PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11971746-B2
Application Number: US-202016938048-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Expandable ring device

Abstract:
A system may include ring devices. A ring device may have a housing that is configured to be worn on a finger of a user. Sensors such as force sensors, ultrasonic sensors, inertial measurement units, optical sensors, touch sensors, and other components may be used in gathering input from a user. Control circuitry may wirelessly transmit information gathered from sensors and other input devices to an associated electronic device. The information may be used in controlling operation of the electronic device. The housing of the ring device may have an annular main body and an expandable portion coupled to the main body. The expandable portion may include a flap with a hinge, a rotatable housing member, a housing with an internal adjustable frame and a cover, an expandable housing formed from an expandable tube coupled between first and second annular devices, and other expandable structures.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system configured to be interacted with by a user, the system comprising:
 a wearable electronic device configured to be worn on a finger of the user, the wearable electronic device having a hinge that rotates about an axis that is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the finger of the user when the wearable electronic device is worn on the finger of the user, a visual marker, and a first sensor that gathers input from the user; and 
 a head-mounted device comprising a display viewable by the user and a second sensor that is configured to detect the visual marker to track the wearable electronic device. 
 
     
     
       2. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the wearable electronic device is a ring that has a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portion is configured to move relative to the second portion. 
     
     
       3. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the head-mounted device further comprises control circuitry and wherein the control circuitry is configured to use the second sensor to track the wearable electronic device. 
     
     
       4. The system defined in  claim 3  wherein the second sensor is a camera and wherein the control circuitry is configured to use the camera to detect the visual marker and track the wearable electronic device. 
     
     
       5. The system defined in  claim 4  wherein the visual marker is a marker selected from the group consisting of: a retroreflector, a fiducial, and a light source. 
     
     
       6. The system defined in  claim 3  wherein the wearable electronic device is a ring that has an expandable housing portion movable between an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration. 
     
     
       7. The system defined in  claim 6  wherein the visual marker is on the expandable housing portion and viewable when the expandable housing portion is in the expanded configuration. 
     
     
       8. The system defined in  claim 7  wherein the ring further comprises a haptic output device that is configured to supply haptic output to the user. 
     
     
       9. The system defined in  claim 8  wherein the haptic output device is on the expandable housing portion of the ring. 
     
     
       10. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the head-mounted device displays virtual content overlaid on real-world objects, the head-mounted device further comprising:
 control circuitry that is configured to modify the virtual content based on the input gathered by the first sensor in the wearable electronic device. 
 
     
     
       11. The system defined in  claim 10  wherein the wearable electronic device further comprises first wireless communications circuitry, wherein the head-mounted device further comprises second wireless communications circuitry, and wherein the second wireless communications circuitry is configured to receive the input from the first wireless communications circuitry. 
     
     
       12. A ring device that is configured to be worn on a finger of the user and to communicate with a head-mounted device, the ring device comprising:
 a housing having a hinge that rotates about an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the finger of the user when the housing is worn by the user; 
 at least one sensor configured to detect input from the user; and 
 wireless communications circuitry that is configured to send the input to the head-mounted device. 
 
     
     
       13. The ring device defined in  claim 12  wherein the at least one sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of: an ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor, an inertial measurement unit, a strain gauge, and a radio-frequency sensor. 
     
     
       14. The ring device defined in  claim 13  wherein the head-mounted device is configured to use the input to determine a position of the finger of the user. 
     
     
       15. The ring device defined in  claim 12  further comprising a visual marker on the housing, wherein the head-mounted device is configured to track the ring device using the visual marker. 
     
     
       16. The ring device defined in  claim 12  wherein the hinge allows a portion of the housing to be extended. 
     
     
       17. A system comprising:
 a ring device worn on a finger of the user, the ring device comprising:
 a housing, 
 first communications circuitry configured to send data to external devices; and 
 
 a head-mounted device comprising:
 a display configured to generate images, 
 second communications circuitry configured to receive the data from the ring device, wherein the first and second communications circuitry comprise communications circuitry that supports bidirectional communication between the ring device and the head-mounted device, and 
 control circuitry configured to adjust the displayed images based on the received data. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The system defined in  claim 17  wherein the ring device has a hinge that is parallel to the finger of the user when the ring device is worn by the user. 
     
     
       19. The system defined in  claim 17  wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the displayed images based on at least one of a position, orientation, and motion of the finger of the user. 
     
     
       20. A system comprising:
 a ring device worn on a finger of the user, the ring device comprising:
 a housing, 
 first communications circuitry configured to send data to external devices; and 
 
 a head-mounted device comprising:
 a display configured to generate images,
 wherein the displayed images comprise virtual images that are overlaid on physical objects, 
 
 second communications circuitry configured to receive the data from the ring device, wherein the first and second communications circuitry comprise communications circuitry that supports bidirectional communication between the ring device and the head-mounted device, and 
 control circuitry configured to adjust the displayed images based on the received data.

