Luxury smartwatch
11480930 · 2022-10-25
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
G04B45/00
PHYSICS
Abstract
A proposed device is composed of a smartwatch unit, including at least a display unit of the smartwatch, and a box, including a housing to accommodate the smartwatch. The box has a cover being openable and closeable to cover the display unit, wherein the cover has at least one hole so that a corresponding portion of the display unit is visible to a user when the cover is in closed position, and wherein when the cover is in closed position, the smartwatch unit displays the output of the smartwatch in/on the corresponding portion of the display.
Claims
1. A device, comprising: a smartwatch having a screen; and a housing to accommodate at least some of the components of said smartwatch, said housing having a cover being openable and closable to cover said screen, wherein said cover has a physical watch dial and a window positioned and configured so that a portion of the screen that corresponds to said window is visible to a user when the cover is in a closed position; wherein when the cover is in said closed position, a first output content of the smartwatch unit including virtual movable watch hands, is displayed on the screen and is at least partially visible through said window and wherein said physical watch dial includes signs that represent hours and wherein said signs are positioned on said physical dial in accordance with a position of said virtual watch hands viewed through said window such that the physical watch dial and the virtual movable watch hands together show time, and wherein said smartwatch has an operating system and wherein, further, said smartwatch is adapted to use an alerting means to inform the operating system whether the cover is in said closed position or in an open position.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein when the cover is in closed position, a portion of the screen is hidden by said cover and wherein said portion of the screen which is hidden is turned off to save power.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein, when the cover is in open position, a second output content of the smartwatch is displayed such that to occupy at least a portion of the screen which is larger than said visible portion.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein said second output content is displayed on the screen before said cover is closed and wherein said second output content is unrelated to the first output content.
5. The device of claim 3, wherein said second output content is displayed on the screen after said cover is opened, and wherein said second output content and said first output content are unrelated to each other.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein when the cover is in closed position, further, in different instances of time, different second output contents are directed to and displayed on said visible portion of the screen.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the smartwatch uses a first power source for displaying said movable virtual watch hands, and wherein the smartwatch uses a second power source, separately from the first power source, for displaying said second output content.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein when the cover is closed, the virtual movable watch hands are automatically displayed on the visible portion of the screen after a predefined lapse of time.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein, when the cover is in said closed position, further, a notification received by the smartwatch is directed to and displayed on the visible portion of the screen.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein said alerting means is a sensor.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein said alerting means is an optical means integrated within said smartwatch.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein said alerting means is a predefined manual interaction provided with the smartwatch.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein said window is a hole within the cover.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein said first output content is entirely visible through said window.
15. The device of claim 1, wherein when the cover is in closed position the virtual watch hands are adapted to the size of said window.
16. A smartwatch device, comprising: a smartwatch having a screen; a housing to accommodate at least some of components of said smartwatch, said housing having a cover being openable and closable to cover said screen, wherein said cover has a window positioned and configured so that a portion of the screen that corresponds to said window is visible to a user when said cover is in a closed position; wherein, when said cover is in said closed position, a first output content of the smartwatch is displayed on at least said portion of the screen, and wherein, when said cover is in an open position, the smartwatch displays a second output content, regardless of a position and configuration of said window, and wherein said first output content includes virtual watch hands and wherein said cover includes a physical watch dial having signs that represent hours and wherein said signs are positioned on said physical dial in accordance with a position of said virtual watch hands viewed through said window and wherein when the cover is in said closed position, the physical watch dial and the virtual watch hands, together, show time; and wherein said smartwatch has an operating system and wherein, further, said smartwatch is adapted to use an alerting means to inform the operating system whether the cover is in said closed position or in said open position.
17. The device of claim 16, wherein said smartwatch uses a first power source for displaying output contents of the smartwatch when said cover is in said open position, and wherein said smartwatch uses a second power source, separately from the first power source, for displaying virtual watch hands when the cover is in said closed position.
18. The device of claim 16, wherein said cover includes a physical wristwatch.
19. The device of claim 16, wherein, when the cover is in said closed position, further, a notification received by the smartwatch is directed to and displayed on the visible portion of the screen.
