Patent Description:
<CIT> discusses a wearable mobile computing device/appliance (e. g , a wrist watch) with a high resolution display that is capable of wirelessly accessing information from the network and a variety of other devices. The mobile computing device/appliance includes a user interface employing a bezel-based input mechanism including a bezel ring which may be rotated and depressed for generating both rotation and wheel click events for enabling navigation, selection and entry of various displayed textual and graphical items.

<CIT> discusses a bezel interface for small computing devices. More specifically, the bezel interface includes a display screen and a bezel encircling the display screen. The bezel is adapted to rotate about the display screen in one or more axes. A cursor displayed within the display screen is responsive to movement of the bezel.

<CIT> describes a watch having a mechanically rotating bezel to provide an input device for selecting characters on a display of the watch.

The invention is defined in the claims. In the following description, any embodiments referred to and not falling within the scope of the claims is merely an example useful to the understanding of the invention.

<FIG> show side and top views, respectively, of a wearable device <NUM> having a gyroscopic sensing system <NUM> in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The wearable device <NUM> may be one or many devices including, for example, a smartwatch, a fitness band or monitor, an action camera, and the like, that have relatively small or no graphical user input (GUI), such as a touchscreen. The wearable device <NUM> may include a rotatable device <NUM> having one or more rotatable components, e.g., a rotatable edge component <NUM> (e.g., a watch bezel), a rotatable face component <NUM> (e.g., a watch crystal), and a rotatable body component <NUM> (e.g., a watch body or case), that may be in communication with and engage an embedded gyroscopic sensor <NUM>. The wearable device <NUM> may also include a strap or bracelet <NUM> that may be used to attach the wearable device <NUM> to a user, e.g., to the wrist of a user. The rotatable device <NUM> and the associated rotatable components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are capable of rotating separately (i.e., independently) around at least one axis of rotation, e.g., x-axis, y-axis, or z-axis. The gyroscopic sensor <NUM> may embody a single axis, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) rate gyroscope chip that is capable of sensing rotation on one of three axes of movement, e.g., x-axis (pitch), y-axis (roll), and z-axis (yaw), depending on the mounting arrangement. The gyroscopic sensor <NUM> may embody a relatively small size and low cost arrangement suitable for sensing motion in small consumer electronic devices, e.g., the wearable device <NUM>. An example of a suitable gyroscopic sensor chip for use with the disclosure is the single axis (z) MEMS gyroscope model ISZ-<NUM> available from InvenSense® Inc. of San Jose, California. The illustrated rotatable device <NUM> and the gyroscopic sensor <NUM> form at least a portion of a gyroscopic sensing system that may extend a Human Machine Interface (HMI), e.g., a touchscreen, of a small wearable device, e.g., the wearable device <NUM>, to be more useful (i.e., more accurate, user-friendly, integrated and compatible).

In the illustrated example, the wearable device <NUM> includes illustrated corresponding landmark lines <NUM> that align to define a reset (i.e., rest or ready) position for the rotatable components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. It is noted that while the landmark lines <NUM> are illustrated by straight lines, this is for illustration purposes only. Other arrangements may be used to define the alignment of rotatable components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> including, for example, stops, bumps, and similar structures that bring the rotatable components into alignment at the reset position. The gyroscopic sensor <NUM> may be arranged to receive a user input via the rotation of one or more of the rotatable components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the rotatable device <NUM>, e.g., around the z-axis, to form an HMI that extends the utility of the user interface (i.e., touchscreen) to include more input states and allows the user interface to be faster, more accurate, and more reliable.