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/745,747, filed Jan. 17, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/270,497, filed Feb. 7, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,579,099, which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/664,809, filed Apr. 30, 2018, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to electronic devices, and, more particularly, to ring devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices such as computers can be controlled using computer mice and other input accessories. In virtual reality systems, force-feedback gloves can be used to control virtual objects. Cellular telephones may have touch screen displays and vibrators that are used to create haptic feedback in response to touch input. 
     Devices such as these may not be convenient for a user, may be cumbersome or uncomfortable, or may provide inadequate feedback. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system may include ring devices and electronic equipment that can be controlled using the ring devices. 
     A ring device may have a housing that is configured to be worn on a finger of a user. Sensors in the housing such as force sensors, ultrasonic sensors, inertial measurement units, optical sensors, touch sensors, and other components in the ring devices may be used in gathering input from a user. During operation, haptic output can be provided to the finger of a user using a haptic output device in the housing. Control circuitry in the housing may wirelessly transmit information gathered from the sensors and other input devices to associated electronic devices in the system. The information may include control signals that control operation of the electronic devices. 
     The housing of the ring device may have an annular main body and an expandable portion coupled to the main body. The expandable portion may include a flap with a hinge, a rotatable housing member, expandable nested housing segments, or other housing structures that move relative to an annular housing structure on the finger of a user. 
     In some configurations, a ring device may have a housing with an internal adjustable frame and a cover. The internal frame may have telescoping legs. A ring device may also have an expandable housing formed from an expandable layer coupled between first and second annular housing members that can be moved apart to expand the device. 
     A ring device with an expandable portion can be operated in an unexpanded state in which the expandable portion is retracted and the ring device is compact and can be operated in an expanded state in which the expandable portion is deployed and the ring device is enlarged. 
     An expandable housing portion in a ring device may include sensors and other input devices. For example, a capacitive touch sensor or other touch sensor may be formed on an expandable portion of a ring device housing or other housing structure. In some configurations, force sensors such as strain gauges may be used in gathering user input. Strain gauge circuitry on an expandable portion may, for example, make measurements of finger bending as the ring device is being worn by a user. 
     If desired, rotatable buttons and other input devices may be mounted to an annular housing in a ring device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of an illustrative system with a ring device such in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a top view of an illustrative finger of a user on which a ring device has been placed in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative ring device on the finger of a user in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a side view of an illustrative expandable ring device on a finger in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of components in an illustrative ring device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  6    is a top view of a portion of an illustrative substrate that may be used in a ring device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  7    is a side view of an illustrative ring device in an unexpanded state in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  8    is a side view of the illustrative ring device of  FIG.  7    following expansion of the device along the length of a finger in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative ring device showing how the ring device may be caused to radially contract and expand in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  10    is a top view of an illustrative ring device with segmented structures in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view of an illustrative ring device with a gap in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  12    is a top view of an illustrative ring device with a helical housing in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  13    is a top view of an illustrative ring device with a rotating housing member that swings away from a main body portion of the housing in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view of an illustrative ring device with a side flap in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  15    is a top view of an illustrative expandable ring device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  16    is a perspective view of an illustrative expandable ring device in an unexpanded configuration in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  17    is a perspective view of the illustrative expandable ring device of  FIG.  16    in an expanded configuration in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  18    is a cross-sectional side view of illustrative nested housing sections in an expandable ring device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  19    is a top view of an illustrative expandable ring device with two movable parts coupled by an expandable housing portion formed from a flexible coupling structure in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  20    is a top view of the illustrative expandable ring device of  FIG.  19    in an expanded state in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  21    is a top view of an illustrative segmented expandable ring device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  22    is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative segmented expandable ring device with internal rails in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  23    is a perspective view of an illustrative expandable ring device with a telescoping frame in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  24    is a perspective view of an illustrative expandable ring device with a flexible structure that can be unrolled to expand the ring device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  25    is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative ring device that expands by unrolling along a finger in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  26    is a side view of the illustrative ring device of  FIG.  25    in an unrolled configuration in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  27    is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative expendable ring device with four expandable prongs formed from tape members that can roll and unroll in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  28    is a perspective view of the illustrative expandable ring device of  FIG.  27    in a configuration in which the expendable prongs have been deployed to place the ring device in an expanded configuration in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  29    is a perspective view of an illustrative ring device with movable input devices such as rotatable buttons in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices that are configured to be mounted on the body of a user may be used to gather user input and to provide a user with output. For example, electronic devices that are configured to be worn on one or more of a user&#39;s fingers, which are sometimes referred to as ring devices or electronic ring devices, may be used to gather user input and to supply output. A ring device may have an annular housing with a circular opening that receives a user&#39;s finger. Sensor circuitry in the ring device may allow the ring device to gather measurements on the position, orientation, and motion of the finger on which the ring device is being worn, and other finger activity information. Communications circuitry in the ring device may be used to provide sensor information to external equipment. For example, wireless circuitry may send information gathered with the ring device to one or more electronic devices wirelessly for use in controlling the electronic devices. 