20. The device of claim 16, wherein said alerting means is an optical means.
21. The device of claim 16, wherein said alerting means is a sensor.
22. The device of claim 16, wherein said alerting means is a predefined manual interaction provided with the smartwatch.
23. The device of claim 16, wherein said visible portion of the screen is interactable when said cover is in said closed position.
24. The device of claim 16, wherein said cover is covered by a glass.
25. The device of claim 16, wherein when the cover is closed, the first output content is automatically displayed on the visible portion of the screen after a predefined lapse of time.
26. The device of claim 16, wherein said cover has more than one window, wherein at least each of one or more of said windows is related to a different first output content.
27. The device of claim 16, wherein said window is a hole within the cover.
28. The device of claim 16, wherein said first output content is partially visible through said window.
29. The device of claim 16, wherein said first output content is entirely visible through said window.
30. The device of claim 16, wherein said second output content is displayed on the screen before said cover is closed, and wherein said second output content and said first output content are unrelated to each other.
31. The device of claim 16, wherein said second output content is displayed on the screen after said cover is opened, and wherein said second output content and said first output content are unrelated to each other.
32. The device of claim 16, wherein when the cover is in closed position the virtual watch hands are adapted to the size of said window.
33. The device of claim 16, wherein when the cover is in closed position, a portion of the screen is hidden by said cover and wherein said portion of the screen which is hidden is turned off to save power.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(10) According to one embodiment of the invention, the components of a smartwatch preferably in form of a smartwatch module unit/module can be implemented within a (e.g. luxury) box preferably having a watch appearance (e.g. herein may be referred to as a watch box or box). The components of the smartwatch unit may preferably be in form of a smartwatch module and may include a display unit (e.g. a touch screen). Said components may preferably be removably inserted within and/or extracted from the watch box. Preferably, the smartwatch unit and the watch box can be manufactured separately. The watch box may have a base/housing to preferably accommodate at least most of the components the smartwatch (e.g. the smartwatch module), and a cover. The smartwatch module may be accommodated/fixed within the housing by using any type of accommodation means/fixture. The watch box may preferably have a cover to cover at least a portion of the surface of the display unit of the smartwatch. Preferably, the cover of the watch box may have at least one hole. Preferably, at least a portion of the display surface of the smartwatch may be visible and/or accessible (e.g. responding to a touch) (e.g. through the/a corresponding hole) to the user while the smartwatch is preferably covered by said box cover.
(11) The smartwatch module can have any shape and/or any size. An attachment/fixing component may be used within the housing and/or with the smartwatch unit to attach/fix the smartwatch unit within the housing.
(12) Preferably, the (e.g. the external) side of the cover of the watch box is designed such that to resemble to/have a conventional (e.g. wrist) watch unit design preferably having a (e.g. preferably mechanical/hard) watch dial. Preferably, when the cover is in closed position, the smartwatch display unit may display output contents (e.g. of the smartwatch) such as a virtual watch face, the movable virtual hands related to showing time, notifications, date, pictures, video, text, etc. through a (e.g. one or more) on the portion of the display surface corresponding to a (e.g. one or more) hole of the cover so that a user can see and or interact with said portion of the display surface. Preferably, the size and the location of an output content is such that to match (e.g. approximately, at most) the size and/or the location of the hole so that to (e.g. preferably entirely, optionally partially) be visible/accessible through said hole. The virtual watch face/hands may have any design and can be interchanged automatically upon an event of manually by a user. At any instant, the system automatically and/or the user manually may be able to select/change the virtual watch and/or a content among a number of choices (e.g. among a number of watch faces/hands and/or other contents) (for example by touching (e.g. tapping on, gliding on, etc.) the display surface (e.g. through the hole), by flicking the watch/wrist, etc.
(13) By combining the beauty of a traditional/physical watch dial within the watch cover and a virtual watch face/hands which is visible through the/a hole, a beautiful and/or luxury smartwatch device may be created. For example, the cover and/or housing may have antic design, may be made from precious materials (e.g. gold), include precious stones (e.g. diamonds), etc.
