., with wavelength bandpasses that cut off within ten nanometers. This is more than adequate for isolating red from green from yellow from infrared LED light. Alternatively, other light wavelength selective filters could be used. 
     The amplitude of the digital signal from composite sync generating circuit  1015  is not important (within a reasonable range), so this signal can drive infrared LED  1016  directly, without gain control. LEDs  1006 - 1008  transmitting the color signals may be operated in a linear mode so that the analog signals could be transmitted. Colored LEDs are commercially available with adequate bandwidth, but the end-to-end gain may be controlled, as further described below with respect to FIG.  4 . 
     Non-video data could be included in the communications between unit  113  and display package  195 . This data could be placed in the sync signal during the “vertical interval” time. The vertical interval time is when display  138  is normally moving the electron beam back to the starting corner of display  138 . This technique is used in TV signals to enable information such as written captions to be transmitted with the normal signal. The information could be such things as diagnostic commands, scanner control, and optical link gain control for analog signals. 
     Referring back to FIG. 1, display package-to-wearable unit data could be sent via a fifth optical link, pointed in the opposite direction. This link could use any color light for LED  27  since its light source will not be seen by optical detectors  26 . Reception of light from LED  27  is performed by photodetector(s)  25 . 
     The circuitry described above with respect to FIG. 10 may also be used for implementing the optical link from LEDs  27  to photodetectors  25 . 
     Referring next to FIG. 4, there is shown photodetector/amplifier/gain control circuit  40  utilized with respect to each of photodetectors  25  and  26 . Since the red, green and blue video signals are analog signals, the end-to-end gain of the optical link must be monitored and controlled. This is especially true since display package  195  will move in relation to wearable computer  113 . 
     Gain control can be achieved by placing a gain calibration pulse on the analog video signals during the vertical interval time. Each of the red, green and yellow light source LEDs would be pulsed at a level that should represent a predefined voltage at the end of the photodetector amplifier chain. Since this is done during the vertical interval time, the displayed information will not be affected. A gain setting sync pulse would be placed on the digital composite sync signal to indicate when the analog signal should be sampled by gain control circuitry  40  associated with each of photodetectors  26 . This signal would be recovered by gain control circuitry  40  and labeled “+gain sample time” with it being an open collector driver that is turned off when the gain signal is to be sampled. 
     Gain control circuitry  40  then samples the recovered analog signals during the indicated sample time within every vertical interval, which is at 60 times a second or greater. This is frequent enough to compensate for movement of display package  195  relative to unit  113  when the user is holding display package  195 . 
     There would be three of circuits  40 , one for red, one for green, and one for blue (yellow). The incoming analog optical color signal (red, green or yellow) is first filtered by an optical filter  401  to ensure that only the desired signal is received. The optical signal is then converted to an electrical signal by photodiode  403 . The electrical signal is then amplified by amplifier  405 , whose gain can be externally controlled by means of an analog signal through gain control input  413 . The output of amplifier  405  is the recovered analog color signal. 
     The recovered analog color signal is then sampled via resistor  406  by a peak follower circuit if the signal (+gain sample time) is not held down by its open collector driver. The peak follower circuit, made up of amplifier  407 , diode  408 , and capacitor  411  will store the maximum level of the recovered analog signal during the sample time. The time constant of capacitor  411  and resistor  410  is such that the voltage on capacitor  411  is relatively stable during the time between gain samples. 
     Error amplifier  412  compares the actual signal size stored on capacitor  411  with a reference voltage Vref and provides an error signal. The error signal will be larger if the gain needs to increase. The error signal is then what controls the gain of amplifier  405  via gain control input  413 . 
     The recovered analog color signals are then digitized by analog-to-digital (A/D) converters  450 . The digital color signals would then be used to control display  138 . 
     Referring next to FIGS. 3 and 7, there is illustrated use of the present invention within a local area network (LAN). Data is transmitted between wearable computer  113  (which, in FIG. 3 is shown to be mounted to belt  20 ) via antenna  167  and transceiver  165  to/from antenna  33  and transceiver  32 , which is connected to base station/access point  31 . Base station/access point  31  communicates these data communications to computer server  30 . 
     Referring next to FIGS. 5 and 6 there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     When one antenna  167  is used for communicating with antenna  33  illustrated in FIG. 3, there is the possibility that the user may be positioned so that there is a notch in the propagation pattern emanating from antenna  167  as a result of the user&#39;s body blocking the path between antennas  167  and  33 . A solution to this problem is the use of two antennas  50  and  51 . Patch type antennas would be good for this. Generally, such antennas are directional, flat antennas having an approximate  180  degrees RF pattern. It is not unusual for wireless LAN systems to have the capability for antenna diversity. i.e., the ability to utilize two antennas. Antennas  50  and  51  are coupled to wearable computer  113  via transmission lines  60  and  61 . Antennas  50  and  51  may be positioned on belt  20  on opposite sides of the user (or some other location on the user) so that the propagation patterns  52  and  53  overlap resulting in the absence of any notch within the propagation pattern emanating from the antennas  50  and  51 . 
     Note, FIG. 6 illustrates that the use of two antennas  50  and  51  may be used within such a wearable computer where display package  195  is coupled to unit  113  by tethered line  62  transmitting the power and data signals to and from unit  113  and display package  195 , instead of the previously described optical method. Alternatively, tethered line  62  could be a fiber optic cable. 
     Referring next to FIG. 7, there is illustrated a rear view of unit  113  having belt clip  70  attached thereto so that unit  113  can be attached to belt  20 . 
     Also shown is inboard antenna  71  mounted within recess  72  of unit  113 , as opposed to the extension of antenna  167  shown in FIG.  3 . 
     Referring next to FIG. 8, there is illustrated the mounting of display package  195  onto wearable computer  113  through the use of clip  80 , adaptable for attaching and holding display package  195 . Such clips  80  for attaching two devices together are well-known in the art. 
     Referring next to FIG. 9, there is illustrated display package  195  attached to unit  113  by clips  80  and  90 . Electrical contacts  91 - 94  are in physical contact with each other when display package  195  is clipped to unit  113  so that battery  101  within unit  113  may supply power to recharge battery  196  within display package  195 . 
     Referring next to FIG. 11, there is illustrated holster  1101  mounted to belt  1100  for receiving and storing unit  195 . Power could be supplied to unit  195  via holster  1101  in a manner similar to that described above with respect to FIG.  9 . 
     Referring next to FIG. 12, there is illustrated unit  113  worn by a user utilizing over-the-shoulder belt  1200 . 
     In FIG. 13, unit  113  is worn by the user utilizing neck strap  1300 . 
     In FIGS. 11-13, display package  195  is not shown for reasons of clarity. Furthermore, unit  113  may be worn by a user in many other fashions, such as with a backpack or some type of head gear. 
     Though not shown in the figures, unit  113  may be modified by one skilled in the art to include a bar code scanner and/or an RFID tag reader. 
     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.