     A ring device may, as an example, include an inertial measurement unit with an accelerometer for gathering information on figure motions such as finger taps or free-space finger gestures, may include force sensors for gathering information on normal and shear forces in the ring device and the user&#39;s finger (e.g., shear forces that arise from twisting the ring on the user&#39;s finger, normal forces that arise when tapping the surface of the ring, etc.), and may include other sensors for gathering information on the interactions between the ring device (and the user&#39;s finger on which the device is mounted) and the surrounding environment. The ring device may include a haptic output device to provide the user&#39;s finger with haptic output and may include other output components. 
     One or more ring devices may gather user input from a user. The user may use ring devices in operating a virtual reality or mixed reality device (e.g., head-mounted equipment such as glasses, goggles, a helmet, or other device with a display). During operation, the ring devices may gather user input such as information on interactions between the ring device(s) and the surrounding environment (e.g., interactions between a user&#39;s fingers and the environment including finger motions and other interactions associated with virtual content displayed for a user). The user input may be used in controlling visual output on the display. During operation, haptic output may be provided to the user&#39;s fingers using the ring devices. Haptic output may be used, for example, to provide the fingers of a user with vibrations for notifications, may be used to create detents as a user provides touch input to a touch sensor on the ring, and haptic feedback as the user interacts with external equipment (as examples). 
     Ring devices can be worn on any or all of a user&#39;s fingers (e.g., the index finger, the index finger and thumb, three of a user&#39;s fingers on one of the user&#39;s hands, some or all fingers on both hands, etc.). In some configurations, ring devices may be expandable. A ring device may, as an example, be expanded in size to enhance the functionality of the ring device by providing additional surface area for gathering touch sensor input or other sensor measurements from sensor circuitry in the expanded portions and/or other portions of the device, to allow the ring device to extend along the finger for a sufficient length that bends in the finger can be measured by a stain gauge or other bend sensor, to provide additional area to support visual markers for operation in a mixed reality system with camera-based ring tracking, and/or to otherwise enhance the capabilities of the ring device. 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of an illustrative system of the type that may include one or more ring devices. As shown in  FIG.  1   , system  8  may include electronic device(s) such as ring device(s)  10  and other electronic device(s)  24 . Each ring device  10  may be worn on a finger of a user&#39;s hand. Additional electronic devices in system  8  such as devices  24  may include devices such as a laptop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wristwatch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a head-mounted device such as glasses, goggles, a helmet, or other equipment worn on a user&#39;s head, or other wearable or miniature device, a television, a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer, a gaming device, a remote control, a navigation device, an embedded system such as a system in which equipment is mounted in a kiosk, in an automobile, airplane, or other vehicle, a removable external case for electronic equipment, a strap, a wrist band or head band, a removable cover for a device, a case or bag that has straps or that has other structures to receive and carry electronic equipment and other items, a necklace or arm band, a wallet, sleeve, pocket, or other structure into which electronic equipment or other items may be inserted, part of a chair, sofa, or other seating (e.g., cushions or other seating structures), part of an item of clothing or other wearable item (e.g., a hat, belt, wrist band, headband, sock, glove, shirt, pants, etc.), or equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices. 
     With one illustrative configuration, which may sometimes be described herein as an example, ring device  10  is a finger-mounted device having an annular housing with a central opening configured to receive a user&#39;s finger and device  10  interacts with one or more devices  24  such as a cellular telephone, tablet computer, laptop computer, wristwatch device, head-mounted device, a device with a speaker, or other electronic device (e.g., a device with a display, audio components, and/or other output components). 
     Devices  10  and  24  may include control circuitry  12  and  26 . Control circuitry  12  and  26  may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of system  8 . The storage and processing circuitry may include storage such as nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in control circuitry  12  and  26  may be used to gather input from sensors and other input devices and may be used to control output devices. The processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors and other wireless communications circuits, power management units, audio chips, application specific integrated circuits, etc. 
     To support communications between devices  10  and  24  and/or to support communications between equipment in system  8  and external electronic equipment, control circuitry  12  may communicate using communications circuitry  14  and/or control circuitry  26  may communicate using communications circuitry  28 . Circuitry  14  and/or  28  may include antennas, radio-frequency transceiver circuitry, and other wireless communications circuitry and/or wired communications circuitry. Circuitry  14  and/or  26 , which may sometimes be referred to as control circuitry and/or control and communications circuitry, may, for example, support bidirectional wireless communications between devices  10  and  24  over wireless link  38  (e.g., a wireless local area network link, a near-field communications link, or other suitable wired or wireless communications link (e.g., a Bluetooth® link, a WiFi® link, a 60 GHz link or other millimeter wave link, etc.). During operation of system  8 , devices  10  and  24  may communicate wirelessly to control the operation of system  8 . For example, sensor input and other input gathered using sensors and other circuitry in one or more devices  10  may be wirelessly transmitted to one or more devices  24  to control devices  24 . If desired, devices  10  and  24  may also include power circuits for transmitting and/or receiving wired and/or wireless power and may include batteries. In configurations in which wireless power transfer is supported between devices  10  and  24 , in-band wireless communications may be supported using inductive power transfer coils (as an example). 
