# US 2023/0273684 A1 · Wearable data communication apparatus, kits, methods, and systems

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- Number: US 2023/0273684 A1
- Document ID: US20230273684A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/024,731
- Filed: 2021-11-02
- Published: 2023-08-31
- Earliest claimed: 2020-10-30
- Assignees: Datafeel Inc.
- Applicants: Datafeel Inc.
- Inventors: Matthew Robert Leaper
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230273684A1

## CPC

- G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user}
- G08B 6/00: Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems
- A01K 15/028: {Cow trainers}
- A61B 5/486: {Biofeedback (using electroencephalography [EEG] A61B5/375)}
- A61B 5/6824: {Arm or wrist}
- G06F 3/014: {Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves}
- G06F 3/015: {Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection}
- G06F 3/023: Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
- G06F 3/041: Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
- G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34)
- G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
- G06V 40/13: Sensors therefor
- A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20)
- A61B 5/021: Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels
- A61B 5/02438: {with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient}
- A61B 5/4266: {sweat secretion}
- A61B 2503/40: Animals
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING

## Abstract

A data communication apparatus comprising: a plurality of data communication devices comprising a sensor operable to output contextual data associated with a wearer, a plurality of haptic energy generators operable to output a haptic energy toward skin of the wearer, and a control system operable to maintain a data feedback loop with the wearer by causing the plurality of haptic energy generators to output the haptic energy responsive to one of the contextual data and an external data source in data communication with the control system; an electrical network operable to transmit data and power between the plurality of data communication devices; and a wearable structure comprising a biocompatible material shaped to house the plurality of data communication devices and the electrical network, maintain a plurality of air gaps between the plurality of data communication devices, and define a skin contacting surface that is directly engageable with the skin.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A data communication apparatus wearable on or adjacent skin of a wearer, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of data communication devices comprising a sensor operable to output contextual data associated with the wearer, a plurality of haptic energy generators operable to output a haptic energy toward the skin of the wearer, and a control system operable to maintain a data feedback loop (or “haptic loop”) with the wearer by causing the plurality of haptic energy generators to output the haptic energy responsive to one of the contextual data and an external data source in data communication with the control system;
an electrical network operable to transmit data and power between the plurality of data communication devices; and
a wearable structure comprising a biocompatible material shaped to house the plurality of data communication devices and the electrical network, maintain a plurality of air gaps between the plurality of data communication devices, and define a skin contacting surface that is directly engageable with the skin.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of sensors operable to output the contextual data.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each device of the plurality of data communication devices comprises:
one sensor of the plurality of sensors; and
one generator of the plurality of haptic generators.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a physiological sensor operable to output a physiological portion of the contextual data.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the physiological sensor is oriented toward the skin of the wearer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a portion of the physiological sensor is located on or adjacent the skin.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the physiological sensor is operable to detect one or more of a blood pressure, a body temperature, a heart rate, a perspiration rate, and a toxicity level of the wearer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensor comprises an environmental sensor operable to output additional contextual data associated with the wearer or their environment.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the environmental sensor is operable to detect a chemical, electrical, or physical measure of the wearer or their environment.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the physiological sensor is oriented toward the skin of the wearer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the environmental sensor comprises one or more of an optical sensor, a photo-sensing transistor, and a camera,

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of data communication devices comprise a touchscreen and the environmental sensor is embedded within an electronic visual display of the touchscreen.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the environmental sensor comprises one or both of a geolocating technology and a motion sensing technology.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of haptic energy generators comprise a single energy haptic communication technology.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of haptic energy generators comprise a multi-energy haptic communication technology.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of haptic energy generators comprise electromagnetic components operable to output the haptic energy.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system comprises a controller of one of the data communication devices.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each data communication device comprises a controller and the control system comprises one or more of the controllers of the data communication devices.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each data communication device comprises a controller, the controllers of the data communication device are located at different locations and in data communication with one another via the electrical network, and the control system comprises a distributed computing system with individual processing resources comprising the controllers of the data communication devices.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the individual processing elements of the distributed computing system comprise the external data source.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data communication devices are removably housed in the wearable structure.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the wearable structure defines a plurality of bays and the plurality of data communication devices are removably housed in the plurality of bays to facilitate repairing and upgrading the apparatus.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein each device of the plurality of data communication devices comprises a conductor that electrically engages electrical network when that device is housed in one bay of the plurality of bays.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the conductors of the plurality of data communication devices are interchangeably engageable with the electric network when housed in any of the plurality of bays.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical network comprises a plurality of conductive materials spanning between the plurality of communication devices.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the plurality of conductive materials comprise metallic wires or electrively conductive filaments.