(14) Note that, the/an uncovered portion of the display surface (e.g. visible and/or accessible through a hole) may also display any one or more other contents such as notifications, messages, pictures, videos, etc.
(15) According to one embodiment, the user may interact with the uncovered portion of the display unit (e.g. the portion visible and/or accessible through the/a hole) to access the (e.g. corresponding) content displayed (e.g. displayed on said portion) on the screen. As an example, the user may interact with said uncovered portion to change the content displayed on it. For example, such interaction may result in changing/scrolling watch faces/hands (e.g. by sliding on said portion of the display/touchscreen), removing a notification displayed on the uncovered portion (e.g. by tapping on said portion), opening a message corresponding to a notification appeared/displayed on said uncovered portion, etc. According to one method, the content displayed on said portion may vary based on one or more conditions/events. As an example, by default said portion may display a virtual watch hands/face and when a notification arrives it may replace or be added to said watch hands/face (e.g. for a while). Optionally, for example, said notification may be printed within (e.g. above) the virtual watch hands/face within said portion of the display surface.
(16) The cover may have more than one hole. It can have multiple holes (e.g. several holes, a grid shape cover, etc.) all having the same shape and/or any of them may have a different shape, size, etc. (e.g. when the cover is in closed position) This may give a beautiful live appearance to the luxury smartwatch watch. For example, the display unit of the smartwatch unit may display different one or more colors (e.g. over time, manually or automatically) and/or backgrounds giving the watch box/cover device a live appearance (e.g. colors can be seen through at least some of said holes). The user may select the color/s of the display for such purpose. Selecting any content such as color, background design, etc. of the display may be made automatically by the system and/or manually by the user (e.g. for example by interacting with (e.g. touching/sliding on) the display (e.g. through the hole), by flicking the smartwatch, user's corresponding wrist, etc.).
(17) If the cover has several holes, according to one method, preferably at least each of one or more of said holes may be related to a different content on the screen.
(18) When the cover is in open position, substantially the entire display unit may become available. The smartwatch system may display any content dedicated to the smartwatch preferably on a large scale and/or anywhere on the screen. For example, the user may use any application such as a messaging application to see messages, type messages on an on-screen keyboard displayed on the display unit of the smartwatch, receive and send messages, view pictures or videos, etc.
(19) Note that the smartwatch module can have any shape and/or size.
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(21) In
(22) According to one embodiment, preferably by default, the content displayed on the uncovered portion (e.g. corresponding to a hole within the cover) of the display unit of the smartwatch module may be adapted to the size of the hole and/or to its location. An interaction such as a (e.g. long) pressing action on said portion/content (e.g. while the cover is in open position or in close position) may enlarge the size of the said content and/or may provide another (e.g. enlarged) (e.g. related or unrelated) content on the screen (e.g. or vice versa).
(23) Alternatively, the principles just described may be applied to an automated system wherein when the cover is in closed position, a second content preferably in a reduced size is displayed on the portion of the screen that corresponds to a hole, and when the cover is in open position, a first content (e.g. related or unrelated to said second content) is displayed preferably in a larger scale and/or in any location on the screen.
(24) Note that the watch box may have additional/more than one holes (e.g. in the cover and/or or in the housing of the box (e.g. for access to the charger, camera, microphone, side button, etc.) of the smartwatch unit.
(25) The cover of the watch box may be opened and closed by using any type of means such as hinges, sliding components, rotating means, etc.
(26) Preferably, the display surface of the smartwatch is a touch sensitive (e.g. a touch screen).
(27) Note that any kind of alerting means may be used to inform the smartwatch system that the cover is in open or close position. For example, an optical means, a sensor, a node, etc., may be integrated with the smartwatch unit and/or with the watch box (e.g. cover). For example, the inside face of the cover may include a node such that when the cover is in closed position the node touches or is very close to a component (e.g. the touch screen) of the smartwatch unit (e.g. at a predefined location) to inform the (e.g. the operating system of the) smartwatch unit that the cover is closed. Accordingly, when the cover is opened, the node may preferably not touch said component or it may not be close to it, informing the smartwatch system that the cover is open position. Note that the node is preferably made of materials that the touchscreen can sense it (e.g. when it touches the touchscreen or when it is very close to the touchscreen).
