U.S. patent application number 14/142277 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-02 for wearable electronic device including a flexible interactive display.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ryan S. Brotman, Aleksander Magi. Invention is credited to Ryan S. Brotman, Aleksander Magi.
Application Number | 20150185944 14/142277 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53479522 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150185944 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Magi; Aleksander ; et
al. |
July 2, 2015 |
WEARABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE INTERACTIVE
DISPLAY
Abstract
Particular embodiments described herein provide for an
electronic device, which may be a wearable electronic device such
as a bracelet, watch, wristband or armband that includes a circuit
board coupled to a plurality of electronic components (which may
include any type of components, elements, circuitry, etc.). One
particular implementation of an electronic device may include a
display portion that may include a flexible display configured to
be manipulated in one or more directions; a touchscreen overlaying
the display; and a pressure sensor array configured beneath the
flexible display. The pressure sensor array may be configured to
measure inputs for one or more manipulations made to at least one
of the display portion and the flexible display.
Inventors: |
Magi; Aleksander; (Aloha,
OR) ; Brotman; Ryan S.; (Beaverton, OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Magi; Aleksander
Brotman; Ryan S. |
Aloha
Beaverton |
OR
OR |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53479522 |
Appl. No.: |
14/142277 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/174 ;
345/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/04817 20130101;
G06F 3/016 20130101; G06F 1/1652 20130101; H04W 48/18 20130101;
H04W 64/003 20130101; H04W 68/00 20130101; G06F 3/0482 20130101;
G06F 2203/04102 20130101; G06F 3/167 20130101; G06F 3/04845
20130101; G06F 3/0488 20130101; G06F 3/0485 20130101; G06F 1/163
20130101; H04M 1/72552 20130101; G06F 2203/04105 20130101; H04M
1/6041 20130101; G06F 2203/04806 20130101; G06F 3/0412
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041; G06F 3/044 20060101 G06F003/044 |
Claims
1. An electronic device, comprising: a display portion that
comprises: a flexible display configured to be manipulated in one
or more directions; a touchscreen overlaying the flexible display;
and a pressure sensor array configured beneath the flexible
display, wherein the pressure sensor array is configured to measure
inputs for one or more manipulations made to at least one of the
display portion and the flexible display.
2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible display
is a flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) display
configured to be manipulated in one or more directions.
3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen is a
capacitive touchscreen configured to be manipulated in one or more
directions.
4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor
array comprises an array of thin-film capacitive pressure
sensors.
5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display portion is
configured to be manipulated in one or more directions.
6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor
array is configured along a perimeter of the flexible display.
7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor
array is configured along a perimeter beneath the flexible
display.
8. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: wireless
communication circuitry contained in the display portion.
9. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a strap
portion, wherein the display portion is secured to the strap
portion.
10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the strap portion is
configured to include one or more sensors to register one or more
manipulations made to the strap portion.
11. An electronic device, comprising: logic, at least a portion of
which is partially implemented in hardware, the logic configured
to: receive, for one or more manipulations of a flexible display of
the electronic device, input data for one or more inputs registered
by at least one of: a touchscreen overlaying the flexible display
and a pressure sensor array configured along a perimeter of the
flexible display; associate the manipulations with operations for
the electronic device, based, at least in part on the input data;
and cause the operations to be performed for the electronic
device.
12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the input data
includes at least one of: pressure input data for pressure
measurements registered by one or more pressure sensors of the
pressure sensor array corresponding to one or more forces applied
to the flexible display during the one or more manipulations; and
touch input data includes touch input data for one or more touch
inputs registered by one or more touch sensors of the touchscreen
corresponding to one or more touches input to the touchscreen
during the one or more manipulations.
13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the logic is further
configured to: determine a context of the manipulations, wherein
the manipulations can be associated with operations for one or more
applications or system operations; and associate the manipulations
with operations for the electronic device based on the input data
and the context of the manipulations.
14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the logic is further
configured to: cause one or more content scrolling operations to be
performed for the electronic device, wherein the content scrolling
operations include scrolling content displayed on the flexible
display in one or more scrolling directions.
15. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the logic is further
configured to: cause one or more content zooming operations to be
performed for the electronic device, wherein the content zooming
operations include zooming content displayed on the flexible
display in one or more directions.
16. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the logic is further
configured to: cause one or more communication operations to be
performed for the electronic device, wherein the communication
operations include communicating data from the device using
wireless communication circuitry in the electronic device.
17. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the logic is further
configured to: cause one or more content view rotation operations
to be performed for the electronic device, wherein the content view
rotation operations include rotating a view of content displayed on
the flexible display in left or right.
18. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the logic is further
configured to: update or change the operations based on additional
input data received for additional manipulations.
19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein, for an update of
the operations, the logic is further configured to cause at least
one of: an increase or a decrease a scroll rate of one or more
content scrolling operations corresponding, respectively, to an
increase or a decrease in applied force measured by one or more
pressure sensors of the pressure sensory array; an increase or a
decrease a zoom rate of one or more content zooming operations
corresponding, respectively, to an increase or a decrease in
applied force measured by one or more pressure sensors of the
pressure sensory array; and an increase or a decrease a rotation
rate of one or more content rotation operations corresponding,
respectively, to an increase or a decrease in applied force
measured by one or more pressure sensors of the pressure sensory
array.
20. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the logic further
comprises: at least one processor; and at least one memory.
21. At least one computer readable storage medium comprising
instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to: receive,
for one or more manipulations of a flexible display of an
electronic device, input data for one or more inputs registered by
at least one of: a touchscreen overlaying the flexible display and
a pressure sensor array configured along a perimeter of the
flexible display; associate the manipulations with operations for
the electronic device, based, at least in part on the input data;
and cause the operations to be performed for the electronic
device.
22. The medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions that,
when executed, cause the apparatus to: determine a context of the
manipulations, wherein the manipulations can be associated with
operations for one or more applications or system operations; and
associate the manipulations with operations for the electronic
device based on the input data and the context of the
manipulations.
23. A system, comprising: a display portion of an electronic device
that comprises: a flexible display configured to be manipulated in
one or more directions; a touchscreen overlaying the flexible
display; and a pressure sensor array configured beneath the
flexible display, wherein the pressure sensor array is configured
to measure inputs for one or more manipulations made to at least
one of the display portion and the flexible display; and logic, at
least a portion of which is partially implemented in hardware, the
logic configured to: receive, for one or more manipulations of the
flexible display, input data for one or more inputs registered by
at least one of: the touchscreen and the pressure sensor array;
associate the manipulations with operations for the electronic
device, based, at least in part on the input data; and cause the
operations to be performed for the electronic device.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the display is a flexible
organic light emitting diode (OLED) display configured to be
manipulated in one or more directions.
25. The system of claim 23, further comprising: at least one
processor; and at least one memory.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application is related to co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______, filed Dec. 27, 2013 entitled
"Ruggedized Wearable Electronic Device for Wireless Communication,"
Inventor(s) Aleksander Magi, which Application is considered
incorporated by reference into the disclosure of this
Application.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments described herein generally relate to a wearable
electronic device including a flexible interactive display.
BACKGROUND
[0003] End users have more electronic device choices than ever
before. A number of prominent technological trends are currently
afoot (e.g., mobile electronic devices, smaller electronic devices,
increased user connectivity, etc.), and these trends are changing
the electronic device landscape. One of the technological trends
currently afoot is electronic devices that can be worn by users,
sometimes referred to as wearable electronic devices. Wearable
electronic devices can be worn on a user's wrist, arm, ankle, etc.
Although wearable electronic devices are quickly becoming a member
of the technological ecosystem, interactions between device and
user have yet to become streamlined. For example, wearable
electronic devices are limited to the same types of physical
interactions as mobile phones, laptops, etc. in which a user is
limited to finger drags and taps on a static touchscreen in order
to use and access features of the wearable electronic device. As a
result, user experience with the wearable electronic device suffers
in the same manner as with other electronic devices in that the
user has limited dynamic interaction with the wearable electronic
device. Hence there is a need to improve user experience with
wearable electronic devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way
of limitation in the FIGURES of the accompanying drawings, in which
like references indicate similar elements and in which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a simplified orthographic view illustrating an
embodiment of a wearable electronic device, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0006] FIG. 2A is a simplified orthographic view illustrating an
embodiment of a wearable electronic device, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0007] FIG. 2B is a simplified orthographic view illustrating an
embodiment of a wearable electronic device, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a simplified orthographic view illustrating an
embodiment of a wearable electronic device, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a simplified orthographic view illustrating an
embodiment of a wearable electronic device, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram illustrating an
embodiment of a wearable electronic device, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a simplified orthographic view illustrating an
embodiment of a wearable electronic device, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a simplified orthographic view illustrating an
embodiment of a wearable electronic device, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a simplified orthographic view illustrating an
embodiment of a wearable electronic device, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 9 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating potential
operations associated with one embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 10 is a simplified block diagram associated with an
example ARM ecosystem on chip (SOC) of the present disclosure;
and
[0016] FIG. 11 is a simplified block diagram illustrating example
logic that may be used to execute activities associated with the
present disclosure.
[0017] The FIGURES of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to
scale, as their dimensions can be varied considerably without
departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
Overview
[0018] Example embodiments described herein may provide for an
electronic device, which may be a wearable electronic device such
as an electronic bracelet, watch, wristband or armband that
includes a circuit board coupled to a plurality of electronic
components (which may include any type of components, elements,
circuitry, etc.). One particular example implementation of an
electronic device may include may include a display portion that
may include a flexible display configured to be manipulated in one
or more directions; a touchscreen overlaying the display; and a
pressure sensor array configured beneath the flexible display. The
pressure sensor array may be configured to measure inputs for one
or more manipulations made to at least one of the display portion
and the flexible display. Note, in at least one embodiment, the
flexible display may be a flexible organic light emitting diode
(OLED) display configured to be manipulated in one or more
directions. Note that in at least one other embodiment, the
electronic device may further include a strap portion, wherein the
display portion may be secured to the strap portion.
[0019] In another example implementation, the wearable electronic
device may include logic, at least a portion of which is partially
implemented in hardware, the logic configured to receive, for one
or more manipulations of a flexible display of the electronic
device, input data for one or more inputs registered by at least
one of: a touchscreen overlaying the flexible display and a
pressure sensor array configured along a perimeter of the flexible
display; associate the manipulations with operations for the
electronic device, based, at least in part on the input data; and
cause the operations to be performed for the electronic device.