### Claim 27 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical network comprises graphene.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the electrical network is 3D printed from the graphene.

### Claim 29 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the biocompatible material comprises a silicone.

### Claim 30 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the biocompatible structure defines a plurality of nodes and a plurality cords that house the plurality of data communication devices and the electrical network.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the plurality of nodes are spaced apart by the plurality of the cords to define the plurality of air gaps.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the plurality of cords are expandable to receive a portion of the wearer and contractable to position the wearable structure on the portion of the wearer.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the plurality of cords resiliently expand and contract to obtain a close fit between the wearable structure and the skin.

### Claim 34 (depends on 30)

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the plurality of nodes and the plurality of cords are 3D printed from the biocompatible material in one or more stages so that the electrical network is contained in the plurality of nodes.

### Claim 35 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a portion of the structure is contractable to press the skin contacting surfaces into the skin with a normal force that establishes a friction fit between the skin contact surfaces and the skin.

### Claim 36 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the skin contacting surface is curved to increase a contact area with the skin.

### Claim 37 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the skin contacting surface is operable to maintain a minimum coefficient of friction with the skin of the wearer.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the skin contact surface comprises one of a localized geometric feature or a biocompatible adhesive operable to maintain the minimum coefficient of friction.

### Claim 39 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a cylindrical shape extending along a longitudinal axis.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the structure is wrapped around a portion of the wearer about the longitudinal axis to define the cylindrical shape.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The apparatus in claim 40, wherein the structure comprises a first end with a first attachment element at a first end, a second end with a second attachment element at a second end, and the first attachment element is engageable with the second attachment element to wrap the structure around the portion of the wearer.

### Claim 42 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each device of the plurality of data communication devices comprises:
a housing removably engageable with the wearable structure; and
a conductor removably engageble with the electrical network when the housing is removably engaged with the wearable structure.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

The apparatus of claim 42, wherein one or more devices of the plurality of data communication devices comprise:
at least one sensor; and
one haptic generator of the plurality of haptic generators.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a physiological sensor operable to output a first portion of the contextual data.

### Claim 45 (depends on 44)

The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an environmental sensor operable to output a second portion of the contextual data.

### Claim 46 (depends on 43)

The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the physiological sensor is oriented toward the skin of the wearer.

### Claim 47 (depends on 46)

The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the environmental sensor is oriented away from the skin of the wearer.

### Claim 48 (depends on 42)

The apparatus of claim 42, wherein one or more devices of the plurality of data communication devices comprise a touchscreen operable to receive inputs from the wearer.

### Claim 49 (depends on 48)

The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the one or more devices of the plurality of data communication devices comprise:
at least one sensor; and
one haptic generator of the plurality of haptic generators.

### Claim 50 (depends on 48)

The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the touchscreen comprises an electronic visual display and a contact sensing surface.

### Claim 51 (depends on 50)

The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the electronic visual display is operable to display an icon and the contact sensing surfaces is operable to detect a gesture applied to the touchscreen by a finger of the wearer.

### Claim 52 (depends on 51)

The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the contact sensing surface comprises a fingerprint sensor operable to detect a fingerprint of the finger when applying the gesture.

### Claim 53 (depends on 52)

The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the plurality of data communication devices comprise a location sensor operable to determine a location of the apparatus when the fingerprint is detected with the fingerprint sensor.

### Claim 54 (depends on 53)

The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the plurality of data communication devices comprise a camera operable to capture a picture of the wearer when the fingerprint is detected with the fingerprint sensor.

### Claim 55 (depends on 54)

The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the control system is operable to confirm an identify of the wearer based on one of the fingerprint, the location, and the picture.