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US 9,807,490 B1Granted
Vibration transducer connector providing indication of worn state of device
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsMichael Kubba, Jeremy Evan Blum, Livius Chebeleu, Chi Kin Benjamin Leung, Jordan Kestler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Arrangements for bone conduction transducers (BCTs) that couple to wearable devices are described herein. An example BCT couples to a wearable device via a moveable member, and is arranged on the wearable such that the BCT member moves so as to provide an indication as to whether or not the wearable device is being worn.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a frame component for a wearable device, wherein the frame component comprises a contact feature for a circuit;
- a member movably coupled to the frame component, wherein the member is also coupled to a vibration transducer;
- at least one conductive pad coupled to the member and aligned with the contact feature in the frame component;
- and
- a first spring and a second spring extending from the member, wherein the first and the second spring have a first and a second spring constant, respectively;
- wherein the first spring and the second spring interface with the frame component, such that a difference between the first spring constant and the second spring constant results in a resting position of the member in which the conductive pad is separated from the contact feature, thereby opening the circuit;
- and
- wherein, when the wearable device is worn, the member is positioned so as to press the vibration transducer against the wearer and compress the first spring, thereby moving the conductive pad into contact with the contact feature and completing the circuit.
5 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a member coupled to a vibration transducer, wherein the member is configured to further couple to a frame component of a wearable device comprising a contact feature for a circuit;
- at least one conductive pad coupled to the member and arranged to align with the contact feature in the frame component;
- a first spring and a second spring extending from the member, wherein the first and the second spring have a first and a second spring constant, respectively;
- wherein the member is configured such that, when coupled to the frame component:
- the first spring and the second spring interface with the frame component such that a difference between the first spring constant and the second spring constant results in a resting position of the member in which the conductive pad is separated from the contact feature, thereby opening the circuit;
- and
- when the wearable device is worn, the member presses the vibration transducer against the wearer and compresses the first spring, thereby moving the conductive pad into contact with the contact feature and completing the circuit.
4 more elements
A wearable device comprising:
- a frame comprising a contact feature for a circuit disposed therein;
- a member movably coupled to the frame component;
- a vibration transducer coupled to the member;
- at least one conductive pad coupled to the member and aligned with the contact feature in the frame component;
- a first spring and a second spring extending from the member, wherein the first and the second spring have a first and a second spring constant, respectively;
- wherein the first spring and the second spring interface with the frame component such that a difference between the first spring constant and the second spring constant results in a resting position of the member in which the conductive pad is separated from the contact feature, thereby opening the circuit;
- and
- wherein, when the wearable device is worn, the member is positioned so as to press the vibration transducer against the wearer and compress the first spring, thereby moving the conductive pad into contact with the contact feature and completing the circuit;
- and
- a control system operable to determine when the circuit is closed, and interpret a determination that the circuit is closed as an indication that the wearable device is being worn.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.