Wearable Device Interface Disable During Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable virtual reality and augmented reality devices face challenges in providing a comfortable and natural-feeling experience due to accidental activation of user control interfaces when the device is being attached or worn, leading to potential discomfort and battery drain from unintended device functions.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an electronic control system that detects when the device is being attached to a user's clothing or accessory using sensors like inertial measurement units, proximity sensors, and strain gauges to temporarily disable user control interfaces during the attachment process, ensuring they are only activated once the device is securely in place.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If user control interfaces remain active during device attachment, then user interaction capability is maintained, but accidental activation occurs causing discomfort and battery drain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction capabilityVSAvoidaccidental activation prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of attachment status using sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, proximity sensors) before allowing user control interface activation. By detecting motion patterns characteristic of device attachment and preemptively disabling controls during this transition period, the system prevents accidental activation while maintaining interaction capability once properly worn

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The user control interface accessibility is made dynamic rather than static. The system continuously monitors sensor data and adjusts the state of control interfaces in real-time based on detected device status. When attachment is detected, controls are temporarily disabled; when stable wear is confirmed, controls are re-enabled, creating an adaptive interaction model that responds to physical state changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If user control interfaces are disabled during attachment, then accidental activation is prevented, but user interaction is blocked during the attachment process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccidental activation preventionVSAvoiduser interaction availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic checking of device attachment status through continuous sensor monitoring. Rather than permanently disabling controls during attachment, the system periodically evaluates whether the device has reached a stable worn state and toggles control availability accordingly. This periodic assessment allows temporary disablement only during the attachment transition while restoring interaction capability once stability is confirmed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If device functions remain active during attachment, then device readiness is maintained, but battery consumption increases due to unintended operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice readinessVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device automatically manages its own operational state based on sensor feedback without requiring external intervention. The control system monitors attachment status and autonomously adjusts power consumption by disabling non-essential functions during attachment transitions, then re-enabling them when stable wear is detected, creating a self-regulating power management system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Prevents accidental activation of user control interfaces during attachment, enhancing user comfort and extending battery life by avoiding unnecessary power consumption from unintended device functions.

Implementation Method 1

one or more inertial measurement units and detect that the electronic device has been picked up for attaching

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInertial measurement: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

sensors like inertial measurement units, proximity sensors, and strain gauges

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStrain measurement: Piezoresistive Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20250022271A1Systems and methods for temporarily disabling user control interfaces during attachment of an electronic device

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 MAGIC LEAP INC

AI summary

Systems and methods of disabling user control interfaces during attachment of a wearable electronic device to a portion of a user's clothing or accessory are disclosed. The wearable electronic device can include inertial measurement units (IMUs), optical sources, optical sensors or electromagnetic sensors. Based on the information provided by the IMUs, optical sources, optical sensors or electromagnetic sensors, an electrical processing and control system can make a determination that the electronic device is being grasped and picked up for attaching to a portion of a user's clothing or accessory or that the electronic device is in the process of being attached to a portion of a user's clothing or accessory and temporarily disable one or more user control interfaces disposed on the outside of the wearable electronic device.