# US 10,372,160 B2 · Ring shaped wearable device having projector

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,372,160 B2
- Document ID: US10372160B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/525,834
- Filed: 2014-11-14
- Published: 2017-11-09
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-10
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: LG Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Byunghwa Lee; Choonghwan Shin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10372160B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt}
- A61B 5/6831: {Straps, bands or harnesses}
- G03B 21/14: Details
- G03B 21/147: {Optical correction of image distortions, e.g. keystone}
- G03B 21/28: Reflectors in projection beam {(in illumination beam G03B21/2066)}
- G04G 17/04: Mounting of electronic components
- G06F 3/014: {Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves}
- G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)}
- H04N 9/3185: {Geometric adjustment, e.g. keystone or convergence (optical or mechanical adjustment of convergence H04N9/317; using scanning means H04N3/22; optical or mechanical adjustments of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14)}
- H04N 9/3188: {Scale or resolution adjustment (scaling in general G06T3/40; resolution modifying circuits for displays in general G09G5/391)}
- H04N 9/3194: {including sensor feedback}
- G03B 17/54: with projector
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- G04G: ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A wearable device, which comprises: a ring-shaped case having an opening part formed in the middle thereof; a projector mounted at one side of the case and outputting an image; a lens part adjusting the direction and the size of the image, which is projected from the projector, so as to project the image; and a control unit for adjusting the projector and the lens part according to an image signal, can deliver visual information to a user wearing the wearable device even without a separate display unit by outputting the image onto the hand of the user.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wearable device comprising:
a case having a ring shape, the ring shape of the case defining an opening at a center of the case, the opening being configured to receive a wrist of a user;
a projector located in the case, the projector being configured to output an image toward a hand of the user when the wrist of the user is located in the opening of the case;
a sensor located in the case, the sensor being configured to sense a bent angle of the user's wrist;
a lens module configured to:
receive the image from the projector at a side of the lens module;
adjust a direction of the image;
adjust a size of the image; and
project the image at a front of the lens module; and
a controller configured to control the projector and the lens module in accordance with the bent angle of the user's wrist,
wherein the lens module includes:
a first reflective plate configured to receive the image incident at the side of the lens module and to reflect the image in a radial direction of the ring shape of the case,
a second reflective plate configured to receive the image reflected by the first reflective plate and to reflect the image in an axial direction of the ring shape of the case,
a first lens configured to reduce a size of the image incident at the size of the lens module, and to deliver the image to the first reflective plate, and
a second lens located between the first reflective plate and the second reflective plate, the second lens being configured to magnify the image reflected by the first reflective plate, and to deliver the image to the second reflective plate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the image output from the projector to reduce distortion of the image displayed on the hand of the user by separately adjusting a size of an image displayed on a portion of the hand of the user that is relatively close to the user's wrist and a size of an image displayed on a portion of the hand of the user that is relatively far away from the user's wrist.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the direction and the size of the image projected by the lens module according to the bent angle of the user's wrist.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to change the image output from the projector according to the bent angle of the user's wrist.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust an inclination angle of the second reflective plate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the case comprises a flexible material, and
wherein the wearable device further comprises an elastic member located at one side of the case, the elastic member being spaced apart from the projector, the elastic member being configured to adjust a size of the ring shape of the case in accordance with a variable length of the elastic member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The wearable device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a frame on which the projector is mounted;
a main board fixed to the frame;
a camera spaced apart from the projector; and
a flexible substrate connecting the camera with the main board.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The wearable device according to claim 7, further comprising a battery located in the case, the battery having a curved shape, the battery having one side located adjacent to the frame,
wherein the frame further includes a battery holder having a curved shape corresponding to the curved shape of the battery.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The wearable device according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication unit located in the case, the wireless communication unit being configured to receive an image signal from an external terminal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The wearable device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a frame on which the projector is mounted;
a main board fixed to the frame; and
a camera spaced apart from the projector.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The wearable device according to claim 10, further comprising:
a battery located in the case, the battery having a curved shape, the battery having one side located adjacent to the frame; and
a battery holder having a curved shape corresponding to the curved shape of the battery,
wherein the controller is configured to adjust a direction and a size of the image projected by the lens module according to the bent angle of the user's wrist.

### Claim 12

A wearable device comprising:
a case having a ring shape, the ring shape of the case defining an opening at the center of the case, the opening being configured to receive a wrist of a user;
a projector located in the case, the projector being configured to output an image toward a hand of the user when the wrist of the user is located in the opening of the case;
a lens module adjusting a direction and a size of the image;
a sensor for sensing a bent angle of the user's wrist; and
a controller configured to control the projector and the lens module in accordance with the bent angle of the user's wrist,
wherein the lens module includes:
a first reflective plate configured to receive the image incident at a side of the lens module and to reflect the image in a radial direction of the ring shape of the case,
a second reflective plate configured to receive the image reflected by the first reflective plate and to reflect the image in an axial direction of the ring shape of the case,
a first lens configured to reduce a size of the image incident at the side of the lens module, and to deliver the image to the first reflective plate, and
a second lens located between the first reflective plate and the second reflective plate, the second lens being configured to magnify the image reflected by the first reflective plate, and to deliver the image to the second reflective plate.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The wearable device according to claim 12, wherein the controller controls the image projected from the projector to reduce distortion of the image displayed on the hand of the user by separately adjusting a size of an image displayed on a portion close to the user's wrist and a size of an image displayed on a portion far away from the user's wrist.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The wearable device according to claim 12, wherein the controller adjusts a direction and size of the image projected by the lens module, in accordance with the bent angle of the user's wrist.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The wearable device according to claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to change the image output from the projector in accordance with the bent angle of the user's wrist.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The wearable device according to claim 12, wherein the sensor is at least one of a myoelectric sensor and a proximity sensor.