     Devices  10  and  24  may include input-output devices such as devices  16  and  30 . Input-output devices  16  and/or  30  may be used in gathering user input, in gathering information on the environment surrounding the user, and/or in providing a user with output. Devices  16  may include sensors  18  and devices  24  may include sensors  32 . Sensors  18  and/or  32  may include force sensors (e.g., strain gauges, capacitive force sensors, resistive force sensors, etc.), audio sensors such as microphones, touch and/or proximity sensors such as capacitive sensors, optical sensors such as optical sensors that emit and detect light, ultrasonic sensors, and/or other touch sensors and/or proximity sensors, monochromatic and color ambient light sensors, image sensors, sensors for detecting position, orientation, and/or motion (e.g., accelerometers, magnetic sensors such as compass sensors, gyroscopes, and/or inertial measurement units that contain some or all of these sensors), muscle activity sensors (EMG) for detecting finger actions, radio-frequency sensors, depth sensors (e.g., structured light sensors and/or depth sensors based on stereo imaging devices), optical sensors such as self-mixing sensors and light detection and ranging (lidar) sensors that gather time-of-flight measurements, optical sensors such as visual odometry sensors that gather position and/or orientation information using images gathered with digital image sensors in cameras, gaze tracking sensors, visible light and/or infrared cameras having digital image sensors, humidity sensors, moisture sensors, and/or other sensors. Capacitive sensors may include mutual-capacitance sensors and/or self-capacitance sensors. Capacitive sensors may be configured to detect direct from a finger or other external object. In this type of configuration, the capacitive sensors may sometimes be referred to as touch sensors. If desired, capacitive sensors can configured to detect the presence of a hovering finger or other nearby external object that is not directly touching the capacitive sensor. In this type of configuration, the capacitive sensors may sometimes be referred to as proximity sensors. In general, capacitive sensors in devices  10  and/or  24  may be used to gather touch input and/or proximity input. Touch input may include direct contact from a finger or other external object. Proximity input may include input from a nearby finger such as a finger that is hovering over a proximity sensor and/or moving three-dimensional finger gestures. Proximity sensor input that is gathered with a capacitive proximity sensor or other proximity sensor may also include measurements of adjacent fingers (e.g., to determine whether a user&#39;s fingers are spread out from each other or are adjacent to each other). In some arrangements, devices  10  and/or  24  may use sensors  18  and/or  32  and/or other input-output devices  16  and/or  30  to gather user input (e.g., buttons may be used to gather button press input, touch sensors overlapping displays can be used for gathering user touch screen input, touch pads may be used in gathering touch input, microphones may be used for gathering audio input, accelerometers may be used in monitoring when a finger contacts an input surface and may therefore be used to gather finger press input, etc.). If desired, device  10  and/or device  24  may include rotating buttons (e.g., a crown mechanism on a watch or ring device or other suitable rotating button (knob) that rotates and that optionally can be depressed to select items of interest). Push buttons, sliding buttons, and other buttons with mechanically moving button members may also be used. Alphanumeric keys and/or other buttons may be included in devices  16  and/or  30 . 
     Devices  16  and/or  30  may include haptic output devices  20  and/or  34 . Haptic output devices  20  and/or  34  can produce motion that is sensed by the user (e.g., through the user&#39;s fingertips). Haptic output devices  20  and/or  34  may include actuators such as electromagnetic actuators, motors, piezoelectric actuators, shape memory alloy actuators, electroactive polymer actuators, vibrators, linear actuators, rotational actuators, actuators that bend bendable members, actuator devices that create and/or control repulsive and/or attractive forces between devices  10  and/or  24  (e.g., components for creating electrostatic repulsion and/or attraction such as electrodes, components for producing ultrasonic output such as ultrasonic transducers, components for producing magnetic interactions such as electromagnets for producing direct-current and/or alternating-current magnetic fields, permanent magnets, magnetic materials such as iron or ferrite, and/or other circuitry for producing repulsive and/or attractive forces between devices  10  and/or  24 ). In some situations, actuators for creating forces in device  10  may be used in squeezing a user&#39;s finger and/or otherwise directly interacting with a user&#39;s finger. In other situations, these components may be used to interact with each other (e.g., by creating a dynamically adjustable electromagnetic repulsion and/or attraction force between a pair of devices  10  and/or between device(s)  10  and device(s)  24  using electromagnets). 
     If desired, input-output devices  16  and/or  30  may include other devices  22  and/or  36  such as status indicator lights (e.g., a light-emitting diode in device  10  and/or  24  that serves as a power indicator, and other light-based output devices), speakers and other audio output devices, electromagnets, permanent magnets, structures formed from magnetic material (e.g., iron bars or other ferromagnetic members that are attracted to magnets such as electromagnets and/or permanent magnets), batteries, etc. Devices  10  and/or  24  may also include power transmitting and/or receiving circuits configured to transmit and/or receive wired and/or wireless power signals. Input-output devices  16  and/or  30  may also include displays (see, e.g., display  37  of device  24 ). Device  24  may be, for example, a head-mounted device controlled using internal control circuitry  26  and/or control circuitry associated with a cellular telephone, computer, or other external device that communicates with device  24  via a wired or wireless link. Display  37  in the head-mounted device may display virtual content for a user. Device  24  may be, for example, a virtual reality device that uses display  37  to display the virtual content or may be a mixed reality (augmented reality) device that uses display  37  to display virtual content overlaid on real-world objects. During operation, input gathered from device(s)  10  using input-output devices  16  and/or input gathered from one or more devices  24  using input-output devices  30  may be used in interacting with the virtual content (e.g., controlling movement of virtual objects or otherwise controlling the virtual content displayed for the user). 
       FIG.  2    is a top view of a user&#39;s finger (finger  40 ) and an illustrative ring device  10 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , device  10  may be formed from an annular unit that is mounted on or near the base of finger  40 . Finger  40  has movable portions including base segment (proximal phalanx)  40 B, middle segment (middle phalanx)  40 M, and tip segment (distal phalanx)  40 T (having fingernail  42 ), or, in the case of a thumb, has movable tip and base segments. Finger hinge joints  50  are interposed between respective finger segments. Ring  10  may be worn on base segment  40 B or, as shown in  FIG.  2   , may be worn on one or more other finger locations such as illustrative location  10 ′ on middle segment  40 M and illustrative location  10 ″ on tip segment  40 T. During use, a user may, as an example, push ring device  10  in direction  48  along finger longitudinal axis  52  so that ring device  10  can be worn in location  10 ′ or location  10 ″. 
