Wearable interactive user interface
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsPaul X. Wang, Zheng Gao, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Ray L. Chang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments are directed to a user input device and methods related to the use thereto. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a flexible fabric attachable to a user having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may be moveable in relation to the second portion. The embodiment may further include a controller configured to identify an input configuration based on a position of the first portion relative to a position of the second portion within a three-dimensional space. The embodiment may further include a haptic feedback structure disposed adjacent the flexible fabric and configured to provide haptic feedback based on the input configuration.
Claims20
A user input device, comprising:
- a first attachment piece that attaches to a first fingertip of a user without covering at least a portion of the first fingertip;
- a first motion sensor in the first attachment piece that gathers first motion sensor data;
- a force sensor in the first attachment piece that gathers force input at the first fingertip;
- a second attachment piece that attaches to a second fingertip of the user without covering at least a portion of the second fingertip;
- a second motion sensor in the second attachment piece that gathers second motion sensor data;
- and
- control circuitry that:
- determines a position of the first attachment piece relative to the second attachment piece based on the first motion sensor data and the second motion sensor data;
- determines whether the user input device is in a keyboard input configuration or a trackpad input configuration based on the position of the first attachment piece relative to the second attachment piece;
- and
- processes the force input as keyboard input when the user input device is in the keyboard input configuration and as trackpad input when the user input device is in the trackpad input configuration.
A user input device, comprising:
- an attachment piece that attaches to a fingertip of a user and that leaves at least part of the fingertip uncovered;
- a force sensor in the attachment piece that gathers force data as the fingertip presses against an external surface;
- a motion sensor in the attachment piece that gathers motion data as the fingertip moves;
- a haptic output device in the attachment piece that provides haptic output to the fingertip;
- and
- control circuitry that adjusts the haptic output based on the force data and the motion data.
A user input device, comprising:
- attachment pieces that respectively attach to individual fingertips of a user;
- motion sensors in the attachment pieces that measure positions of the attachment pieces relative to each other;
- force sensors in the attachment pieces that gather force input at the individual fingertips;
- haptic output devices that provide haptic output to the individual fingertips;
- and
- control circuitry that adjusts the haptic output to the individual fingertips based on the positions of the attachment pieces relative to each other and based on the force input.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.