Earlier this month the US Patent & Trademark Office published a series of patent applications from Samsung detailing a next generation Gear smartwatch. While other Android sites covered this patent application first, they miserably failed to actually provide Samsung fans with any real depth that's associated with this project. Samsung's series of smartwatch patents provide us with a grand overview that includes an all-new form factor that carries new functionality due to an ingenious interactive watch ring that surrounds the watch. This goes far beyond anything that the Moto 360 or Google's Android wear designs provide. The patent also covers an all-new wireless charging system, 3 levels of gesturing, an OCR reader and so much more. For those wanting to review what Samsung's new smartwatch patents really covered – check our new report.
Jumping right into Samsung's new smartwatch patent we see patent FIG.1 as noted below illustrating a new form factor for a future Gear smartwatch. While Google's Android Wear and the Moto 360 will sport a round display, Samsung's design moves one gigantic leap forward by incorporating a rotatable ring around the clock's interface. It's a ring that's highly interactive with varying applications as we'll present to you further into this report.
A wearable electronic device may be attached to a band to affix the device to the user. Here, reference to a "band" may encompass any suitable apparatus for affixing a device to the user, such as for example a traditional band #1405 that can be worn around the arm, wrist, waist, or leg of the user, as illustrated above.
In Samsung's patent FIG. 14A noted below we're able to see a clip #1415 for affixing to a piece of clothing, as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 14B; a necklace or bracelet 1420 configuration, as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 14C; a keychain 1425 or other accessory configuration to secure the device, for example, in the user's pocket as illustrated above in FIG. 11.
Each of those embodiments may include a camera located on the device be it on the band or the body. FIG. 11 illustrates various embodiments for wearing the device, such as for example around a neck; pinned to clothing (such as, for example, the chest as illustrated by 1110); used on a belt as illustrated in 115; on an appendage (such as, for example, an arm as illustrated in 1120); on the wrist as illustrated in 1125, or in a pocket as illustrated in 1130.
Samsung Reinvents their Smartwatch Charger
According to Samsung's patent filing, a wearable electronic device may include one or more charging components for charging or powering the device. Charging components may utilize any suitable charging method, such as capacitive charging, electromagnetic charging, trickle charging, charging by direct electrical contact, solar, kinetic, inductive, or intelligent charging (for example, charging based on a condition or state of a battery, and modifying charging actions accordingly).
Charging components may be located on any suitable portion of the device, such as in or on the body of the device or in or on the band of a device. For example, in Samsung's patent FIG. 20A noted below we're able to see charger #2000 with a slot #2005 for connecting a charging component with the charger. For example, the slot may use friction, mechanical structures (such as latches or snaps), magnetism, or any other suitable technique for accepting and securing a prong from a charging component such that the prong and the charger make direct electrical contact.
In patent FIG. 20C below we're able to see prong #2015 on band #2010 utilizing pogo-style connectors to create a circuit connection between the charger #2022 and the band through contacts #2020. In particular embodiments, the prong may be on the charger and the slot of FIG. 20A may be on the band or body of the wearable device. The charger of FIG. 20A may be connected to any suitable power source (such as, for example, power from an alternating current (AC) outlet or direct current (DC) power from a USB port on a computing device) by any suitable wired or wireless connection. Samsung further notes that the charger may also be an inductive charger.
According to Samsung, the charger may be made of any suitable material, such as acrylic, and in particular embodiments may have a non-slip material as its backing, such as e.g. rubber. In particular embodiments, the charger may be affixed or attached to a surface, for example may be attached to a wall as illustrated in FIG. 20B above.
Samsung Introduces Three Levels of Smartwatch Gesturing
As noted in patent figures 33, 55 and 89, certain aspects of Samsung's smartwatch will be able to be controlled by three kinds of gestures: 1) Gestures made in front of the built in camera; 2) Multitouch Gestures made on the surface of the watch's cover glass; and 3) Gestures made by simple movements & gravity.
Samsung's patent FIG. 95B above illustrates an example of a user performing, respectively, a clockwise rotational gesture #9515, a counter-clockwise rotational gesture #9520, a vertical swipe gesture #9525, and a horizontal swipe gesture #9530.
Samsung Invents a Smartwatch Ring to Control UI
Communicating with this next generation smartwatch could involve gesturing as noted above while being able to work with a speech interface and using a new and unique outer ring as noted in a series of graphics below. The ring is touch-sensitive so it could simply interact with an application by merely touching it in specific areas.
According to Samsung, the input may, for example, include swiping the ring with one finger, swiping the ring with two or more fingers, performing a rotational gesture with one or more fingers, or squeezing the ring.
In particular embodiments, the outer ring may be rotatable, such that a physical rotation of the ring may serve as an input to the device. Additionally, in particular embodiments, the outer ring may be clicked (e.g. pressed down) or squeezed.