     A user may wear one or more of devices  10  simultaneously. For example, a user may wear a single one of devices  10  on the user&#39;s ring finger or index finger. As another example, a user may wear a first device  10  on the user&#39;s thumb, a second device  10  on the user&#39;s index finger, and an optional third device  10  on the user&#39;s middle finger. Arrangements in which devices  10  are worn on other fingers and/or all fingers of one or both hands of a user may also be used. 
     Control circuitry  12  (and, if desired, communications circuitry  14  and/or input-output devices  16 ) may be contained entirely within device  10  (e.g., in an annular housing) and/or may include circuitry that is coupled to device  10  (e.g., by wires from an associated wrist band, glove, fingerless glove, etc.). Configurations in which devices  10  have bodies that are worn on individual user fingers are sometimes described herein as an example. 
     During operation, as a user is wearing one or more devices such as ring device  10  on one or more fingers  40  and is optionally providing input to one or more devices  24  in system  8 , input circuitry (see, e.g., input-output devices  16 ) in each device  10  gathers input (e.g., touch input, information on the motion, position, and/or orientation of device  10 , input from ultrasonic sensors, radio-frequency sensors, optical sensors, force sensors, inertial measurement units, light detectors, etc.). Input may also be gathered using other sensors in system  8  (e.g., a camera in device  24 , a gaze tracker in device  24 , a touch sensor in device  24 , buttons in device  24 , an accelerometer circuitry in device  24 , depth sensors in device  24 , and/or other input-output devices  30  in devices such as device  24  of  FIG.  1   ). This input from device(s)  10  and/or device(s)  24  may be used to allow a user to interact with virtual content that is presented to a user with a display such as display  37 . For example, input from device(s)  10  and/or device(s)  24  may be used to direct control circuitry in system  8  (e.g., control circuitry in a device  24  that includes display  37  and/or an associated device) to move virtual objects such as pointers and other graphical elements, to select menu options, to highlight and/or select items in a list, and/or to otherwise interact with virtual content presented by the display. 
       FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative ring device  10  on finger  40 .  FIG.  3    shows illustrative locations  46  for electrical components (e.g., control circuitry  12 , communications circuitry  14 , and/or input-output devices  16 ) within and/or on the surface(s) of ring device housing  44 . These components may, if desired, be incorporated into other portions of housing  44 , expandable housing portions, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , housing  44  may have a ring shape (e.g., housing  44  may have an annular housing structure that surrounds most or all of finger  40  when finger  40  is received within the central opening of housing  44  while device  10  is being worn by a user). Housing  44  may be formed from metal, ceramic, glass, polymer, fabric, wood, other materials, and/or combinations of these materials. In some configurations, circuitry for device  10  may be contained in an interior portion of housing  44  defined by housing walls in housing  44 . In other configurations, circuitry for device  10  may be mounted exterior housing portions or embedded in housing walls or other housing structures. 
     During operation, a user may press against external structures with device  10  and/or may otherwise interact with device  10 . For example, device  10  may be moved in three-dimensions as a user moves fingers  40  and/or other body parts through the air (e.g., a user may make an up-and-down gesture with finger  40 ) or may tap on a tabletop. These finger movements and other finger input (finger input involving particular finger orientations, finger positions, etc.) may be used in controlling system  8 . 
     If desired, a user may supply input to device  10  by interacting with device  10  using one or more fingers other than the finger on which device  10  is being worn. As an example, a user may be wearing ring device  10  on the ring finger of the user&#39;s left hand. When it is desired to interact with ring device  10 , a user may use one or more fingers of the user&#39;s right hand to adjust a button on device  10 , to supply touch input to a touch sensor on device  10 , to tap device  10 , and/or to otherwise provide input is gathered using sensors and other input devices in device  10 . 
     In some arrangements, lateral movement of finger  40  in the X-Y plane may be sensed. These lateral movements may, for example, be sensed using force sensors or other sensors on the sidewalls of housing  44  or other portions of housing  44  (e.g., because lateral movement will tend to press portions of finger  40  against some sensors more than others and/or will create shear forces that are measured by force sensors that are configured to sense shear forces). Other sensors such as inertial measurement units in device  10  (e.g., sensors that include accelerometers, gyroscopes, and/or compasses) may also be used in measuring finger orientation, position, and/or motion. 
     In general, any suitable sensing circuitry such as ultrasonic sensors, optical sensors, inertial measurement units, strain gauges and other force sensors, radio-frequency sensors, and/or other sensors may be used in gathering sensor measurements indicative of the activities of finger  40  while ring device  10  is being worn on finger  40 . If desired, these sensors may also be used in mapping the contours of three-dimensional objects (e.g., by time-of-flight measurements and/or other measurements). For example, an ultrasonic sensor such as a two-dimensional image sensor or an ultrasonic sensor with a single ultrasonic transducer element may emit free-space ultrasonic sound signals that are received and processed after reflecting off of external objects. This allows a three-dimensional ultrasonic map to be generated indicating the shapes and locations of the external objects. 
     In some configurations, finger activity information (position, movement, orientation, etc.) may be gathered using sensors that are mounted in external electronic equipment (e.g., in a computer or other desktop device, in a head-mounted device or other wearable device, and/or in other electronic device  24  that is separate from device  10 ). For example, optical sensors such as images sensors that are separate from devices  10  may be used in monitoring devices  10  to determine their position, movement, and/or orientation. If desired, devices  10  may include passive and/or active optical registration features to assist an image sensor in device  24  in tracking the position, orientation, and/or motion of device  10 . For example, devices  10  may include light-emitting devices such as light-emitting diodes and/or lasers. The light-emitting devices may be arranged in an asymmetric pattern on housing  44  and may emit light that is detected by an image sensor, depth sensor, and/or other light-based tracking sensor circuitry in device  24 . By processing the received patterned of emitted light, device  24  can determine the position, orientation, and/or motion of device  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , housing  44  of ring device  10  may, if desired, be expanded by a user. For example, one or more portions of housing  44  may be extended rearwards towards position  10 R (e.g., in direction  58  away from middle segment  40 M) and/or one or more portions of housing  44  may be extended forwards towards position  10 F (e.g., in direction  48  towards middle segment  40 M and/or towards tip segment  40 T). These extensions may cause housing  44  to overlap additional portions of finger  40  or all of finger  40 . Extensions to housing  44  may provide device  10  with additional capabilities (e.g., enhance sensing, enhanced light-output area for light-emitting devices used as registration features, additional surface area for user input such as user input to a capacitive touch sensor or other touch sensor, additional area for a display, etc.). 