Note, that in at least one embodiment, the input data may include
at least one of: pressure input data for pressure measurements
registered by one or more pressure sensors of the pressure sensor
array corresponding to one or more forces applied to the flexible
display during the one or more manipulations; and touch input data
includes touch input data for one or more touch inputs registered
by one or more touch sensors of the touchscreen corresponding to
one or more touches input to the touchscreen during the one or more
manipulations. Note, that in at least one embodiment, the logic may
include at least one processor and at least one memory.
Example EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The following detailed description sets forth example
embodiments of apparatuses, methods, and systems relating to
flexible display configurations for a wearable electronic device.
Features such as structure(s), function(s), and/or
characteristic(s), for example, are described with reference to one
embodiment as a matter of convenience; various embodiments may be
implemented with any suitable one or more of the described
features.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a simplified orthographic view illustrating an
embodiment of a wearable electronic device 10 in accordance with
one embodiment of the present disclosure. Wearable electronic
device 10 can include a strap portion 12, a display portion 14 and
a latch portion 16. Display portion 14 may be disposed within/on
and/or supported by strap portion 12. Display portion 14 may
include a display 18 and a pressure sensor array 22, which may be
configured beneath display 18. In one or more embodiments, display
portion 14 may be secured within/on strap portion 12 and may be
supported by strap portion 12.
[0022] Display portion 14 and display 18 may be made of flexible
materials, which can allow display portion 14 and display 18 to be
manipulated (e.g., bent, flexed, twisted, etc.) in one or more
directions corresponding to one or more desired user manipulations.
In one or more embodiments, display 18 is a screen that can be an
organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display screen, transparent
OLED display screen or any other suitable flexible display screen
system, which may allow a user to use (e.g., access, interact with,
navigate, interface with, etc.) features and applications of
wearable electronic device 10. In one or more embodiments, display
18 is a flexible display screen capable of being manipulated in one
or more directions. In one or more embodiments, display 18 may also
be a touchscreen display, which may include a flexible capacitive
touchscreen layer overlaying the screen of display 18, may also be
capable of being manipulated in concert with any manipulations made
to display 18 and/or display portion 14. Although display portion
14 and display 18 are illustrated as a polygonal shape in FIG. 1,
other shapes such as, for example, elliptical and/or circular
shapes for these elements are certainly encompassed by alternative
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0023] Pressure sensor array 22 may be configured along a about
beneath display 18 and may measure force, which may be applied
through one or more user manipulations of display portion 14 and/or
display 18. In one or more embodiments, pressure sensor array 22
may be configured beneath display 18 between display 18 and other
electronic components (e.g., one or more flexible circuit boards,
etc.). In one or more embodiments, pressure sensor array 22 may be
configured above display 18 between display 18 and a top overlaying
edge of display portion 14 that may secure display 18 within
display portion 14. In one or more embodiments, pressure sensor
array 22 can be configured as an array of thin-film capacitive
pressure sensors or an array of thin-film piezoelectric pressure
sensors, although other pressure sensor types are certainly
encompassed by alternative embodiments of the present disclosure.
Note, the size, number and specific configuration of pressure
sensor array 22, as shown in FIG. 1 is provided for illustrative
purposes only to provide a context to example embodiments described
herein in the present disclosure. Other sizes, numbers of and/or
configurations of pressure sensors are certainly encompassed by
alternative embodiments of the present disclosure for any
electronic device that may include a flexible display screen
system.
[0024] In one or more embodiments, one or more pairs of resistive
strain gauges can also be configured in wearable electronic device
10 to measure strains on display portion 14 for one or more
manipulations. In some embodiments, strap portion 12 may include
one or more pairs of resistive strain gauges, which can also be
used to sense touch and/or bending manipulations made to display
portion 14 and or display 18 for wearable electronic device 10.
Thus, wearable electronic device 10 may provide for both resistive
and capacitive forms of sensing different input modalities for
different manipulations, including but not limited to, touch inputs
and pressure inputs. Input data corresponding to different
manipulations of wearable electronic device 10 (e.g., manipulations
of display portion 14, display 18 and/or strap portion 12) can be
associated with one or more operations for wearable electronic
device 10.
[0025] In general terms, wearable electronic device 10 may provide
a user with the ability to use (e.g., access, interact with,
navigate, interface with, etc.) features and applications of
wearable electronic device 10 through one or more manipulations
(e.g., bending, twisting, pressing, pushing, pulling, etc.), which
the user can make to display portion 14 and/or display 18 by
applying forces to one or more sides of display portion 14 and/or
applying force directly to display 18. Pressure sensor array 22 may
measure forces applied thereto during the one or more
manipulations. Additionally, touchscreen sensors for a touchscreen
that may be configured overlaying display 18 may also register
touch inputs for manipulations made directly to display 18.
Additionally, in some embodiments, resistive strain gauges may be
used in either display portion 14 and/or strap portion 12 to
register inputs for one or more manipulations made to wearable
electronic device 10.
[0026] For one or more manipulations, input control logic, which
can be configured in wearable electronic device 10, may output
input data that may include pressure input data for any pressure
measurements from pressure sensor array 22, touch input data for
any touch inputs registered by the touchscreen and/or any other
input data registered by any other sensors (e.g., resistive,
capacitive, etc.) that may configured in wearable electronic device
10. Wearable electronic device 10 can include detection logic,
which may receive the input data and may associate the
manipulations with one or more operations for the wearable
electronic device 10. The system may include additional control
logic (e.g., display control logic, application control logic,
communication control logic, etc.) to perform the associated
operations using the input data.
[0027] In various embodiments, the operations may include, but not
be limited to, content related operations (e.g., zoom, rotate,
scroll, select, copy, paste, etc.), communication related
operations using wireless communication circuitry in wearable
electronic device 10 (e.g., send messages, emails, etc.), mode
related operations (e.g., switching between different modes or
programs) or virtually any other operations for wearable electronic
device 10. By providing a user with physical means to interact and
use wearable electronic device 10, user experience and immersion
with wearable electronic device 10 may be improved.
[0028] For purposes of illustrating certain example features of
electronic devices the following foundational information may be
viewed as a basis from which the present disclosure may be properly
explained. Wearable electronic devices typically include a display,
which may provide a user the ability to interact with features
and/or applications of the device. These interactions, however, are
limited to a touchscreen axis of use. Aside from various side
buttons or keys that may be implemented on the device, a user can
typically only interact with the device as well as content
displayed on the device along a horizontal axis across the display
surface. By limiting users to such one-dimensional forms of using
and interacting with the device, user experience and immersion with
the wearable electronic devices can suffer.
[0029] Particular embodiments described herein provide for a
wearable electronic device such as an electronic bracelet, watch,
wristband, armband, anklet, etc. that includes a circuit board
coupled to a plurality of electronic components (which includes any
type of components, elements, circuitry, etc.). In certain
embodiments, the circuit board may be a flexible printed circuit
board. In at least one example embodiment, the wearable electronic
device can include a display portion having flexible display that
can be manipulated through one or more user interactions with the
display portion and/or the display. The wearable electronic device
can include a pressure sensory array configured around a perimeter
of the display, which may include a plurality of pressure sensors
configured to measure inputs that may be registered for any
manipulations that may be made to the display portion and/or the
display. The wearable electronic device can further include a
touchscreen, which may include a plurality of touch sensors
configured to register touch inputs that may be applied to the
touchscreen.
[0030] In at least one example embodiment, the circuit board of
wearable electronic device 10 is a general circuit board that can
hold various components of an internal electronic system of
wearable electronic device 10. The components may include a central
processing unit (CPU), a memory, etc. More specifically, the
circuit board can provide the electrical connections by which the
other components of the system can communicate.
[0031] In one or more embodiments, different manipulations made to
wearable electronic device 10, for example, pulling the ends of
display portion 14 up to bend display 18 down can cause different
pressures to be applied to the pressure sensor array than say, for
example, pushing/pinching the ends of display portion 14 together
to bend display 18 upward. The pressure sensors of the pressure
sensor array may register different pressure measurements for the
different corresponding manipulation(s). The system may include
detection logic, which may associate the different pressure
measurements to different operations for wearable electronic device
10.
[0032] Further, other manipulations can be made directly to the
touchscreen overlaying display 18, which may cause touch inputs to
be registered by the touch sensors as well as pressure measurements
to be registered by the pressure sensors of the pressure sensor
array. The detection logic may further be configured to associate
the pressure measurements in combination with touch inputs to
different operations for wearable electronic device 10.
[0033] In one more embodiments, the system may include pressure
control logic, which may generate digital pressure input data for
pressure measurements registered by the pressure sensors of the
pressure sensor array and/or touch input data for any touch inputs
registered by the touchscreen. The system may further include touch
control logic, which may generate digital touch input data for
touch inputs registered by touch sensors of the touchscreen. The
associating performed by the detection logic may be performed in
combination with the generation of pressure input data and/or touch
input data as it may be generated or may be performed separate from
the generation.
[0034] Following the associations determined by the detection
logic, the system may perform the associated operations using
associated logic as may be configured therein to control content
displayed on the display, to control system features for wearable
electronic device 10, to control communication based operations
and/or to control applications of wearable electronic device 10.
The system may continue to process pressure input data generated by
the pressure control logic and/or touch input data generated by
touch control logic following the association, as the user may
continue to manipulate display 18, may change manipulations, etc.,
all of which can be processed by the system (e.g., logic in the
system) to update and/or change operations for wearable electronic
device 10.
[0035] In one or more embodiments, associations of various
manipulations to corresponding operations can be user configurable
features for wearable electronic device 10. In one or more
embodiments, associations can be pre-programmed for wearable
electronic device 10. The operations that can be performed for
wearable electronic device 10 by manipulating display portion 14
and display 18 are virtually limitless.
[0036] In one or more embodiments, the operations can include
content based operations, which can, among other things, be used to
scroll content across display in one or more directions; to zoom
content in or out in one or more directions; to switch views
between one or more open applications; to switch views between one
or more open webpages; to rotate content in one or more directions;
to select, copy, cut, paste, move or otherwise interact with
content that may be displayed on the display. In one or more
embodiments, content based operations can include navigating games,
for example, running down a hallway in a game, looking around,
jumping ducking, fighting, etc.