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(29) By providing a smartwatch system/device as described above wherein preferably the (e.g. accessible and/or visible portion of the) display unit of the device is preferably (e.g. substantially) smaller when the cover is in closed position than when the cover is in open position, a beautiful and practical smartwatch having a conventional (e.g. wrist) watch appearance may be created which may be greatly acceptable by public. Such a device can have a very large size and still be acceptable and/or pleasant to the eye (e.g. a traditional smartwatch with a large display (e.g. without cover) looks like a gadget and may not be acceptable by people).
(30) Note that the cover may also include a (e.g. at least one additional) conventional/physical/hard watch (e.g. to show time, chronometer, etc.) regardless/independently of the smartwatch module.
(31) Preferably, the cover of the box may be detachable from the housing so that different covers may be interchangeably attached to/used with a same watch housing, or vice versa.
(32) Note that the principles described above may not be limited to a smartwatch. The box described herein may have any size and shape and be designed to incorporate any other (e.g. electronic) unit such as smartphone unit, etc.
(33) According to one embodiment, a (e.g. one or more) predefined interaction with the watch box may control at least some (e.g. one or more) of the functions of the smartwatch and vice versa. As an example, the cover may have a physical crown wherein rotating said crown may for example be related to selecting an application, providing commands to an application (e.g. scrolling watch faces/hands to select one), etc. Also as an example, the processor of the smartwatch unit/module may control some (e.g. one or more) functions assigned to the (e.g. cover of) the watch box such as rotating the hands of the (e.g. physical) watch of the cover that show the time, etc.
(34) According to one embodiment, (e.g. at least a portion of) the display unit of the smartwatch module may display a/some content in (e.g. visual) relationship with the cover (e.g. see
(35) Note that any (e.g. one or several) uncovered portion of the screen may display one (e.g. same or different) or several contents (e.g. several notifications, watch hands and notification/s together, etc.) at the same time and/or at a different time.
(36) According to one method, interacting with a first uncovered portion of the display may control the content of a second uncovered portion of the display.
(37) Some of the principles described herein are demonstrated in several drawing hereafter:
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(40) The design of the (e.g. physical) cover (e.g. including at least a watch dial) and the virtual watch (e.g. face/hands) of the smartwatch may be such that (e.g. when the cover is in closed position) together they may emulate/simulate/look like/resemble/form a regular (e.g. conventional) (e.g. wrist) watch (face). In the exemplary
(41) Many other designs combining the cover and a virtual content displayed under a hole of the cover may be considered. In the exemplary
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(43) Note that said specific contents may include any type of content such as for example, notifications received by the watch, a chronometer, date, a photo, a video, a text, an incoming call alert, etc. Note that based on a/some condition/s, at a different time, said (e.g. uncovered) portion of the display may show a different content and/or may show more than one content.
(44) Note that said specific contents may be selected by a user or automatically by a corresponding system.
(45) In
(46) Different attachment means may be used to accommodate the smartwatch unit/module within a watch box. In the exemplary
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(48) According to one embodiment, different types of smartwatch units may be integrated within a single smartwatch housing using an (e.g. one or more different) accommodating component. An accommodating component may be used to adapt a smartwatch unit within the housing of a box. For such purpose, according to one method, different accommodating means preferably having a unique (e.g. exterior) shape and/or size, and preferably having different accommodating housings (e.g. holes with different shape and/or size within said accommodating means) may be used to adapt/accommodate different smartwatch units within preferably a single watch box housing. The accommodation means may preferably be removable and/or replaceable.
(49) The exemplary
(50) Note that, the cover of the box may have a housing to accommodate at least a portion of the smartwatch unit/mechanism. In this case, preferably, when the cover is in closed position, the display component of the smartwatch unit may be located face to the user's wrist and in the open position, the display is preferably face to the user's face.