       FIG.  5    is a perspective view of ring device  10  showing how ring device  10  may contain components  60  (e.g., integrated circuits, electrodes, discrete components, packaged circuits, unpackaged semiconductor dies, electrodes and other sensor structures, and/or other electrical devices and circuits for forming circuitry in device  10  such as circuitry  12 , circuitry  14 , and/or devices  16  of  FIG.  1   ). Components  60  may be mounted within the interior of housing  44 , on the exterior of housing  44 , and/or may be embedded within housing  44  (e.g., in a housing wall). Components  60  may include sensors  18 , capacitive sensor electrodes for a capacitive touch sensor and/or capacitive proximity sensor, force sensor elements (e.g., strain gauges on bendable components, piezoelectric force sensor devices, etc.), optical components such as light sensors, proximity sensors, and/or optical touch sensors, radio-frequency devices, ultrasonic sensor circuits, actuators for forming haptic output devices and other components (e.g., piezoelectric actuators, shape memory alloy actuators, electromagnetic actuators such as electromagnetic vibrators, etc.), electromagnets, displays, light-emitting diodes or other visual output devices, and/or other components. Components  60  may be organized in any suitable pattern (e.g., in a one-dimensional line running around some or all of the circumference of ring device  10 , in a two-dimensional array having rows and columns that wraps around some or all of the circumference of ring device  10 , in one or more discrete locations, etc.). In some arrangements, multiple layers of components  60  may be provided. For example, a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of haptic output devices may be overlapped by a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of capacitive sensor electrodes in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional touch sensor array (e.g., a sensor array on an annular housing member and/or an expandable housing portion in device  10 ). 
     Components  60  may be mounted on substrates in ring device  10 . A top view of an illustrative substrate  62  for device  10  is shown in  FIG.  6   . Substrate  62  may be a rigid printed circuit substrate (e.g., a printed circuit substrate for a printed circuit formed from fiberglass-filled epoxy or other rigid printed circuit board substrate material) or may be a flexible printed circuit substrate (e.g., a flexible sheet of polyimide or other flexible printed circuit substrate layer for a flexible printed circuit). Optional openings  64  may be formed in substrate  62  to enhance flexibility (e.g., to allow substrate  62  to conform to the shape of a user&#39;s finger, to allow substrate  62  to expand and/or contract during use of ring device  10 , etc.). Signal paths may be formed on substrate  62  using metal traces  66 . Components  60  may be mounted to metal traces in substrate  62  using joints formed from solder, conductive adhesive, welds, or other conductive connections. Openings  64  may be arranged in an array or other suitable pattern and may have any suitable shape. For example, openings  64  may be configured to create serpentine strips of substrate material  62  in a matrix pattern (e.g., serpentine substrate segments coupling together islands of substrate material on which components  60  are located). Substrate  62  may be located within an interior portion of housing  44  (e.g., mounted to an inner surface of a housing wall), may be embedded in a housing wall or other housing structure, may be coupled to one or more external housing surfaces and/or may otherwise be incorporated into housing  44  and device  10 . 
       FIG.  7    is a side view of an illustrative ring device in an unexpanded state. In the example of  FIG.  7   , device housing  44  covers part of the user&#39;s finger in base segment  40 B while leaving the surface of middle finger segment  40 M uncovered. As shown in  FIG.  8   , ring device  10  may be expanded to a configuration in which housing portion  44 E extends over additional portions of base segment  44 B and, if desired, additional portions of middle segment  44 M and tip segment  44 T of finger  40 . The expanded area for ring device  10  that is provided by housing portion  44 E may be used to support one or more items such as item  70 . Item  70  may include some or all of one or more of components  60 , and/or any other circuitry in device  10  (sensors,  18 , haptic output devices  20 , other devices  16 , etc.). If desired, item  70  may be a visual marker for enhanced camera tracking (e.g., a retroreflector or fiducial) and/or may be a light source such as a light-emitting diode for enhanced camera tracking. Sensors and/or other components may be mounted at one or more locations in extended housing portion  44 E of the housing of ring device  10  to gather sensor measurements. If desired, strain gauge circuitry with one or more strain gauges or other sensor circuitry that is sensitive to bending forces can be incorporated into housing portion  44 E to serve as an angular sensor for device  10 . During operation, the angular sensor may initially detect that finger  40  is straight and lies along longitudinal axis and may subsequently detect that one or more segments of finger  40  have been bent at a non-zero angle A with respect to axis  52  (e.g., into alignment with axis  52 ′, which lies at non-zero angle A with respect to axis  52 ). Finger bending information (finger segment angular orientation information) may be used as input in controlling system  8  (e.g., this information may be transmitted wirelessly or via a wired connection to devices  24  during operation of system  8  to control devices  24 ). 
     As shown in the cross-sectional side view of ring device  10  of  FIG.  9   , components  60  may be used to radially express and/or radially expand housing  44 . Components  60  may include electrically adjustable actuators such as piezoelectric elements, a piezoelectric inertial pin matrix and creates a course XYZ grid around the ring, soft electroactive polymer actuators (e.g., actuators that can tighten housing  44 ), electromagnetic actuators (e.g., an electromagnetic actuator that selectively joins and separates concentric inner and outer ring members, pneumatic bladders, or shape memory alloy actuators. Housing  44  of ring device  10  of  FIG.  9    may have an inner annular portion and an outer portion (with an annular shape or other suitable shape) that moves relative to the inner portion as shown in  FIG.  9   . This allows housing  44  to be radially enlarged when placing ring device  10  on finger  40  and to be radially contracted to help secure ring device on finger  40 . If desired, housing  44  may be radially expanded to facilitate interactions between the exterior surface of housing  44  and adjacent fingers of the user (e.g., to facilitate the input of a thumb gesture to a touch sensor, force sensor, scrolling button, or other input device on housing  44 ). 
       FIG.  10    is a top view of an illustrative ring device with illustrative circumferentially segmented structures  72 . Structures  72  may be ring links such as removable housing links in a configuration for device  10  in which a user may add or subtract links to help provide ring device  10  with a desired size and/or may be internal structures in device  10 . For example, structures  72  may be segmented battery structures (e.g., battery cells) that are mounted in housing  44  (e.g., in separate housing segments and/or in the interior of a seamless single housing structure  44 ). 