For example, a user may rotate one or more of the rotatable components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in order to provide an input, e.g., to browse, select and/or launch (i.e., activate), for an application associated with the wearable device <NUM>. As will be discussed further below, the input may be based on various factors including, for example, the degree of rotation from the reset position, the direction of rotation, rotation to a corresponding function icon, a sequence of rotation(s), and the like. The rotary, more ergonomically friendly inputs enabled by the rotatable device <NUM> may thereby provide the wearable device <NUM> with greater utility by allowing increased functionality and accuracy of input compared to a small user input (e.g., a touchscreen) having confined and limited display space with an ever-increasing number of applications. Users may thereby provide more effective and reliable inputs. Turning now to <FIG>, side and top views, respectively, of a wearable device <NUM> are shown in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The wearable device <NUM> is similar to the wearable device <NUM> (<FIG>) and includes a gyroscopic sensing system having a rotatable body <NUM> capable of rotating around a z-axis (e.g., in the clockwise direction (see arrow <NUM>)) from the reset position (i.e., such that the landmark lines <NUM> are not in alignment) in order to browse, navigate, and/or launch applications associated with the wearable device <NUM>. <FIG> show side and top views, respectively, of a wearable device <NUM> in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The wearable device <NUM> is similar to the wearable device <NUM> (<FIG>) and includes a rotatable edge <NUM> capable of rotating around a z-axis (e.g., in the clockwise direction (see arrow <NUM>)) from the reset position (i.e., such that the landmark lines <NUM> are not in alignment) in order to browse, navigate, and/or launch applications associated with the wearable device <NUM>. <FIG> show side and top views of a wearable device <NUM> in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The wearable device is similar to wearable device <NUM> (<FIG>) and includes a rotatable edge <NUM> and a rotatable face <NUM> that are both capable of rotating around a z-axis (e.g., in the clockwise direction (see arrow <NUM>) and in the counter-clockwise direction (see arrow <NUM>), respectively) from the reset position (i.e., such that the landmark lines <NUM> are not in alignment) in order to browse, navigate, and/or launch applications associated with the wearable device <NUM>.

Turning now to <FIG>, an example of a gyroscopic sensing system <NUM> in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure is shown. The system <NUM> may include a gyratory sensing system <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, and a memory device <NUM>. The gyratory sensing system <NUM> may include a Human Machine Interface (HMI) <NUM> (having a rotatable device) and a gyratory sensor <NUM> (both discussed more thoroughly above with respect to <FIG>). The HMI <NUM> may be configured and arranged to receive an input from a user <NUM>, e.g., a human, and communicate the input to the gyratory sensor <NUM>. The gyratory sensor <NUM> may be in communication with the processor <NUM> (e.g., a system on chip (SoC) processor) and the memory device <NUM>, and may sense the user input in a manner that extends the HMI <NUM> to be more useful. The system <NUM> may also include various optional components including, for example, a camera <NUM>, display <NUM>, and other peripheral device(s) <NUM>.

In use, the gyratory sensing system <NUM> may receive an input from a user <NUM> via a rotatable device of the HMI <NUM>. The input(s) (corresponding to a user selection of system or application function, option, process, etc.) may be communicated, for example, by the user <NUM> rotating one or more of the rotatable components of the rotatable device. The rotatable device may embody a rotatable device as discussed above with respect to <FIG>. The gyratory sensor <NUM> may be in communication with the HMI <NUM> to receive and sense the user input(s) based on, for example, the degree of rotation of the one or more rotating components from a reset position. The user input(s) may be communicated via a component of the system <NUM>, e.g., the display <NUM>. The user input(s) may also be used to adjust, alter, change, navigate, browse, and/or select, etc. the functions, options, processes, and the like of the camera <NUM>, display <NUM>, or other peripheral device(s) <NUM>. The gyratory sensing system <NUM> may thereby provide the wearable device with greater utility by allowing improved input functionality, ergonomics, reliability and accuracy. As an example, due to the limited size and screen space that may be offered by small wearable devices (e.g., wearable device <NUM>), the gyratory sensing system <NUM> may, for example, allow more functions and/or applications (which may be represented, for example, by icons) associated with the wearable device (e.g., wearable device <NUM>) or an associated peripheral device to be more quickly, reliably and accurately browsed and selected when compared to other user interfaces. Further, in at least some embodiments, the ergonomics and tactile layout of the HMI <NUM> may improve the speed, reliability, and accuracy of user inputs when compared to other user interfaces.

