Wearable Device Gesture Control via Rotatable Ring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wearable electronic devices lack efficient gesture-based interaction methods that integrate seamlessly with their design and functionality, limiting user interaction and interface effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A wearable electronic device design featuring a circular display with an outer rotatable ring that provides haptic feedback and encodes user gestures, allowing for intuitive interaction through a combination of mechanical and electronic feedback mechanisms, while housing sensors and processing components within the device or band for enhanced functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a wearable electronic device uses traditional button or touch interface controls, then the device structure remains simple and compact, but user interaction efficiency and intuitiveness are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction efficiencyVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical buttons and touch interfaces with gesture-based control using motion sensors. The motion detection module detects device movements in three dimensions and maps them to commands, substituting physical interaction mechanisms with motion-based recognition to improve interaction efficiency without adding complex mechanical components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a motion detection module and gesture recognition system as intermediaries between the user and the device functions. This intermediary layer translates physical device movements into meaningful commands through a command mapping system, enabling intuitive interaction while keeping the core device structure relatively simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a wearable device includes multiple sensors and processing components for gesture recognition, then gesture-based interaction capability is enhanced, but device size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture interaction capabilityVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The motion detection module serves multiple functions: it detects device orientation, recognizes user gestures, and provides data for haptic feedback control. By making this single component multi-functional, the patent enhances gesture interaction capability without proportionally increasing device volume with separate specialized components for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the motion detection module, haptic feedback mechanism, and gesture recognition processing into an integrated system. The outer ring structure houses both the display and haptic feedback components, merging multiple functional elements into a compact arrangement that reduces overall device size while maintaining enhanced interaction capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of information

If a wearable device provides comprehensive haptic feedback and visual display, then user feedback clarity is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback clarityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The haptic feedback mechanism operates periodically or on-demand based on gesture recognition events rather than continuously. The feedback is activated only when specific gestures are detected or when interaction is required, providing clear tactile feedback to confirm actions while minimizing energy consumption during non-interactive periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where haptic and visual responses are triggered by detected gestures, creating responsive interaction cycles. This event-driven feedback approach ensures clear user communication only when necessary, avoiding continuous operation of high-energy components while maintaining excellent feedback clarity during active use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2733578B1User gesture input to wearable electronic device involving movement of device
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2733578B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2733578B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2733578B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

In one embodiment, a wearable computing device includes one or more sensors, one or more processors, and a memory coupled to the processors that includes instructions executable by the processors. When executing the instructions, the processors detect, by one or more of the sensors of the wearable computing device when worn on a limb of a user, a gesture-recognition-activation event associated with the wearable computing device; detect, by one or more sensors of the wearable computing device when worn on the limb of the user, a movement of the limb; determine a gesture made by the user based at least in part on the movement; and process the gesture as input to the computing wearable computing device.