     If desired, housing  44  may have a modified ring shape. For example, housing  44  may have a ring shape with a gap such as housing gap  74  of  FIG.  11   . Housing gap  74  may allow housing  44  to flex and expand when receiving a user&#39;s finger. As shown in  FIG.  12   , housing  44  may have other shapes such as the helical shape of  FIG.  12   . Housing  44  may be rigid or may be flexible (e.g., to accommodate finger bending, etc.). 
     If desired, housing  44  may have portions that expand by rotation (e.g., by pivoting about an axis). As an example, rotatable housing member  44 E of device  10  of  FIG.  13    may be stored in position  76  on the main body of housing  44 . In this stored configuration, housing member  44 E may be perpendicular to longitudinal axis  52 . When it is desired to expand device  10 , housing member  44 E may be rotated using hinge  80  so that housing member  44 E extends along axis  52 , parallel to finger  40 . 
     In the illustrative configuration of  FIG.  14   , ring device  10  has a side flap formed from housing portion  44 E. Hinge  80  lies along hinge axis  78  parallel to longitudinal axis  52  and allows housing portion  44 E to be rotated between storage location  76  (in which portion  44 E is received within a recess in housing  44  and lies flush with the outer surface of housing  44 ) and a deployed location in which flap  44 E is extended to expand ring device  10  as shown in  FIG.  14   . 
     In the example of  FIG.  14   , hinge axis  78  for hinge  80  is parallel to longitudinal axis  52 . If desired, hinge axis  78  may be oriented in different directions. In the example of  FIG.  15   , extendable portion  44 E forms a deployable flap for housing  44 . Hinge  80  of device  10  in  FIG.  15    may allow portion  44 E to be stowed in storage position  76  (e.g., a position in which portion  44 E lies flush with the remainder of housing  44 ). When it is desired to deploy portion  44 E to expand housing  44 , hinge  80  allows portion  44 E to be rotated about hinge axis  78  into the position shown in  FIG.  15    (e.g., a position in which portion  44 E extends outwardly along longitudinal axis  52 . Hinge axis  78  of  FIG.  15    is perpendicular to longitudinal axis  52 . If desired, hinge axis  78  may be oriented at other non-zero angles with respect to longitudinal axis  52  (e.g., one or more flaps, rotating portions, or other expandable portions of housing  44  that are coupled to the main body of housing  44  using hinge structures may be rotated into position along other hinge axes). Portion  44 E may contain input-output devices  16  and/or other circuitry (e.g., touch sensors, strain gauges, haptic output devices, etc. If desired, portion  44 E may have multiple hinged segments so that portion  44 E can be deployed to form an elongated panel. 
     If desired, ring device  10  may have housing structures that are deployed by sliding. As an example, consider the arrangement of  FIG.  16   . In the illustrative configuration of  FIG.  16   , housing  44  of ring device  10  has an annular main housing member with an upper portion having a planar surface such as upper portion  44 T and curved sidewall portions such as portions  44 SW. Other shapes may be used for forming housing  44 , if desired. Expandable housing portion  44 E of ring device  10  is in an unextended (stored) state in the arrangement of  FIG.  16   . When it is desired to expand ring device  10 , expandable portion  44 E may be expanded in direction  82  away from the main body of housing  44 , as shown in  FIG.  17   . Expandable portion  44 E may have any suitable cross-sectional shape (e.g., a thin box shape, a shape with curved and/or straight sides, etc.). Expandable portion  44 E may have a single member that slides out of housing  44  or may have multiple telescoping segments as shown in  FIG.  17   . The telescoping segments may be flat tray-shaped housing segments that nest within each other when expandable portion  44 E is retracted into housing  44 . In the example of  FIG.  17   , each segment of portion  44 E is received within the interior of a successive slightly larger segment. If desired, other nesting arrangements may be used such as the illustrative nesting arrangement for the segments in expandable housing portion  44 E that is shown in the cross-sectional side view of  FIG.  18   . 
       FIGS.  19  and  20    are top views of an illustrative expandable ring device with a flexible coupling portion between movable ring members.  FIG.  19    shows device  10  in an unexpanded configuration. In this arrangement, annular housing members  44 - 1  and  44 - 2  of housing  44  are closed to each other (e.g., members  44 - 1  and  44 - 2  are adjacent to each other and are optionally coupled using magnets  84  such as permanent magnets, electromagnets, and/or iron bars or other structures formed from magnetic material and/or other releasable coupling mechanisms). Portion  44 F of housing  44  may be formed from a tube of collapsible material such as fabric, a flexible layer of material such as a flexible polymer, a mesh formed from polymer, metal, and/or other materials, segments that are joined to form an accordion-shaped housing structure, and/or other expandable housing structures (e.g., other flexible tubular layers that can be stretched and compressed). When it is desired to expand device  10 , housing members  44 - 1  and  44 - 2  may be separated. For example, member  44 - 1  may be moved away from member  44 - 2  in direction  48  along the length of finger  40 . Following expansion, expandable tubular housing portion  44 F may cover additional segment(s) of finger  40 , as shown in  FIG.  20   . 
     The arrangement of  FIGS.  19  and  20    (and/or other expandable arrangements for ring housing  44 ) allows portions  44 - 1  and  44 - 2  to be temporarily separated from each other by an enhanced distance. Location sensors or other input-output devices  16  that are located in housing  44  (e.g., in portions  44 - 1  and  44 - 2  in the example of  FIGS.  19    ad  20 ) may therefore be separated by an enhanced distance from each other (e.g., expanding housing  44  may move optical sensor targets, inertial measurement unit components, or other devices at a temporarily increased distance from each other). The increased separation between these components when housing  44  is expanded may help increase sensor accuracy (e.g., by allowing location sensors to be located farther apart than would otherwise be possible and thereby allowing each of these sensors to gather separate information on the position of different respective parts of finger  40  as opposed to gathering information on the position of finger  40  from single sensor). For example, the locations of the first and third knuckles of a user&#39;s finger can be sensed, providing enhanced tracking of the movement of a user&#39;s finger. 
       FIG.  21    is a top view of an illustrative expandable ring device in which housing  44  has been formed from a tubular expandable structure having a series of linked segments  44 G such as segments formed from a tube of wrinkled fabric or other layer of material with segments that can be folded and/or bunched together to shrink the length of the housing. Device  10  of  FIG.  21    is shown in an unexpanded state. When it is desired to expand device  10 , housing  44  can be expanded by moving segments  44 G outwardly along finger  40 , causing each of the segments to stretch and lengthen. 
       FIG.  22    is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative segmented expandable ring device with internal rails  88 . Housing  44  of  FIG.  22    forms an expandable tube with a series of linked segments  44 G. When unextended, segments  44 G are compressed against each other and can be held in place temporarily using magnetic engagement elements  86  (e.g., magnets and/or magnetic members such as iron bars) on guide rails  88  and/or on segments  44 G. When it is desired to extend housing  44 , a user may press housing portion  44 E outwardly in direction  48  (e.g., using the user&#39;s thumb), causing segments  44 G to stretch and expand, as illustrated by expanded (stretched) segments  44 G′ of extended portion  44 E. The material of housing  44  (e.g., fabric, silicone, strands of material, and/or other expandable structures) may be used to help hold housing  44  in its expanded configuration. 