[0037] As noted above, display 18 may be an OLED display, which can
display content as it is being bent, twisted, flexed, etc., thus,
the content manipulation operations can be actively viewed on
display 18 as it is being bent, twisted, flexed, etc. The viewing
while manipulating aspect of wearable electronic device 10 may be
exploited for any operation that can be performed using the device
and may significantly enhance user immersion in interacting with
wearable electronic device 10.
[0038] In one or more embodiments, the operations can include
communication based operations using wireless communication
circuitry in wearable electronic device 10, which, among other
things, can be used to initiate sending messages from wearable
electronic device 10; to send email; to place a call or any to
perform any other operations related to communicating with other
electronic devices using wearable electronic device 10.
[0039] In one or more embodiments, the operations can include more
system based operations, which, among other things, can be used to
open/run, close/terminate and/or switch between
applications/functions that may be installed on wearable electronic
device 10 according to certain manipulations. For example, bending
wearable electronic device at its ends in one direction may be used
to open an email application and bending it in the other direction
may be used to open a messaging application; bending one side may
open a calendar application; bending another side may open a web
browser; bending another side may open or run a social media
application installed on wearable electronic device 10, etc. Any
manipulations can essentially be associated to opening or running
any application that may be installed on wearable electronic device
10.
[0040] These examples are just a few of the many operations that
can be performed by physically manipulating display portion 14 and
display 18 of wearable electronic device 10. Virtually any other
operations can be performed using similar means and methods as
those described herein, and, thus, are clearly within the scope of
the present disclosure. Moreover, the grouping of operations into
content based, communication based and application based is
provided merely to illustrate the multitude of operations that can
be controlled using manipulations of display portion 14 and display
18.
[0041] Moreover, a same manipulation, say for example, pulling the
sides of display portion 14 upward to bend display 18 downward,
could be configured to perform different operations for each of
multiple programs or applications that may be installed on wearable
electronic device. For example, such a manipulation may be
configured to be associated with zoom-in operations for mapping
applications, but may also be configured to be associated with
moving forward in a game environment for gaming applications. Thus,
the manipulations and associations can also be tied to an
application context, which can cause additional logic in the system
to perform different operations based on different applications
that a user may be accessing/using when the manipulations may be
performed. From these examples, it should be understood that the
operations can be configured in any manner to allow a user to
interact with applications and features of wearable electronic
device 10.
[0042] In use, a user may physically manipulate/interact display
portion 14 through one or more physical bends, twists, pinches,
pulls, etc. of display portion 14, which, in turn, may cause
manipulations of display 18. The physical manipulations may be
performed by the user to initiate/control various operations
wearable electronic device 10. The different manipulations can
cause different pressure measurements to be registered by pressure
sensors of pressure sensor array 22 (e.g., to generate pressure
input data) and/or touch input to be registered by touch sensors of
the touchscreen (e.g., to generate touch input data). Detection
logic may associate the different pressure measurements and/or
touch inputs to different operations for wearable electronic device
10 and the system (e.g., one or more processors, etc.) may cause
the operations to be performed for wearable electronic device
10.
[0043] In certain embodiments, the system may continue to process
the pressure input data and/or touch input data following the
association using additional logic contained therein in order to
continue performing the associated operations and/or change the
associated operations. This may occur, generally, when the
manipulations may be content based to update content displayed on
display 18 of wearable electronic device 10.
[0044] Although illustrated as a wearable electronic device having
a flexible display, particular embodiments described herein
regarding operation of a flexible display screen system, can be
extended to any suitable electronic device having a flexible
display such as a mobile device, a tablet computer and/or a tablet
device (e.g., i-Pad.TM.), phablet (e.g., phone-tablet hybrid), a
personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, an audio system, a
movie player of any type, etc.
[0045] In one or more embodiments, strap portion 12, may be of a
continuous design (e.g., having a set length) or may be of a
latched design (e.g., having adjustable length, as shown in FIG. 1)
and can include links, hinges, chains, cables, weaves, a clamshell
design, combinations thereof or the like. For latched designs,
strap portion 12 could include buckle-type latches, pressure-type
latches, hook-type latches, clasp-type latches, magnetic-type
latches, ties, Velcro.TM. type latches, pin-type latches,
combinations thereof or the like. In one or more embodiments, strap
portion 12 may be made of one or more materials including metal and
metal alloys (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, tin, iron, gold,
silver, platinum, titanium, etc.), natural fabrics, synthetic
fabrics, fibers and blends thereof (e.g., cotton, polyester, nylon,
satin, silk, wool, leather, etc.), polymers, plastics, rubbers,
elastics, neoprene, carbon fiber, injection molding, silicone,
polycarbonates, vinyl, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene,
combinations thereof or the like.
[0046] In one or more embodiments, strap portion 12 may be covered
by a covering, which can be made of natural fabrics, synthetic
fabrics, fibers and blends thereof (e.g., cotton, polyester, nylon,
satin, silk, wool, leather, etc.), polymers, plastics, neoprene,
rubbers, elastics, elastomers, silicone, polycarbonates, vinyl,
polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene combinations thereof or
the like. In various embodiments, strap portion 12 may range in
length from approximately 5 inches (127 mm) to approximately 10
inches (254 mm) and may range in width from approximately 8 mm to
40 mm.
[0047] In more general terms, strap portion 12 can be constructed
having varying overall lengths, latched designs, non-latched
designs, coverings, no coverings, etc. to accommodate securing
wearable electronic device 10 to a variety of different users,
which may have a range of different body proportions, etc. and/or a
variety of different user body parts (e.g., wrists, arms, ankles
etc.) which may have a range of different corresponding sizes.
Further, the construction of strap portion 12 can be varied for use
in different environments, wet, dry, cold, hot, etc. The ornamental
design and material construction of strap portion 12 can be
adjusted in any manner to suit any designer, manufacturer and/or
vendor without departing from the scope of the embodiments
described in the present disclosure. The ornamental design and
material construction of strap portion 12 can be adjusted in any
manner to suit any designer, manufacturer and/or vendor without
departing from the scope of the embodiments described in the
present disclosure.
[0048] In one or more embodiments, display portion 14 may be made
of one or more materials including plastics, rubbers, polymers,
neoprene, polycarbonate, silicone, polycarbonates, vinyl,
polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, combinations thereof or
the like. Display portion 14 may be configured to have semi-rigid
properties in order provide support for display 18, and other
electronics, electrical components (e.g., processors, memory,
controllers, circuitry, interconnects, etc.) within display portion
14 for one or more bending, twisting and/or flexing actions that
may be imposed upon display portion 14 (and electronics/electrical
components therein) during use of wearable electronic device 10. In
one or more embodiments, for polygonal shapes (as opposed to
elliptical shapes), display portion 14 may have an overall length,
which may range from approximately one-tenth to approximately
nine-tenths of the overall length of strap portion 12 and may have
an overall width, which may range from approximately one-third of
an overall width of strap portion 12 to an overall width of
approximately equal to an overall width of strap portion 12. In one
or more embodiments, for elliptical and/or circular shapes, the
display portion may range in diameter from approximately 20 mm to
approximately 70 mm.
[0049] In one or more embodiments, latch portion 16 can include a
latching mechanism can include buckle-type latches, pressure-type
latches, hook-type latches, clasp-type latches, magnetic-type
latches, ties, Velcro.TM. type latches, pin-type latches,
combinations thereof or the like.
[0050] In one or more embodiments, electronics and/or electronic
components (e.g., processors, batteries, controllers, memory,
circuitry, interconnects, etc.) for wearable electronic device 10
may reside in display portion 14 and/or strap portion 12. In one or
more embodiments, wearable electronic device 10 may be configured
to operate using a replaceable battery, or in some cases, may be
configured to operate using a rechargeable battery, each of which
may be housed in display portion 14.
[0051] In one or more embodiments, display portion 14 can include a
port 40 to facilitate charging a battery or capacitor,
communication and/or control of the wearable electronic device 10.
In one or more embodiments, port 40 may be configured anywhere on
display portion 14. For example, electrical current and signals can
be passed through a plug-in connector (e.g., whose male side
protrusion connects to port 40 and whose female side connects to a
power device or another electronic device or vice-versa) or a
wireless connector (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth.TM., etc.) to recharge an
on-board battery or capacitor and/or provide a communication path
to electronics in wearable electronic device 10. Note that any
number of connectors (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors
(e.g., in compliance with the USB 3.0 Specification released in
November 2008), Thunderbolt.TM. connectors, a non-standard
connection point such as a docking connector, etc.) can be
provisioned in conjunction with electronic device 10.
[Thunderbolt.TM. and the Thunderbolt logo are trademarks of Intel
Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.]. Virtually any
other electrical connection means and methods could be used and,
thus, are clearly within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0052] In some embodiments, wearable electronic device may include
charging contacts configured on display portion 14 (or strap
portion 12, which may include interconnect circuitry), which can be
used in combination with a charging device to facilitate charging a
rechargeable battery within wearable electronic device 10.
Virtually any means may be used to provide power and/or charging
for wearable electronic device 10, and, thus, are clearly within
the scope of the present disclosure.
[0053] In one or more embodiments, wearable electronic device 10
can include wireless communication circuitry (e.g., Wi-Fi module,
Bluetooth.TM. module, near field communication (NFC) module, or
other wireless communication circuitry) to allow wearable
electronic device 10 to communicate with one or more other
electronic devices (wearable or not wearable) or a network through
a wireless connection. The wireless connection may be any 3G/4G/LTE
cellular wireless connection, WiFi/WiMAX connection, Bluetooth.TM.
connection, or some other similar wireless connection. In an
embodiment, a plurality of antennas can be provisioned in
conjunction with wearable electronic device 10, which may be
associated with wireless connection activities. The antennas are
reflective of electrical components that can convert electric
currents into radio waves or radio signals. In one or more
embodiments, wearable electronic device 10 may contain a camera, a
microphone, and/or a speaker.
[0054] Any processors (inclusive of digital signal processors,
microprocessors, supporting platform hardware, etc.), memory
elements, etc. can be suitably coupled to the circuit board of the
system based on particular configuration need, processing demands,
electronic device designs, etc. Note that particular embodiments of
the present disclosure may readily include a system on chip (SOC)
central processing unit (CPU) package. An SOC represents an
integrated circuit (IC) that integrates components of a computer or
other electronic system into a single chip. The chip may contain
digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio frequency functions:
all of which may be provided on a single chip substrate.
[0055] Note also that particular embodiments of the present
disclosure may include logic that can be implemented in a variety
of manners. For example, logic can be implemented in software,
which may mean that a processor may be instructed to associate
certain input data for certain manipulations with various
operations and to perform the operations. In another example, logic
can be implemented in firmware that a separate device may utilize.