In various embodiments, the gyratory sensing system <NUM> may allow the functionality of a wearable device (e.g., wearable device <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>) to be improved by extending a utility of the HMI <NUM>. In some embodiments, "extending a utility of the human machine interface" may mean providing the wearable device with greater utility by enabling improved input functionality, ergonomics, reliability and accuracy consistent with the disclosure herein. In at least some embodiments, the improved input functionality may be accomplished via one or more rotatable components such as, for example, the rotatable components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (<FIG>), that enable functions of one or more applications associated with the HMI <NUM> to be selected in a manner that quickly and accurately launches the applications (as discussed more thoroughly below with respect to <FIG>). For example, the rotatable components may allow a user to quickly and accurately zoom in and out of one or more functions associated with the HMI such that the functionality, ergonomics, reliability or accuracy of the user input may be improved. In at least some embodiments, the improved input functionality may be accomplished via one or more rotatable components such as, for example, the rotatable components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (<FIG>) that allow a wearable device and/or one or more applications associated with the wearable device to be quickly and accurately locked and/or unlocked (as discussed more thoroughly below with respect to FIGs. In at least some embodiments, the improved input functionality may be accomplished via one or more rotatable components such as, for example, the rotatable components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (<FIG>), that allow the one or more applications associated with the HMI <NUM> to be quickly and accurately accessed in a manner that enables multi-dimensional access to the applications (as discussed more thoroughly below with respect to <FIG>). In some embodiments, the various improvements disclosed herein may be combined in various different arrangements not explicitly disclosed herein without departing from the disclosure.

<FIG> shows an example of a gyroscopic sensing process in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The process <NUM> may be implemented as one or more modules in executable software as a set of logic instructions stored in a machine- or computer-readable storage medium of a memory such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), firmware, flash memory, etc., in configurable logic such as, for example, programmable logic arrays (PLAs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), in fixed-functionality logic hardware using circuit technology such as, for example, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) or transistor-transistor logic (TTL) technology, or any combination thereof.

Illustrated processing block <NUM> provides for remaining in a "Standby" (i.e., reset, rest, or ready) state. At block <NUM> a determination may be made as to whether one or more rotatable component(s) of the rotatable device has been rotated greater than a predetermined number of degrees (e.g., x degrees or x°). If "No", the process <NUM> returns to block <NUM> and remains in a "Standby" state. If "Yes", the process <NUM> proceeds to block <NUM> in which the gyratory sensor is triggered and interrupts a processor (i.e., an SoC) for a state change (e.g., update of the user interface (touchscreen or GUI) based on the input). At block <NUM>, a software interrupt-routine is invoked, and the new event is executed. Once complete, the illustrated process <NUM> returns to block <NUM>. An example of suitable pseudo-code for executing the process <NUM> is provided, as follows:
<IMG>.

<FIG> show an illustration of an example of a quick launch routine <NUM> for a wearable device in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The quick launch routine <NUM> of a wearable device <NUM>, consistent with the disclosure herein, may define a pre-determined list and operation of quick launch icons <NUM> to launch an application. The quick launch routine <NUM> may begin at (A) by engaging (i.e., rotating) a rotating component <NUM>, e.g., a watch face, in a direction (e.g., counter-clockwise (see arrow <NUM>)) around a z-axis. Rotating the rotating component <NUM> (e.g., beyond a predetermined degree or to a predetermined location) awakes the system by triggering a gyratory sensor (not shown) and interrupts the processor (e.g., SoC) for a state change. Once awake, the system may show a list of shortcut icons to quick launch an application. At (B) the system presents various application quick launch (i.e., shortcut) icons <NUM> for browsing and selection by the user in order to quick launch an application. The total number of items or applications to be listed may be customized by the user (e.g., by software). User selection may be made by rotating the rotating component <NUM>, for example, in an opposite direction (e.g., clockwise direction (see arrow <NUM>)). At (C) the illustrated system magnifies the selected application quick launch icon <NUM> (i.e., a phonebook) for easier and more reliable activation (i.e., launch) by, for example, being touched by a user and/or after a pre-determined period of time (e.g., after <NUM> seconds). At (D) the various individual entries <NUM> of the selected application <NUM> (i.e., phonebook) may be browsed via the rotatable component <NUM>, and the selected individual entry <NUM> may be magnified and launched by the passage of time or by touch. The illustrated quick launch routine <NUM> may thereby provide a quick, accurate and reliable means for extending the utility of an HMI.

