Wearable Device Ring Touch Gesture Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current smartwatch user interfaces require both hands for operation, limiting usability in situations where one hand is occupied or unavailable, such as carrying bags or due to injuries or disabilities, and existing ring devices with IMUs or touchpads are cumbersome and prone to false positives.

Innovation Solution

A wearable electronic device system that communicates with an electronic ring-shaped device equipped with touch sensors, using both touch sensor data and motion sensor data from the wearable device to control the user interface, enabling one-handed operation and reducing false positives by integrating the motion sensor within the wearable device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If ring devices use IMU to detect gestures, then gesture control capability is provided, but false positives increase when the arm is subject to movements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegesture control capabilityVSAvoidfalse positive rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wearable electronic device acts as an intermediary between the ring device and the controlled interface. It receives touch sensor data from the ring device, adds motion sensor data from its own motion sensor, and processes the combined data to determine user input. This intermediary approach filters out false positives by requiring correlation between touch and motion data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If ring devices integrate touchpad to enable control, then control functionality is added, but device complexity and awkwardness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol functionalityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The motion sensing functionality is extracted from the ring device and placed in a separate wearable electronic device. This allows the ring device to remain simple with only touch sensors, while the motion sensor handles movement detection. The separation of functions reduces complexity in the ring device while maintaining full control functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If smartwatch UI requires both hands for operation, then basic control is achieved, but usability is limited when one hand is occupied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebasic control capabilityVSAvoidusability in occupied-hand situations

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides multiple input modalities that can be used independently or in combination: touch sensor data from the ring device, motion sensor data from the wearable device, and their correlation. This multi-functional approach allows users to control the interface whether one or both hands are available, enhancing versatility while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20240288938A1Wearable Electronic Device, Electronic Device System and Methods Thereof

Publication Date: 2024.08.29 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A method, performed by a wearable electronic device, for controlling a user interface, Ul. The wearable electronic device is configured to communicate with an electronic ring-shaped device comprising one or more touch sensors. The method comprises controlling the Ul based on touch sensor data communicated from the electronic ring-shaped device and further based on motion sensor data from a motion sensor of the wearable electronic device.