In yet another example, logic can be implemented as a standalone
hardware chip controller.
[0056] Turning to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2A is a simplified orthographic
view illustrating an embodiment of wearable electronic device 10 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Wearable
electronic device 10 may be worn on a user's wrist 30. Wearable
electronic device 10 can include strap portion 12 and display
portion 14, which can include display 18 and pressure sensor array
22. Content 36 is shown on display 18 for illustrative purposes
only.
[0057] FIG. 2A illustrates one example content based operation that
can be performed using the flexible display system of wearable
electronic device 10. As shown in FIG. 2A, the user may pull the
ends of display portion 14 upward using a finger 32 and a thumb 34
to cause display 18 to bend in a downward direction. In one or more
embodiments, such manipulations may be configured to be associated
with content zooming operations; for example, zoom-in operations to
zoom-in on content shown on display 18 (e.g., content 36). [Note,
this is only one example operation provided for illustrative
purposes; the same manipulation could easily be configured to be
associated with zoom-out operations or any other operations for
wearable electronic device 10.]
[0058] When the user pulls the ends of display portion 14 up,
pressure sensors of pressure sensor array 22 may register pressure
measurements for the corresponding manipulation(s). In the present
example, detection logic in the system may associate the pressure
measurements for the manipulations with zoom-in operations and the
system may, in turn, perform the zoom-in operations using
additional logic configured therein to zoom-in on content 36 shown
on display 18 as the user bends display 18 downward.
[0059] In one or more embodiments, the rate of the zoom-in
operations can be adjusted in real-time corresponding to the force
applied to pulling the ends upward. Recall, the system may, in
certain embodiments, continue to process pressure input data
generated by pressure control logic for content based operations
following the association by the detection logic. If the user
squeezes display portion 14 with more force, pressure measurements
registered by pressure sensors in pressure sensor array 22 may
correspondingly, indicate an increase in pressure, which the system
can use to increase the zoom-in rate. Conversely, the user may
squeeze display portion 14 with less force to decrease the zoom-in
rate. In various embodiments described herein, the rate of any
content based operation may be affected by applying more force
(e.g., to speed up a rate) or less force (e.g., to slow down a
rate).
[0060] As strap portion 12 may also be manipulated based on the
bending of display portion 14, in some embodiments, the input data
may include data corresponding to measurements registered by
sensors that can be included in strap portion 12. Input data from
sensors in strap portion 12 may further be used to associate the
manipulations with the zoom-in operations. As discussed herein, any
manipulations that can be made to display portion 14 and/or display
18 can be also registered by sensors (e.g., resistive or
capacitive) that may be included in strap portion 12. Further, in
some embodiments, manipulations may be made to strap portion 12
itself without making manipulations to display portion 14 and or
display 18. In such embodiments, input data for such manipulations
can be associated with other operations for wearable electronic
device 10.
[0061] FIG. 2B illustrates another example content based operation
that can be performed using the flexible display system of wearable
electronic device 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the
present disclosure. FIG. 2B illustrates expands on the example
described in FIG. 2A for content zooming operations. As shown in
FIG. 2A, the user may push the ends of display portion 14 inward
(e.g., a pinching action) to cause display 18 to bend in an upward
direction. In one or more embodiments, such manipulations may be
configured to be associated with content zoom-out operations to
zoom-out from content shown on display 18 (e.g., content 36).
[Note, this is only one example operation provided for illustrative
purposes; the same manipulation could easily be configured to be
associated with zoom-in operations or any other operations for
wearable electronic device 10.]
[0062] When the user pushes the ends of display portion 14 inward,
pressure sensors of pressure sensor array 22 may register pressure
measurements for the corresponding manipulation(s). In the present
example, detection logic in the system may associate the pressure
measurements for the manipulations with zoom-out operations and the
system may, in turn, perform the zoom-out operations using
additional logic configured therein to zoom-out from content 36
shown on display 18 as the user bends display 18 downward. Similar
to zoom-in operations, in one or more embodiments, the rate of a
zoom-out can be increased by pinching ends of display portion 14
with more force or decreased by pinching ends of display portion 14
with less force.
[0063] Turning to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a simplified orthographic view
illustrating an embodiment of wearable electronic device 10 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Wearable
electronic device 10 may be worn on user's wrist 30. Wearable
electronic device 10 can include strap portion 12 and display
portion 14, which can include display 18 and pressure sensor array
22. Content 36 is shown on display 18 for illustrative purposes
only.
[0064] As noted, in various embodiments, the detection logic can
associate pressure input data for pressure measurements registered
by pressure sensors of pressure sensor array 22 as well as touch
input data for touch inputs registered by touch sensors of a
touchscreen, which may overlay display 18. As shown in FIG. 3A, a
user may push down on a right side of display 18 with finger to
cause it to bend in a downward direction. In one or more
embodiments, such manipulations may be configured to be associated
with content scrolling operations, for example scroll-right
operations based on a location of touch inputs. [Note, this is only
one example operation provided for illustrative purposes; the same
manipulation could easily be configured to be associated any other
operations for wearable electronic device 10.]
[0065] Note, the location of touch inputs as related to a direction
of content scrolling can be configured for the system or may be
learned by the system in various embodiments. In one or more
embodiments, a coordinate layout for display 18 can be configured
such that touch input locations, when processed in combination with
pressure input data, can be measured in relation to a nearest side
of display 18 at which the touch input may be received to determine
a scrolling direction. This is only one example of a configuration
that could be used by detection logic to associate touch input
locations in combination with pressure measurements with directions
for content scrolling operations. Virtually any other means and
methods could be used, and, thus, are clearly within the scope of
the present disclosure.
[0066] When the user pushes on the right side of display 18,
pressure sensors of pressure sensor array 22 may register pressure
measurements for the corresponding manipulation(s) and touch
sensors of the touchscreen may register the touch inputs for the
corresponding touch(es). In the present example, detection logic in
the system may associate the pressure measurements and the touch
inputs for the manipulations with scroll-right operations and the
system may, in turn, perform the scroll-right operations using
additional logic configured therein to scroll content 36 shown on
display 18 to the right. As noted above, display 18 may display
content as it is being manipulated. As shown in FIG. 3, content 36
is displayed on display 18 as it is being bent, which may further
increase user immersion in interacting with wearable electronic
device.
[0067] Similar to the discussion above, in one or more embodiments,
a scroll rate can be adjusted corresponding to the force applied to
display 18. For example, if the user presses on display 18 with
more force, pressure measurements registered by pressure sensors in
pressure sensor array 22 may correspondingly, indicate an increase
in pressure, which the system can use to increase the scroll rate
(e.g., right, left, up, down). Conversely, the user may press
display 18 with less force to decrease the scroll rate.
Additionally, in one or more embodiments, a location of touch
inputs can be used to adjust a scroll rate in combination with
force of inputs. For example, a scroll rate may be increased as a
user moves their finger closer to a side of display 18 or decreased
as the user moves their finger further away from the side. In one
or more embodiments, such actions can also be used to change a
direction of scrolling, for example, the system may slow the rate
of scrolling as the user's finger moves further away from the side
and then may switch directions of the scroll as the user crosses a
certain location threshold, which may indicate a scroll in an
opposite direction. Thus, it should be clear that touch inputs can
be used in combination with pressure inputs on display 18 to
manipulate operations for wearable electronic device 10.
[0068] Turning to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a simplified orthographic view
illustrating an embodiment of wearable electronic device 10 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Wearable
electronic device 10 may be worn on user's wrist 30. Wearable
electronic device 10 can include strap portion 12 and display
portion 14, which can include display 18 and pressure sensor array
22. Content 36 is shown on display 18 for illustrative purposes
only.
[0069] FIG. 4 illustrates another example of a content based
operation that can be performed using the flexible display system
of wearable electronic device 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the user may
squeeze and twist opposing corners of display portion 14 (pull on
one corner/push on the other) from right to left using finger 32
and thumb 34 to cause display 18 to bend upward and twist in a
right-to-left direction. In one or more embodiments, such
manipulations may be configured to be associated with content
rotation operations; for example, right-to-left rotation operations
to rotate content shown on display 18 (e.g., content 36) from
right-to-left. [Note, this is only one example operation provided
for illustrative purposes; the same manipulation could easily be
configured to be associated with other operations for wearable
electronic device 10.]
[0070] When the user squeezes and twists the opposing corners of
display portion 14, pressure sensors of pressure sensor array 22
may register pressure measurements for the corresponding
manipulation(s). In the present example, detection logic in the
system may associate the pressure measurements for the
manipulations with right-to-left content rotation operations and
the system may, in turn, perform the operations using additional
logic configured therein to rotate content 36 shown on display 18
from right-to-left as the user bends display 18 squeezes and twists
display portion 14.
[0071] In one or more embodiments, similar operations may be
performed using the other opposing corners of display portion 14 to
rotate content from right-to-left or could be performed by pulling
the same corners up as shown in FIG. 4 to bend and twist display 18
downward. Thus, it should be clear that any number of manipulations
can be configured to be associated with any number of operations.
Similar to other embodiments discussed herein, the rate of the
operations can be increased or decreased corresponding to the force
applied to the corners of display portion 14.
[0072] Turning to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram
illustrating an embodiment of a wearable electronic device 10 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Wearable
electronic device 10 can include display portion 14, which can
include a wireless module 42. Wireless module 42 (e.g., Wi-Fi
module, Bluetooth.TM. module, 3G/4G/LTE cellular wireless module or
other wireless communication circuitry) may allow wearable
electronic device 10 to communicate with a network 50 and
electronic device 54 and through a wireless connection.
[0073] The wireless connection may be any 3G/4G/LTE cellular
wireless, WiFi/WiMAX connection, Bluetooth.TM. or some other
similar wireless connection. In an embodiment, the wireless
connection may be a wireless personal area network (WPAN) to
interconnect wearable electronic device 10 to network 50 and
electronic device 54 within a relatively small area (e.g.,
Bluetooth.TM., invisible infrared light, Wi-Fi, etc.). In another
embodiment, the wireless connection may be a wireless local area
network (WLAN) that links wearable electronic device 10 to network
50 and electronic device 54 over a relatively short distance using
a wireless distribution method, usually providing a connection
through an access point for Internet access. The use of
spread-spectrum or OFDM technologies may allow wearable electronic
device 10 to move around within a local coverage area, and still
remain connected network 50 and electronic device 54. In another
embodiment, the wireless connection may be a 3G/4G/LTE cellular
wireless connection, which may allow wearable electronic device 10
(e.g., wearable electronic device 10 may be configured to include a
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card for connection to a service
provider network) to communicate with electronic device 54 over
long distances using network 50, which may be a service provider
network.