Any of the embodiments of the outer ring may be combined, as suitable, such that the ring may be one or more of touch-sensitive, rotatable, clickable (or pressable), or squeezable. Inputs from the different modalities of the outer ring (e.g. touch, rotation, clicking or pressing, or squeezing) may be interpreted differently depending, for example, on the combination of the modalities of input provided by a user.
As an example, a rotation of the outer ring may indicate a different input than a rotation in combination with a clicking or pressing of the ring. Additionally, feedback may be provided to the user when the user provides input via the outer ring, including haptic feedback, audio feedback, or visual feedback, described herein.
In particular embodiments, a graphical user interface of the device may operate according to an interaction and transition model. The model may, for example, determine how modes including applications, functions, sub-modes, confirmations, content, controls, active icons, actions, or other features or elements may be organized (e.g. in a hierarchy) within a graphical user interface of the device.
Below are a just a few examples of how the ring could interact with an application interface.
Controlling a TV using the Smartwatch's Ring
As noted in Samsung's patent FIG. 136 noted above illustrates example controls enabled on the device for a paired and controlled television including an active ON/OFF icon #13610, a favorite channels function #13620, a current channel display function #13630, and volume controller #13640.
Home Automation & Other Controls
In another segment of Samsung's patent application they state that there could be an energy application whereby the device could automatically display information about the energy consumption of the room or other location in which the user is located along with a home thermostat. The device may also be able to display information about the energy consumption of other paired devices and update all of this information dynamically as the user changes location.
In an example home control application, the user may select and directly control paired home-control devices using, for example, rotation of the outer ring or a gesture input.
The user may use gestures to control the sharing or transfer of content to or from the device e.g. transferring video playing on the device to a paired television. Additionally, auxiliary information (e.g. movie subtitles) may be provided on the device for content shown on another, larger device (e.g. television screen playing the movie).
Vehicle Controls: The device may function as a key for unlocking or turning on one or more vehicles. The user may, for example, enter a code using the outer ring to unlock or turn on the vehicle using NFC technology. In particular embodiments, both user biometric information and a code entered by the user may be required to unlock the car, allowing for enhanced security for a car-based application.
Additionally, the device may include profiles for one or more users, each profile containing vehicle settings (e.g. temperature or seat position). As another example, biometric information of a particular user may be used not only to unlock the device, but also to determine which user profile to load during the car's operation.
The proximity of the device to the vehicle may automatically cause the vehicle to implement the vehicle settings of the profile of the user. The device may also be operable for GPS navigation either directly on the device or when paired with and controlling a phone.
Bar Code Reader & e-Wallet Controls: In a commercial setting, the device may automatically identify a product (e.g. using RFID, NFC, barcode recognition, or object recognition) when the user picks up the product and may provide information about the product (e.g. nutrition information, source information, or reviews) or the option to purchase the product.
Samsung's patent Figures 129A through to 129D illustrate an example of barcode recognition mode. The device may be pointed at an item (129A), recognize the item (129B), display additional information obtained from the Internet about the item (129C), and provide the user an interface to purchase the item (129D).
Samsung further notes that payment for the product may, for example, be accomplished using visual barcode technology on the device. In particular embodiments, the device may be used to pay for a product using NFC, RFID, or any other suitable form of short-distance communication. During payment, the user's information may, for example, be authenticated by the device, which may detect the user's biometric information (e.g. bone structure or skin signature). The device may also automatically provide an indication to the user (e.g. a vibration) when the user is near a product on her shopping list (e.g. stored in the device) or another list (e.g. a wish list of the user's friend).
Health Controls: The device may automatically determine a healthcare context (e.g. if the user is exercising or sleeping). When it determines this context, the device may open applications corresponding to the healthcare context (e.g. for recording heart rate during exercise, movement during exercise, duration of exercise, pulse oximetry during exercise, sleep patterns, duration of sleep, or galvanic skin response).
As noted above in patent FIGS. 131A-131D we're able to see examples of the device operating in various augmented reality modes including barcode recognition mode (131A), image recognition mode (131B), OCR and translate mode (131C), and object recognition mode (131D).
Interestingly, the device may also assist in sports-related applications such as, for example, automatically assessing a golf swing of the user and suggesting corrections. That feature seems to be a bit of a stretch, but you never know.
Overview of the System
Noted below is Samsung's patent FIG. 19 which illustrates an example sensor detection system of a device. Samsung's patent FIG. 99 illustrates an example of the interaction and transition model hierarchy of a GUI for an image capture application.
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Samsung filed their US patent application back in Q3 2013. Whether this new design is part of Samsung's Gear Solo or for a generation beyond that is not known at this time. Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.
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