       FIG.  23    is a perspective view of an illustrative configuration for ring device  10  in which housing  44  has a telescoping frame formed from frame legs  92  that each contain a series of nested (telescoping) frame members  90 . Telescoping frame legs  92  may be supported by a main annular housing member and can be retracted so that housing  44  has a compact ring shape or can be extended to from expanded portion  44 E. Optional housing materials such as flexible cover layer  44 C (e.g., an expandable covering tube formed from a layer of fabric, a flexible polymer layer, a mesh of polymer or other material, etc.) may be used to cover the frame formed from the main ring-shaped housing member of housing  44  and the telescoping legs formed from nested frame members  90 . 
     If desired, device  10  may include one or more portions that can be rolled up or unrolled. As shown in  FIG.  24   , for example, housing  44  may have a strip-shaped housing member  44 TM that can be rolled or unrolled (sometimes referred to as a tape member, rollable member, rollable housing strip, rollable housing member, etc.). Housing member  44 TM forms expandable portion  44 E. Housing member  44 TM may be rolled up into a recess in the main annular body portion of housing  44  for storage or may, as shown in  FIG.  24   , be unrolled to form expanded portion  44 E. As with the other illustrative expanded portions  44 E described herein, sensors, haptic output devices, markers, display devices, touch sensor electrodes, light-emitting components, and/or other circuitry may be formed in portion  44 E. 
       FIG.  25    is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative expandable ring device that includes a rolled up tube of material that extends around the circumference of the user&#39;s finger. As shown in  FIG.  25   , a user may initially wear device  10  in location  10 RT (e.g., on a base segment of finger  40 ). When it is desired to use device  10 , the user may optionally move device  10  forward in direction  48  (e.g., by pushing device  10  forward with the user&#39;s thumb). Housing  44  of device  10  is formed from an annular rolled up tube of material (e.g., a tubular structure formed from a rolled up layer of fabric, flexible polymer such as silicone or other elastomeric material, mesh-shaped layers, or other rollable tube of material that can be rolled into an annular housing of the type shown in  FIG.  25   ). When pushed in direction  48  the rolled up tube of material forming housing  44  can be unrolled to form expanded housing portion  44 E, as shown in  FIG.  26   . 
     Another illustrative configuration for housing  44  is shown in  FIGS.  27  and  28   . As shown in the cross-sectional end view of device  10  of  FIG.  27   , housing  44  may have rollable strip-shaped housing members such as rollable portions  44 TP, which are rolled up for storage in the configuration of  FIG.  27   . There are four rollable portions  44 TP equally spaced around the circumference of ring-shaped housing  44  in the example of  FIG.  27   , but fewer than four rollable portions or more than four rollable portions may be formed in device  10 , if desired. To expand housing  44  for use, a user may unroll each of portions  44 T, thereby extending these housing structures along the length of finger  40  as shown in  FIG.  28   . 
     In some arrangements, ring device  10  may include movable mechanical buttons (sometimes referred to a switches, slider buttons, digital crowns, rotating knobs, movable controls, etc.). Consider, as an example, ring device  10  of  FIG.  29   . A shown in  FIG.  29   , housing  44  of device  10  has a main annular housing member with a central opening that receives finger  40  when device  10  is being worn by a user. A user may supply input to device  10  by rotating button  100  in clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions  110  about rotational axis  108 . A user may also supply input to device  10  by rotating angular knob (button)  102  in directions  104  about longitudinal axis relative to ring-shaped housing  44 . Annular knob  102  may be formed from an annular member that is concentric with annular housing  44  of  FIG.  29    and runs around the outer circumference of annular housing  44 . When rotating knob  102 , housing  44  of ring device  10  may remain stationary on finger  40 . An elastomeric coating or other structures on inwardly facing surfaces of housing  44  adjacent to finger  40  may be used to help hold housing  44  in place when providing input using rotating annular control members such as knob  102 . A user may rotate control members such as button  100  and knob  102  using fingers other than finger  40  (e.g., an index finger and thumb, only a thumb, other fingers, etc.). 
     During operation of system  8 , information gathered using one or more ring devices  10  may be conveyed to one or more devices  24  for use in controlling devices  24  (e.g., for interacting with mixed reality and/or virtual reality content displayed with one or more displays in devices  24 , for interacting with information displayed on a cellular telephone display, or a display on a watch, laptop computer, tablet computer, desktop computer, or other device  24 , etc.). For example, information gathered from input devices such as button  100  and knob  102 , input devices such as sensors (e.g., touch sensors, strain gauges such as force sensors, inertial management units, and/or other sensors), and/or other input devices on the main annular portion of housing  44  and/or on an expandable portion of housing  44  can be used as control signals for system  8 . Information gathered using the circuitry of device  10  in the main body of housing  44  and/or expandable portion  44 E can be wirelessly transmitted to one or more devices  24  using wireless communications circuitry in device  10 . Devices  24  can respond accordingly (e.g., by adjusting displayed content using the received information as pointing input or other input for software running on devices  24 ). Information from device(s)  10  that is wirelessly transmitted to devices  24  may be used for making selections of virtual items and/or otherwise adjusting the operation of system  8 ). In some configurations, device  10  can adjust internal circuitry based on this gathered information. As an example, device  10  may be used as a media player and user input gathered with an input device on the main housing body in device  10  and/or the expendable housing portion in device  10  may be used to control media playback operations (e.g., streaming wireless music to paired wireless earbuds or other device  24 ). 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20200724
Publication Date: 20240430
Grant Date: 20240430
Priority Date: 20180430
Inventors: WANG, PAUL X.
MATHEW, DINESH C.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F1/163", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/014", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/016", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/0331", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/014", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/163", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/163", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/0331", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/011", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/014", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/0331", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/016", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 68291121