[0074] Network 50 may be a series of points or nodes of
interconnected communication paths for receiving and transmitting
packets of information that propagate through network 50. Network
50 offers a communicative interface and may be any local area
network (LAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), metropolitan
area network (MAN), Intranet, Extranet, WAN, virtual private
network (VPN), cellular network or any other appropriate
architecture or system that facilitates communications in a network
environment. Network 50 can comprise any number of hardware or
software elements coupled to (and in communication with) each other
through a communications medium. Electronic device 54 may be a
computer (e.g., notebook computer, laptop, tablet computer or
device), a phablet, a cellphone, a personal digital assistant
(PDA), a smartphone, a movie player of any type, router, access
point, another wearable electronic device or other device that
includes a circuit board coupled to a plurality of electronic
components (which includes any type of components, elements,
circuitry, etc.).
[0075] Turning to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a simplified orthographic view
illustrating an embodiment of wearable electronic device 10 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Wearable
electronic device 10 may be worn on user's wrist 30. Wearable
electronic device 10 can include strap portion 12 and display
portion 14, which can include display 18 and pressure sensor array
22.
[0076] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a communication based
operation that can be performed using the flexible display system
of wearable electronic device 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the user may
pull sides of display portion 14 upward using finger 32 and thumb
34 to cause display 18 to bend downward. In one or more
embodiments, such manipulations may be configured to be associated
with messaging operations; for example, operations for sending
messages to one or more other electronic devices through a network.
[Note, this is only one example operation provided for illustrative
purposes; the same manipulation could easily be configured to be
associated with other operations for wearable electronic device
10.]
[0077] When the user pulls the sides of display portion 14 upward,
pressure sensors of pressure sensor array 22 may register pressure
measurements for the corresponding manipulation(s). In the present
example, detection logic in the system may associate the pressure
measurements for the manipulations with operations for sending
messages. The system may, in turn, perform the operations using
additional logic configured therein to send a message 46 shown on
display 18 from wearable electronic device 10 to another electronic
device over a network using wireless communication circuitry. In
one or more embodiments, wearable electronic device may be
configured with messaging applications similar to many other
applications that can be configured for mobile phones, phablets,
tablets, etc.
[0078] In one or more embodiments, wearable electronic device 10
may be configured to send messages over a WPAN (e.g.,
Bluetooth.TM., invisible infrared light, Wi-Fi, etc.) to another
electronic device (e.g., mobile phone, laptop, tablet, etc.) to
which wearable electronic device may be connected through an
appropriate wireless connection. In one or more embodiments,
message 46, once communicated to the other electronic device can
then be sent to other electronic devices over other networks. In
one or more embodiments, wearable electronic device 10 may be
configured to connect to a 3G/4G/LTE cellular wireless network. In
such embodiments, wearable electronic device 10 may be capable of
sending messages over the service provider network to other
electronic devices.
[0079] Turning to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a simplified orthographic view
illustrating an embodiment of wearable electronic device 10 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Wearable
electronic device 10 may be worn on user's wrist 30. Wearable
electronic device 10 can include strap portion 12 and display
portion 14, which can include display 18 and pressure sensor array
22.
[0080] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a system based operation
that can be performed using the flexible display system of wearable
electronic device 10. As shown in FIG. 7, the user may push a lower
end of display portion 14 inward to cause display 18 to upward near
the lower end. In one or more embodiments, such manipulations may
be configured to be associated with system based operations; for
example, an operation to open a social media application that may
be installed on wearable electronic device 10. [Note, this is only
one example operation provided for illustrative purposes; the same
manipulation could easily be configured to be associated with other
operations for wearable electronic device 10.]
[0081] When the user pushes the lower end of wearable electronic
device 10 inward, pressure sensors of pressure sensor array 22 may
register pressure measurements for the corresponding
manipulation(s). In the present example, detection logic in the
system may associate the pressure measurements for the
manipulations with operations for opening a social media
application that may be installed on wearable electronic device.
The system may, in turn, perform the operations using additional
logic configured therein to open the social media application
(e.g., social media application 56), which may be displayed on
display 18.
[0082] For each of the manipulations described above in FIGS. 2A
through 7, it should be understood that many more manipulations
could be performed to bend display portion 14 and/or display 18 in
opposite directions, on opposite sides or any sides, with opposite
twisting motions, different bending or twisting motions altogether,
etc. The number of manipulations that can be configured to be
associated with one or more operations is virtually limitless.
Moreover, a same manipulation, say for example, pulling the sides
of display portion 14 upward to bend display 18 downward, as shown
in FIG. 2A, could be configured to perform different operations for
each of multiple programs or applications that may be installed on
wearable electronic device. For example, such a manipulation may be
configured to be associated with zoom-in operations for a mapping
application, but may also be configured to be associated with
moving forward in a game for a gaming application. Thus, the
manipulations and associations may be tied to an application
context, which can cause the system to perform different operations
based on different applications that a user may be accessing/using
when the manipulations may be performed.
[0083] Again, the multitude of operations that different
manipulations of display portion 14 and/or display 18 may be
associated to for wearable electronic device 10 cannot be
overstated. Almost any operation may be tied to one or more
manipulations. In one or more embodiments, an entire user interface
for wearable electronic device could be configured to be operated
using manipulations of display 18 and display portion 14. Moreover,
the flexible display system could easily be adapted to any
electronic device that may include a flexible display, such as, for
example, mobile phones, phablets, tablets, notebook computers,
netbook computers. As configured for such other electronic devices,
the number of manipulations and associations that could be
configured could be extended even further, as two handed
manipulations may be possible.
[0084] Turning to FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a simplified orthographic view
illustrating an embodiment of a wearable electronic device 60 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Wearable
electronic device 60 may be worn on a user's wrist. Wearable
electronic device 60 can include a strap portion 62 and a display
portion 64, which can include display 68 and pressure sensor array
72. Wearable electronic device 60 can include a latch portion
66.
[0085] As illustrated in FIG. 8, display portion 64 and display 68
of wearable electronic device 60 may have a circular shape.
Wearable electronic device 60 may function in a similar manner and
may include all features of wearable electronic device 10, except
that display portion 64 and display 68 may have a circular shape
instead of a rectangular shape. As described above for wearable
electronic device 10, wearable electronic device 60 may also
provide a user with the ability to use (e.g., access, interact
with, navigate, interface with, etc.) features and applications of
wearable electronic device 60 through one or more manipulations
(e.g., bending, twisting, pressing, pushing, pulling, etc.), which
the user can make to display portion 64 and/or display 68 by
applying forces to one or more sides of display portion 64 and/or
applying force directly to display 68. Pressure sensor array 72 may
measure forces applied thereto during the one or more
manipulations. Additionally, touchscreen sensors for a touchscreen
that may be configured overlaying display 68 may also register
touch inputs for manipulations made directly to display 68.
Additionally, in some embodiments, resistive strain gauges may be
used in either display portion 64 and/or strap portion 62 to
register inputs for one or more manipulations made to wearable
electronic device 60. Thus, in various embodiments, a wearable
electronic device, such as those described in the present
disclosure can be configured with a display portion and display
having a variety of shapes within the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0086] Turning to FIG. 9, FIG. 9 is a simplified flow diagram 900
illustrating potential operation flows for a flexible display
system for a wearable electronic device in accordance with one
embodiment of the present disclosure. The operation flows may be
used to perform various manipulation related operations using the
wearable electronic devices described herein. At 910, the system
may receive, for one or more manipulations of a flexible display,
input data for one or more inputs registered by at least one of: a
touchscreen overlaying the flexible display and a pressure sensor
array configured beneath the flexible display. In one or more
embodiments, the manipulations may be made directly to the flexible
display or may be made to a flexible display portion that contains
the flexible display. At 920, the system may determine a context of
the manipulations. In one or more embodiments, a same manipulation
(e.g., bending the flexible display downward while pulling the ends
of the display portion upward) may be associated with operations
for more than one application or may be associated with more than
one application as well as system operations. In one or more
embodiments, determining the context may include querying system
memory, a controller, a processor, etc. to determine if an
application is being accessed (e.g., has content being displayed on
the display) or if system operations are being accessed.
[0087] At 930, the system may associate the manipulations with
operations for the wearable electronic device. The association may
made be based on the input data and the context in one or more
embodiments. At 940, the system may cause the operations to be
performed for the wearable electronic device.
[0088] In an embodiment, the system may check for additional input
data at 950. In various embodiments, an operation, say for example
a content based operation, may have a default operation associated
thereto (e.g., zoom-in, zoom-out, scroll-right, scroll-left, etc.),
which may be adjusted based on additional input data. For example a
zoom-in rate may be increased or decreased corresponding to
pressure measurements corresponding to, respectively, increased or
decreased pressure registered by one or more pressure sensors of
the pressure sensor array. In another example zoom direction may be
changed by changing a manipulation. In another example, scroll rate
may be increased or decreased base on pressure measurements
registered by one or more pressure sensors and/or touch inputs
registered by one or more touch sensors of the touchscreen. Thus,
in various embodiments, additional input data may continue to be
processed by the system to determine additional operations or
operation updates. If there is not additional input data, the flow
may terminate following execution of the associated operations for
the system. For example, a communication based operations or
certain system based operations may be `one-off` operations wherein
a manipulation may be associated with performing a single operation
or set of operations (e.g., send a message, switch applications,
etc.).
[0089] If there is additional input data, the system may determine
if there has been a manipulation change at 960. For example, the
system may determine if the flexible display has been manipulated
from zooming in on content to zooming out from content. In another
example, the system may determine if the manipulations have changed
from zooming manipulations to scrolling manipulations. If there has
been a manipulation change, the system may again determine the
context of the manipulations (return to 920), and the flow may
continue again from 920.
[0090] If there has not been a manipulation change, the system may
update the associated operations using the additional input data at
970. In various embodiments, the system may continue to cycle
through this flow until no further input data is received. In this
manner, the system may continue to operate so long as manipulations
may be made to the flexible display. Thus, the system may provide
for seamless interaction with the wearable electronic device,
system operations, applications contained therein, etc., which may
enhance user experience and immersion with the device.