<FIG> show an illustration of an example of a lock/unlock routine <NUM> of a gyroscopic sensing system in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The lock/unlock routine <NUM> (i.e., unlock routine) of a wearable device <NUM>, consistent with the disclosure herein, may define a pre-determined sequence of rotating one or more of rotatable components <NUM>, <NUM> of the wearable device <NUM>. The unlock routine <NUM> may begin at (A) by engaging (i.e., rotating) a first rotating component <NUM> (e.g., a watch face) in a first direction (e.g., a counter-clockwise direction (see arrow <NUM>)) a pre-determined distance or degree (e.g., <NUM> degrees or <NUM>°) around a z-axis, and then rotating a second rotating component <NUM> (e.g., a watch edge) in a second direction (e.g., a clockwise direction (see arrow <NUM>)) a predetermined distance or degree (e.g., <NUM> degrees or <NUM>°) around the z-axis. Upon completion of the lock/unlock routine <NUM> the wearable device may quickly and reliably be transformed from a locked state <NUM> to an unlocked state <NUM>. It is noted that the wearable device <NUM> may similarly be locked by performing a comparable operation, i.e., lock routine. The lock/unlock routine <NUM> may thereby provide another quick, accurate and reliable means for extending the utility of an HMI.

<FIG> show an illustration of an example of a multi-dimension access routine <NUM> of a gyroscopic sensing system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The multi-dimension access routine <NUM> of a wearable device <NUM>, consistent with the disclosure herein, may define a pre-determined operation of a multi-dimension application interface. The multi-dimension access routine <NUM> may begin at by engaging (i.e., rotating) a first rotating component <NUM> (e.g., a watch body) in a first direction (e.g., a clockwise direction (see arrow <NUM>)) a pre-determined distance or degree around the z-axis in order to activate (i.e., awake) the user interface (i.e., touchscreen or GUI). At (B) various application icons <NUM> may be presented on the user interface for selection by a user. The first rotating component <NUM> may be further rotated in a clockwise direction, for example, in order to navigate the various application icons <NUM>. At (C) the selected application icon <NUM> (e.g., a phonebook) may be magnified and a second rotatable component <NUM> (e.g., a watch edge) may be rotated, for example, in a clockwise direction in order to launch or "step into" the details <NUM> of the selected application <NUM> (i.e., search the contacts of the phonebook). At (D) the selected detail <NUM> (i.e., contact) may be magnified for easier launch via touch by the user or passage of a pre-determine period of time (e.g., <NUM> seconds). Other features may also be launched via the rotatable components <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, once the call has been launched a loudspeaker may be activated, for example, by rotating the first rotatable component <NUM> (i.e., the watch body) in a clockwise direction (see arrow <NUM>). The call may be ended, for example, by rotating the second rotating component (i.e., the watch edge) in a clockwise direction (see arrow <NUM>). The multi-dimension access routine <NUM> may thereby provide another quick, accurate and reliable means for extending the utility of an HMI.

An example of suitable pseudo-code for executing the routines disclosed herein is provided, as follows:
<IMG>
<IMG>.