[0091] Turning to FIG. 10, FIG. 10 is a simplified block diagram
associated with an example ARM ecosystem SOC 1000 of the present
disclosure. At least one example implementation of the present
disclosure can include the detachable unit features discussed
herein and an ARM component. For example, the example of FIG. 10
can be associated with any ARM core (e.g., A-9, A-15, etc.).
Further, the architecture can be part of any type of wearable
electronic device, tablet, smartphone (inclusive of Android.TM.
phones, i-Phones.TM.), i-Pad.TM., Google Nexus.TM., Microsoft
Surface.TM., video processing components, laptop computer
(inclusive of any type of notebook), Ultrabook.TM. system, any type
of touch-enabled input device, etc.
[0092] In this example of FIG. 10, ARM ecosystem SOC 1000 may
include multiple cores 1006-1007, an L2 cache control 1008, a bus
interface unit 1009, an L2 cache 1010 and an interconnect 1002. In
one or more embodiments, ARM ecosystem SOC 1000 may include a
graphics processing unit (GPU) 1015, a video codec 1020, and a
display I/F 1025, which may be associated with mobile industry
processor interface (MIPI)/high-definition multimedia interface
(HDMI) links that may couple to an OLED display 1026.
[0093] ARM ecosystem SOC 1000 may also include a subscriber
identity module (SIM) I/F 1030, a boot read-only memory (ROM) 1035,
a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) controller 1040,
a flash controller 1045, a serial peripheral interface (SPI) master
1050, a suitable power control 1055, a dynamic RAM (DRAM) 1060, and
flash 1065. In addition, one or more example embodiments can
include one or more communication capabilities, interfaces, and
features such as instances of Bluetooth.TM. 1070, a 3G/4G modem
1075, a global positioning system (GPS) 1080, an 802.11 WiFi
1085.
[0094] In operation, the example of FIG. 10 can offer processing
capabilities, along with relatively low power consumption to enable
computing of various types (e.g., mobile computing). In addition,
such an architecture can enable any number of software applications
(e.g., Android.TM., Adobe.RTM. Flash.RTM. Player, Java Platform
Standard Edition (Java SE), JavaFX, Linux, Microsoft Windows
Embedded, Symbian and Ubuntu, etc.). In at least one example
embodiment, the core processor may implement an out-of-order
superscalar pipeline with a coupled low-latency level-2 cache.
[0095] Turning to FIG. 11, FIG. 11 is a simplified block diagram
illustrating potential electronics and logic that may be associated
with the flexible display system of wearable electronic device 10
and/or 60 discussed herein. In at least one example embodiment,
system 1100 can include a touch input controller 1102, a pressure
controller 1104, one or more processors 1106, system control logic
1108 coupled to at least one of processor(s) 1106, system memory
1110 coupled to system control logic 1108, non-volatile memory
and/or storage device(s) 1112 coupled to system control logic 1108,
power management controller 1114 coupled to system control logic
1108, display controller 1116 coupled to system control logic 1108,
display controller 1116 coupled to one or more display device 1018
and/or communication interfaces 1120 coupled to system control
logic 1108.
[0096] Hence, the basic building blocks of any wearable electronic
device system (e.g., processor, controller, memory, I/O, display,
etc.) can be used in conjunction with the teachings of the present
disclosure. Certain components could be discrete or integrated into
a System on Chip (SoC). Some general system implementations can
include certain types of form factors in which system 1100 is part
of a more generalized enclosure. In alternate implementations,
instead of wearable electronic devices, certain alternate
embodiments deal with mobile phones, tablet devices, etc.
[0097] System control logic 1108, in at least one embodiment, can
include any suitable interface controllers to provide for any
suitable interface to at least one processor 1106 and/or to any
suitable device or component in communication with system control
logic 1108. System control logic 1108, in at least one embodiment,
can include one or more memory controllers to provide an interface
to system memory 1110. System memory 1110 may be used to load and
store data and/or instructions, for example, for system 1100.
System memory 1110, in at least one embodiment, can include any
suitable volatile memory, such as suitable dynamic random access
memory (DRAM) for example. System memory 1110 may store suitable
software 1122 and/or non-volatile memory and/or storage device(s).
System control logic 1108, in at least one embodiment, can include
one or more I/O controllers to provide an interface to touch input
controller 1102, pressure input controller 1104, display device
1118, power management controller 1114, communication interfaces
1120 and non-volatile memory and/or storage device(s) 1112.
[0098] Non-volatile memory and/or storage device(s) 1112 may be
used to store data and/or instructions, for example within software
1124. Non-volatile memory and/or storage device(s) 1112 may include
any suitable non-volatile memory, such as flash memory for example,
and/or may include any suitable non-volatile storage device(s),
such as one or more hard disc drives (HDDs), solid state drives
(SSDs), etc., for example.
[0099] Power management controller 1114 may include power
management logic 1126 configured to control various power
management and/or power saving functions. In at least one example
embodiment, power management controller 1114 is configured to
reduce the power consumption of components or devices of system
1100 that may either be operated at reduced power or turned off
when the wearable electronic device is in an inactive state (e.g.,
not being accessed, etc.). For example, in at least one embodiment,
when the wearable electronic device is in an inactive state, power
management controller 1114 may perform one or more of the
following: power down the unused portion of touchscreen device
1140; power down unused portions of pressure input device 1160;
allow one or more of processor(s) 1106 to go to a lower power state
if less computing power is required during times of inactivity;
and/or shutdown any devices and/or components that may be unused
when a wearable electronic device is in an inactive state. System
control logic 1108, in at least one embodiment, can include one or
more I/O controllers to provide an interface to any suitable
input/output device(s), for example, an audio device to help
convert sound into corresponding digital signals and/or to help
convert digital signals into corresponding sound, a camera and/or a
video recorder.
[0100] For at least one embodiment, at least one processor 1106 may
be packaged together with logic for one or more controllers of
system control logic 1108. In at least one embodiment, at least one
processor 1106 may be packaged together with logic for one or more
controllers of system control logic 1108 to form a System in
Package (SiP). In at least one embodiment, at least one processor
1106 may be integrated on the same die with logic for one or more
controllers of system control logic 1108. For at least one
embodiment, at least one processor 1106 may be integrated on the
same die with logic for one or more controllers of system control
logic 1108 to form a System on Chip (SoC).
[0101] For touch control, touch input controller 1102 may include
touch sensor interface circuitry 1154 and touch control logic 1156.
Touch sensor interface circuitry 1154 may be coupled to one or more
touch sensor(s) 1150 to detect touch input(s) over a first touch
surface layer and a second touch surface layer of a display (e.g.,
at least one display device 1118). Touch sensor interface circuitry
1154 may include any suitable circuitry that may depend, for
example, at least in part on the touch-sensitive technology used
for touchscreen device 1140. Touch sensor interface circuitry 1154,
in one embodiment, may support any suitable multi-touch technology.
Touch sensor interface circuitry 1154, in at least one embodiment,
can include any suitable circuitry to convert analog signals
corresponding to a first touch surface layer and a second surface
layer into any suitable digital touch input data. Suitable digital
touch input data for at least one embodiment may include, for
example, touch location or coordinate data.
[0102] Further, touch control logic 1156 may be coupled to touch
sensor interface circuitry 1154 to help control touch sensor
interface circuitry 1154 in any suitable manner to detect touch
input over a first touch surface layer and a second touch surface
layer. Touch control logic 1156 for at least one example embodiment
may also be coupled to system control logic 1108 to output in any
suitable manner digital touch input data corresponding to one or
more touch inputs detected by touch sensor interface circuitry
1154. Touch control logic 1156 may be implemented using any
suitable logic, including any suitable hardware, firmware, and/or
software logic (e.g., non-transitory tangible media), that may
depend, for example, at least in part on the circuitry used for
touch sensor interface circuitry 1154. For touch input control,
touch control logic 1156 for at least one embodiment may support
any suitable multi-touch technology.
[0103] Touch control logic 1156 may be coupled to system control
logic 1108 to output digital touch input data to system control
logic 1108 and/or at least one processor 1106 for processing. At
least one processor 1106 for at least one embodiment may execute
any suitable software to process digital touch input data output
from touch control logic 1156. Suitable software may include, for
example, any suitable driver software and/or any suitable
application software.
[0104] For pressure control (e.g., control of wearable electronic
devices 10 and/or 60) through manipulations of display 18 and/or
68, respectively), pressure input controller 1104 may include
pressure sensor interface circuitry 1174 and pressure control logic
1176. Pressure sensor interface circuitry 1174 may be coupled to
one or more pressure sensor(s) 1170 to measure pressure applied to
a display (e.g., at least one display device 1118) through one or
more made to the display manipulations (which can be made using a
display portion containing the display). Pressure sensor interface
circuitry 1174 may include any suitable circuitry that may depend,
for example, at least in part on the pressure measurement
technology used for pressure input device 1160 (e.g., pressure
sensor array). For example, capacitive pressure measurement
technology or piezoelectric pressure measurement technology.
Pressure sensor interface circuitry 1174, in one embodiment, may
support any suitable pressure measurement technology for an array
of pressure sensors in any configuration of the array to measure
forces that may be applied to display device 1118. Pressure sensor
interface circuitry 1174, in at least one embodiment, can include
any suitable circuitry to convert analog signals corresponding to a
first capacitive layer and a second capacitive layer of a
capacitive pressure sensor into any suitable digital pressure input
data. Suitable digital pressure input data for at least one
embodiment may include, for example, pressure measurements for one
or more pressure sensor(s) 1170 of the pressure input device 1160
corresponding to one or more forces that may be applied to display
device 1118.
[0105] Further, pressure control logic 1176 may be coupled to
pressure sensor interface circuitry 1174 to help control pressure
sensor interface circuitry 1174 in any suitable manner to measure
pressure changes for forces applied to display device 1118.
Pressure control logic 1176 for at least one example embodiment may
also be coupled to system control logic 1108 to output in any
suitable manner digital pressure input data corresponding to one or
more pressures measured by pressure sensor interface circuitry
1174. Pressure control logic 1176 may be implemented using any
suitable logic, including any suitable hardware, firmware, and/or
software logic (e.g., non-transitory tangible media), that may
depend, for example, at least in part on the circuitry used for
pressure sensor interface circuitry 1174. For pressure input
control, pressure control logic 1176 for at least one embodiment
may support any suitable pressure sensor array pressure measurement
technology.
[0106] Pressure control logic 1176 may be coupled to system control
logic 1108 to output digital pressure input data to system control
logic 1108 and/or at least one processor 1106 for processing. At
least one processor 1106 for at least one embodiment may execute
any suitable software to process digital pressure input data output
from pressure control logic 1176. Suitable software may include,
for example, any suitable driver software and/or any suitable
application software.
[0107] Note that in some example implementations, the functions
outlined herein may be implemented in conjunction with logic that
is encoded in one or more tangible, non-transitory media (e.g.,
embedded logic provided in an application-specific integrated
circuit (ASIC), in digital signal processor (DSP) instructions,
software [potentially inclusive of object code and source code] to
be executed by a processor, or other similar machine, etc.). In
some of these instances, memory elements can store data used for
the operations described herein. This can include the memory
elements being able to store software, logic, code, or processor
instructions that are executed to carry out the activities
described herein. A processor can execute any type of instructions
associated with the data to achieve the operations detailed herein.
In one example, the processors could transform an element or an
article (e.g., data) from one state or thing to another state or
thing. In another example, the activities outlined herein may be
implemented with fixed logic or programmable logic (e.g.,
software/computer instructions executed by a processor) and the
elements identified herein could be some type of a programmable
processor, programmable digital logic (e.g., a field programmable
gate array (FPGA), a DSP, an erasable programmable read only memory
(EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory
(EEPROM)) or an ASIC that can include digital logic, software,
code, electronic instructions, or any suitable combination
thereof.
[0108] It is imperative to note that all of the specifications,
dimensions, and relationships outlined herein (e.g., width, length,
materials, etc.) have only been offered for purposes of example and
teaching only. Each of these data may be varied considerably
without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure, or the
scope of the appended claims. The specifications apply only to one
non-limiting example and, accordingly, they should be construed as
such. In the foregoing description, example embodiments have been
described. Various modifications and changes may be made to such
embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended
claims. The description and drawings are, accordingly, to be
regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
[0109] Numerous other changes, substitutions, variations,
alterations, and modifications may be ascertained to one skilled in
the art and it is intended that the present disclosure encompass
all such changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and
modifications as falling within the scope of the appended claims.
In order to assist the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) and, additionally, any readers of any patent issued on this
application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, Applicant
wishes to note that the Applicant: (a) does not intend any of the
appended claims to invoke paragraph six (6) of 35 U.S.C. section
112 as it exists on the date of the filing hereof unless the words
"means for" or "step for" are specifically used in the particular
claims; and (b) does not intend, by any statement in the
specification, to limit this disclosure in any way that is not
otherwise reflected in the appended claims.
Example EMBODIMENT IMPLEMENTATIONS
[0110] Example embodiments described herein may provide for an
electronic device, which may be a wearable electronic device such
as an electronic bracelet, watch, wristband or armband that
includes a circuit board coupled to a plurality of electronic
components (which may include any type of components, elements,
circuitry, etc.). One particular example implementation of an
electronic device may include may include a display portion that
may include a flexible display configured to be manipulated in one
or more directions; a touchscreen overlaying the display; and a
pressure sensor array configured beneath the flexible display. The
pressure sensor array may be configured to measure inputs for one
or more manipulations made to at least one of the display portion
and the flexible display. Note, in at least one embodiment, the
flexible display may be a flexible organic light emitting diode
(OLED) display configured to be manipulated in one or more
directions. Note that in at least one other embodiment, the
electronic device may further include a strap portion, wherein the
display portion may be secured to the strap portion.
[0111] In another example implementation, the wearable electronic
device may include logic, at least a portion of which is partially
implemented in hardware, the logic configured to receive, for one
or more manipulations of a flexible display of the electronic
device, input data for one or more inputs registered by at least
one of: a touchscreen overlaying the flexible display and a
pressure sensor array configured along a perimeter of the flexible
display; associate the manipulations with operations for the
electronic device, based, at least in part on the input data; and
cause the operations to be performed for the electronic device.
Note, that in at least one embodiment, the input data may include
at least one of: pressure input data for pressure measurements
registered by one or more pressure sensors of the pressure sensor
array corresponding to one or more forces applied to the flexible
display during the one or more manipulations; and touch input data
includes touch input data for one or more touch inputs registered
by one or more touch sensors of the touchscreen corresponding to
one or more touches input to the touchscreen during the one or more
manipulations. Note, that in at least one embodiment, the logic may
include at least one processor and at least one memory.
OTHER NOTES AND EXAMPLES
[0112] The following examples pertain to embodiments in accordance
with this Specification. Note that all optional features of the
apparatuses and systems described above may also be implemented
with respect to the methods or processes described herein and
specifics in the examples may be used anywhere in one or more
embodiments.
[0113] Example 1 is an electronic device comprising: a display
portion that comprises: a flexible display configured to be
manipulated in one or more directions; a touchscreen overlaying the
flexible display; and a pressure sensor array configured beneath
the flexible display, wherein the pressure sensor array is
configured to measure inputs for one or more manipulations made to
at least one of the display portion and the flexible display.
[0114] In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 can optionally
include the flexible display being a flexible organic light
emitting diode (OLED) display configured to be manipulated in one
or more directions.
[0115] In Example 3, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-2
can optionally include the touchscreen being a capacitive
touchscreen configured to be manipulated in one or more
directions.
[0116] In Example 4, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-3
can optionally include the pressure sensor array comprising an
array of thin-film capacitive pressure sensors.
[0117] In Example 5, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-4
can optionally include the display portion being configured to be
manipulated in one or more directions.
[0118] In Example 6, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-5
can optionally include the pressure sensor array being configured
along a perimeter of the flexible display.
[0119] In Example 7, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-6
can optionally include the pressure sensor array being configured
along a perimeter beneath the flexible display.
[0120] In Example 8, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-7
can optionally include wireless communication circuitry contained
in the display portion.
[0121] In Example 9 the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-8
can optionally include a strap portion, wherein the display portion
is secured to the strap portion.
[0122] In Example 10, the subject matter of Example 9 can
optionally include the strap portion being configured to include
one or more sensors to register one or more manipulations made to
the strap portion.
[0123] Example 11 is an electronic device comprising: logic, at
least a portion of which is partially implemented in hardware, the
logic configured to: receive, for one or more manipulations of a
flexible display of the electronic device, input data for one or
more inputs registered by at least one of: a touchscreen overlaying
the flexible display and a pressure sensor array configured along a
perimeter of the flexible display; associate the manipulations with
operations for the electronic device, based, at least in part on
the input data; and cause the operations to be performed for the
electronic device.
[0124] In Example 12, the subject matter of Example 11 can
optionally include the input data including at least one of:
pressure input data for pressure measurements registered by one or
more pressure sensors of the pressure sensor array corresponding to
one or more forces applied to the flexible display during the one
or more manipulations; and touch input data includes touch input
data for one or more touch inputs registered by one or more touch
sensors of the touchscreen corresponding to one or more touches
input to the touchscreen during the one or more manipulations.
[0125] In Example 13, the subject matter of any one of Examples
11-12 can optionally include the logic being further configured to
determine a context of the manipulations, wherein the manipulations
can be associated with operations for one or more applications or
system operations; and associate the manipulations with operations
for the electronic device based on the input data and the context
of the manipulations.
[0126] In Example 14, the subject matter of any one of Examples
11-13 can optionally include the logic being further configured to
cause one or more content scrolling operations to be performed for
the electronic device, wherein the content scrolling operations
include scrolling content displayed on the flexible display in one
or more scrolling directions.
[0127] In Example 15, the subject matter of any one of Examples
11-14 can optionally include the logic being further configured to
cause one or more content zooming operations to be performed for
the electronic device, wherein the content zooming operations
include zooming content displayed on the flexible display in one or
more directions.
[0128] In Example 16, the subject matter of any one of Examples
11-15 can optionally include the logic being further configured to
cause one or more communication operations to be performed for the
electronic device, wherein the communication operations include
communicating data from the device using wireless communication
circuitry in the electronic device.
[0129] In Example 17, the subject matter of any one of Examples
11-16 can optionally include the logic being further configured to
cause one or more content view rotation operations to be performed
for the electronic device, wherein the content view rotation
operations include rotating a view of content displayed on the
flexible display in left or right.
[0130] In Example 18, the subject matter of any one of Examples
11-17 can optionally include the logic being further configured to
update or change the operations based on additional input data
received for additional manipulations.
[0131] In Example 19, the subject matter of Example 18 can
optionally include the logic being further configured to cause at
least one of: an increase or a decrease a scroll rate of one or
more content scrolling operations corresponding, respectively, to
an increase or a decrease in applied force measured by one or more
pressure sensors of the pressure sensory array; an increase or a
decrease a zoom rate of one or more content zooming operations
corresponding, respectively, to an increase or a decrease in
applied force measured by one or more pressure sensors of the
pressure sensory array; and an increase or a decrease a rotation
rate of one or more content rotation operations corresponding,
respectively, to an increase or a decrease in applied force
measured by one or more pressure sensors of the pressure sensory
array.
[0132] In Example 20, the subject matter of any one of Examples
11-19 can optionally include the logic further comprising at least
one processor; and at least one memory.
[0133] Example 21 is at least one computer readable storage medium
comprising instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to:
receive, for one or more manipulations of a flexible display of an
electronic device, input data for one or more inputs registered by
at least one of: a touchscreen overlaying the flexible display and
a pressure sensor array configured along a perimeter of the
flexible display; associate the manipulations with operations for
the electronic device, based, at least in part on the input data;
and cause the operations to be performed for the electronic
device.
[0134] In Example 22, the subject matter of Example 21 can
optionally include the input data including at least one of:
pressure input data for pressure measurements registered by one or
more pressure sensors of the pressure sensor array corresponding to
one or more forces applied to the flexible display during the one
or more manipulations; and touch input data includes touch input
data for one or more touch inputs registered by one or more touch
sensors of the touchscreen corresponding to one or more touches
input to the touchscreen during the one or more manipulations.
[0135] In Example 23, the subject matter of any one of Examples
21-22 can optionally include instructions that, when executed cause
the apparatus to determine a context of the manipulations, wherein
the manipulations can be associated with operations for one or more
applications or system operations; and associate the manipulations
with operations for the electronic device based on the input data
and the context of the manipulations.
[0136] In Example 24, the subject matter of any one of Examples
21-23 can optionally include instructions that, when executed,
cause the apparatus to cause one or more content scrolling
operations to be performed for the electronic device, wherein the
content scrolling operations include scrolling content displayed on
the flexible display in one or more scrolling directions.