As would be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art, the specific arrangements disclosed herein may be arranged and/or rearranged in various combinations to include one or more rotatable component(s) which may or may not have been discussed specifically herein without departing from the disclosure. For example, particular embodiments may include arrangements that have a rotatable body, a rotatable edge, and a rotatable face. Further, the direction of rotation of the rotatable components is not intended to be limiting and may be reversed and/or rearranged without departing from the disclosure. Further still, various embodiments may utilize a rotation to a specific angle which may be further facilitated by the use of various stops, bumps, vibrations, haptic, sound, mechanical notches, and other arrangements that provide feedback in order to indicate the specific angle. Such embodiments may be particularly useful for user having impaired vision and/or impaired sensitivity to touch. In addition, while embodiments disclosed herein have been shown with respect to wearable device having a substantially round shape, other shapes may be used. For example, a rectangular smartwatch design may be used. In such use, once a rotatable component, e.g., a watch body or edge has been rotated during text input, for example, the keyboard orientation may be switched to a landscape orientation in order to take advantage of (i.e., match) the device design and improve the user experience.

Embodiments are applicable for use with all types of semiconductor integrated circuit ("IC") chips. Examples of these IC chips include but are not limited to processors, controllers, chipset components, programmable logic arrays (PLAs), memory chips, network chips, and the like. In addition, in some of the drawings, signal conductor lines are represented with lines. Some may be different, to indicate more constituent signal paths, have a number label, to indicate a number of constituent signal paths, and/or have arrows at one or more ends, to indicate primary information flow direction. This, however, should not be construed in a limiting manner. Rather, such added detail may be used in connection with one or more exemplary embodiments to facilitate easier understanding of a circuit. Any represented signal lines, whether or not having additional information, may actually comprise one or more signals that may travel in multiple directions and may be implemented with any suitable type of signal scheme, e.g., digital or analog lines implemented with differential pairs, optical fiber lines, and/or single-ended lines.

Example sizes/models/values/ranges may have been given, although embodiments are not limited to the same. As manufacturing techniques (e.g., photolithography) mature over time, it is expected that devices of smaller size could be manufactured. In addition, well known power/ground connections to IC chips and other components may or may not be shown within the figures, for simplicity of illustration and discussion, and so as not to obscure certain aspects of the embodiments. Further, arrangements may be shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring embodiments, and also in view of the fact that specifics with respect to implementation of such block diagram arrangements are highly dependent upon the platform within which the embodiment is to be implemented, i.e., such specifics should be well within purview of one skilled in the art. Where specific details (e.g., circuits) are set forth in order to describe example embodiments, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments can be practiced without, or with variation of, these specific details. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.

Some embodiments may be implemented, for example, using a machine or tangible computer-readable medium or article which may store an instruction or a set of instructions that, if executed by a machine, may cause the machine to perform a method and/or operations in accordance with the embodiments. Such a machine may include, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computing device, processing device, computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like, and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware and/or software. The machine-readable medium or article may include, for example, any suitable type of memory unit, memory device, memory article, memory medium, storage device, storage article, storage medium and/or storage unit, for example, memory, removable or non-removable media, erasable or non-erasable media, writeable or re-writeable media, digital or analog media, hard disk, floppy disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), optical disk, magnetic media, magneto-optical media, removable memory cards or disks, various types of Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), a tape, a cassette, or the like. The instructions may include any suitable type of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, encrypted code, and the like, implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/or interpreted programming language.

The term "coupled" may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms "first", "second", etc. may be used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

Claim 1:
A wearable device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), comprising:
a screen (<NUM>) to display a user interface;
a gyroscopic sensing system comprising:
an input device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to receive a user input to control the user interface, the input device capable of rotation around one axis of rotation; and
a gyroscope sensor (<NUM>) coupled to processing circuitry to sense a motion in at least one axis of movement;
the processing circuitry (<NUM>) configured to:
process an activation signal (<NUM>) triggered by rotating the input device to activate the user interface;
provide a plurality of selectable options (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) in the user interface in response to the activation signal; and
process a rotation input (<NUM>) received with the input device to navigate the selectable options in the user interface for selection.