[0137] In Example 25, the subject matter of any one of Examples
21-24 can optionally include instructions that, when executed,
cause the apparatus to cause one or more content zooming operations
to be performed for the electronic device, wherein the content
zooming operations include zooming content displayed on the
flexible display in one or more directions.
[0138] In Example 26, the subject matter of any one of Examples
21-25 can optionally include instructions that, when executed,
cause the apparatus to cause one or more communication operations
to be performed for the electronic device, wherein the
communication operations include communicating data from the device
using wireless communication circuitry in the electronic
device.
[0139] In Example 27, the subject matter of any one of Examples
21-26 can optionally include instructions that, when executed,
cause the apparatus to cause one or more content view rotation
operations to be performed for the electronic device, wherein the
content view rotation operations include rotating a view of content
displayed on the flexible display in left or right.
[0140] In Example 28, the subject matter of any one of Examples
21-27 can optionally include instructions that, when executed,
cause the apparatus to update or change the operations based on
additional input data received for additional manipulations.
[0141] In Example 29, the subject matter of Example 28 can
optionally include instructions that, when executed, cause the
apparatus to cause at least one of: an increase or a decrease a
scroll rate of one or more content scrolling operations
corresponding, respectively, to an increase or a decrease in
applied force measured by one or more pressure sensors of the
pressure sensory array; an increase or a decrease a zoom rate of
one or more content zooming operations corresponding, respectively,
to an increase or a decrease in applied force measured by one or
more pressure sensors of the pressure sensory array; and an
increase or a decrease a rotation rate of one or more content
rotation operations corresponding, respectively, to an increase or
a decrease in applied force measured by one or more pressure
sensors of the pressure sensory array.
[0142] Example 30 is a method comprising: receiving, for one or
more manipulations of a flexible display of an electronic device,
input data for one or more inputs registered by at least one of: a
touchscreen overlaying the flexible display and a pressure sensor
array configured along a perimeter of the flexible display;
associating the manipulations with operations for the electronic
device, based, at least in part on the input data; and causing the
operations to be performed for the electronic device.
[0143] In Example 31, the subject matter of Example 30 can
optionally include the input data including at least one of:
pressure input data for pressure measurements registered by one or
more pressure sensors of the pressure sensor array corresponding to
one or more forces applied to the flexible display during the one
or more manipulations; and touch input data includes touch input
data for one or more touch inputs registered by one or more touch
sensors of the touchscreen corresponding to one or more touches
input to the touchscreen during the one or more manipulations.
[0144] In Example 32, the subject matter of any one of Examples
30-31 can optionally include determining a context of the
manipulations, wherein the manipulations can be associated with
operations for one or more applications or system operations; and
associating the manipulations with operations for the electronic
device based on the input data and the context of the
manipulations.
[0145] In Example 33, the subject matter of any one of Examples
30-32 can optionally include causing one or more content scrolling
operations to be performed for the electronic device, wherein the
content scrolling operations include scrolling content displayed on
the flexible display in one or more scrolling directions.
[0146] In Example 34, the subject matter of any one of Examples
30-33 can optionally include causing one or more content zooming
operations to be performed for the electronic device, wherein the
content zooming operations include zooming content displayed on the
flexible display in one or more directions.
[0147] In Example 35, the subject matter of any one of Examples
30-34 can optionally include causing one or more communication
operations to be performed for the electronic device, wherein the
communication operations include communicating data from the device
using wireless communication circuitry in the electronic
device.
[0148] In Example 36, the subject matter of any one of Examples
30-35 can optionally include causing one or more content view
rotation operations to be performed for the electronic device,
wherein the content view rotation operations include rotating a
view of content displayed on the flexible display in left or
right.
[0149] In Example 37, the subject matter of any one of Examples
30-36 can optionally include updating or changing the operations
based on additional input data received for additional
manipulations.
[0150] In Example 38, the subject matter of Example 27 can
optionally include at least one of: increasing or decreasing a
scroll rate of one or more content scrolling operations
corresponding, respectively, to an increase or a decrease in
applied force measured by one or more pressure sensors of the
pressure sensory array; increasing or decreasing a zoom rate of one
or more content zooming operations corresponding, respectively, to
an increase or a decrease in applied force measured by one or more
pressure sensors of the pressure sensory array; and increasing or
decreasing a rotation rate of one or more content rotation
operations corresponding, respectively, to an increase or a
decrease in applied force measured by one or more pressure sensors
of the pressure sensory array.
[0151] Example 39 is an apparatus comprising means for performing
the method of any one of Examples 30-38.
[0152] In Example 40, the subject matter of Example 39 can
optionally include the means for performing the method further
comprising at least one processor and at least one memory
element.
[0153] In Example 41, the subject matter of Example of Example 40
can optionally include the memory comprising machine readable
instructions, that when executed cause the apparatus to perform the
method of any one of Examples 30-38.
[0154] In Example 42, the subject matter of any one of Examples
39-41 can optionally include the apparatus being a flexible display
system.
[0155] Example 43 is at least one computer readable medium
comprising instructions that, when executed, implement a method or
realize an apparatus as recited in any one of claim 1-20 or
30-38.
[0156] Example 44 is a system comprising: a display portion of an
electronic device that comprises: a flexible display configured to
be manipulated in one or more directions; a touchscreen overlaying
the flexible display; and a pressure sensor array configured
beneath the flexible display, wherein the pressure sensor array is
configured to measure inputs for one or more manipulations made to
at least one of the display portion and the flexible display; and
logic, at least a portion of which is partially implemented in
hardware, the logic configured to: receive, for one or more
manipulations of the flexible display, input data for one or more
inputs registered by at least one of: the touchscreen and the
pressure sensor array; associate the manipulations with operations
for the electronic device, based, at least in part on the input
data; and cause the operations to be performed for the electronic
device.
[0157] In Example 45, the subject matter of Example 44 can
optionally include the flexible display being a flexible organic
light emitting diode (OLED) display configured to be manipulated in
one or more directions.
[0158] In Example 46, the subject matter of any one of Examples
44-45 can optionally include the touchscreen being a capacitive
touchscreen configured to be manipulated in one or more
directions.
[0159] In Example 47, the subject matter of any one of Examples
44-46 can optionally include the pressure sensor array comprising
an array of thin-film capacitive pressure sensors.
[0160] In Example 48, the subject matter of any one of Examples
44-47 can optionally include the display portion being configured
to be manipulated in one or more directions.
[0161] In Example 49, the subject matter of any one of Examples
44-48 can optionally include the pressure sensor array being
configured along a perimeter of the flexible display.
[0162] In Example 50, the subject matter of any one of Examples
44-49 can optionally include the pressure sensor array being
configured along a perimeter beneath the flexible display.
[0163] In Example 51, the subject matter of any one of Examples
44-50 can optionally include wireless communication circuitry
contained in the display portion.
[0164] In Example 52, the subject matter of any one of Examples
44-51 can optionally include a strap portion, wherein the display
portion is secured to the strap portion.
[0165] In Example 53, the subject matter of Example 52 can
optionally include one or more sensors to register one or more
manipulations made to the strap portion.
[0166] In Example 54, the subject matter of any one of Examples
44-53 can optionally include the logic being further configured to
determine a context of the manipulations, wherein the manipulations
can be associated with operations for one or more applications or
system operations; and associate the manipulations with operations
for the electronic device based on the input data and the context
of the manipulations.
[0167] In Example 55, the subject matter of any one of Examples
44-54 can optionally include the logic being further configured to
cause one or more content scrolling operations to be performed for
the electronic device, wherein the content scrolling operations
include scrolling content displayed on the flexible display in one
or more scrolling directions.
[0168] In Example 56, the subject matter of any one of Examples
44-55 can optionally include the logic being further configured to
cause one or more content zooming operations to be performed for
the electronic device, wherein the content zooming operations
include zooming content displayed on the flexible display in one or
more directions.
[0169] In Example 57, the subject matter of any one of Examples
44-56 can optionally include the logic being further configured to
cause one or more communication operations to be performed for the
electronic device, wherein the communication operations include
communicating data from the device using wireless communication
circuitry in the electronic device.
[0170] In Example 58, the subject matter of any one of Examples
44-57 can optionally include the logic being further configured to
cause one or more content view rotation operations to be performed
for the electronic device, wherein the content view rotation
operations include rotating a view of content displayed on the
flexible display in left or right.
[0171] In Example 59, the subject matter of any one of Examples
44-58 can optionally include the logic being further configured to
update or change the operations based on additional input data
received for additional manipulations.
[0172] In Example 60, the subject matter of Example 59 can
optionally include the logic being further configured to cause at
least one of: an increase or a decrease a scroll rate of one or
more content scrolling operations corresponding, respectively, to
an increase or a decrease in applied force measured by one or more
pressure sensors of the pressure sensory array; an increase or a
decrease a zoom rate of one or more content zooming operations
corresponding, respectively, to an increase or a decrease in
applied force measured by one or more pressure sensors of the
pressure sensory array; and an increase or a decrease a rotation
rate of one or more content rotation operations corresponding,
respectively, to an increase or a decrease in applied force
measured by one or more pressure sensors of the pressure sensory
array.
[0173] In Example 61, the subject matter of any one of Examples
44-60 can optionally include at least one processor; and at least
one memory.
[0174] Example 62 is an apparatus comprising: means for receiving,
for one or more manipulations of a flexible display of an
electronic device, input data for one or more inputs registered by
at least one of: a touchscreen overlaying the flexible display and
a pressure sensor array configured along a perimeter of the
flexible display; means for associating the manipulations with
operations for the electronic device, based, at least in part on
the input data; and means for causing the operations to be
performed for the electronic device.
[0175] In Example 63, the subject matter of Example 62 can
optionally include the input data including at least one of
pressure input data for pressure measurements registered by one or
more pressure sensors of the pressure sensor array corresponding to
one or more forces applied to the flexible display during the one
or more manipulations; and touch input data includes touch input
data for one or more touch inputs registered by one or more touch
sensors of the touchscreen corresponding to one or more touches
input to the touchscreen during the one or more manipulations.
[0176] In Example 64, the subject matter of any one of Examples
62-63 can optionally include means for determining a context of the
manipulations, wherein the manipulations can be associated with
operations for one or more applications or system operations; and
means for associating the manipulations with operations for the
electronic device based on the input data and the context of the
manipulations.
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