(51) Note that preferably at least a portion of the bottom of the housing of the box may have a hole/be empty. This may have some advantages such as to permit to reduce the height/size of the watch box, to permit to extract the smartwatch from the housing of the box by pushing the smartwatch unit through said hole towards outside.
(52) The smartwatch unit and the box may have any shape and may be integrated together by any means, methods, etc. According to one embodiment, the smartwatch module may be entered/integrated from the bottom of the housing into the housing. As an example,
(53) In the current example, a speaker (and/or a microphone) 103106 may be located in the luxury watch in a manner such that when the cover 103102 is on open position the (most of) the audio is directed to the user's face (e.g. ear). Also as shown, a (e.g. one or more) camera may be integrated inside 103107 and/or outside (not shown) of the cover 103102 to take photos. According to one system, the inside face of the cover may also have a display unit (e.g. to show a photo being taken). In this example, the cover opens in the axis of the strap 103108. It must be noted that the cover may be opened or closed in any axis.
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(55) As mentioned before, the cover of the watch box may have more than one hole/window. As an example in addition to a first hole dedicated to a (e.g. one or more) first content, at least one other hole of the cover may be dedicated to displaying re-directing a (e.g. one or more) second content (e.g. such as date, chronometer, etc.) on the portion of the display corresponding to said at least one other hole of the display unit of the smartwatch.
(56) Note that the term “(re-)directing” used in this application generally means to print a content relating to an application, function, etc., in a first form factor (e.g. small, partial, different) in a zone/portion of the display unit of the smartwatch that can be/is viewed through the corresponding hole of the cover (e.g. when the cover is closed position) to a user. As mentioned herein, said content relating to an application, function, etc., may be displayed in a second form factor (e.g. differently such as large, non-partial, different than said first form factor, etc.) when the cover is in open position.
(57) According to one embodiment, an/the entire smartwatch (e.g. including its horns) may be considered as a smartwatch module/unit and be integrated within a box. As an example,
(58) By using the above-mentioned principles, any/most of the regular/current smartwatches may be transformed to luxury smartwatches without interfering with the smartwatch manufacturers.
(59) Note that at least a portion of the cover of the box may be covered by a (e.g. transparent) glass. For example, the portion of the cover that has a (e.g. one or more) hole may not be covered by a glass and the rest of the cover may be covered by a glass. Alternatively, the entire cover (e.g. including the hole/s) may be covered by a glass. As shown in
(60) Optionally said glass may be a touch screen. Said touch screen may be controlled by or be related to the processor of the smartwatch. According to one aspect, the cover may have its own touch screen/display.
(61) One of the advantages of covering/using a regular/available smartwatch is that the provider/manufacturer of the box does not have to supply after-sale support for the smartwatch because such support may be supplied by the manufacturer of the smartwatch.
(62) The hinge used to open or close the cover may be located anywhere. According to one embodiment, the cover may start from a hinge of the strap of the watch box and use said hinge to open or close the cover.
(63) Note that the components of the smartwatch may not form a module. In this case, said components may be integrated separately and preferably connectedly (e.g. together) in the housing and/or in the cover of the box.
(64) Note that to simplify the drawings, in some of the drawings the hinges attaching the cover and the housing are not shown but are preferably considered to exist in those drawings.
(65) According to one embodiment, the smartwatch may have an alerting means to inform the user about an event. Said event may be of any kind such as an incoming call, a reminder, etc. Said alerting means may be of any kind such as a vibrator, a sound, an image, a mechanical means installed in the watch box and/or in the smartwatch touching (e.g. repeatedly) the user's skin, etc.
(66) According to one embodiment, a (e.g. preferably rechargeable battery) power source may supply power only/mainly to (e.g. calculate and/or) display a time content output (e.g. preferably by displaying a watch hands (only) or optionally by displaying a watch face). Said (battery) power source may herein be referred to as the watch battery. Preferably, said time content output (e.g. watch hands) has a small form factor adapted to a predefined hole and is printed on a corresponding location of the smartwatch surface. Preferably, said time content output is displayed when the cover is in closed position. By displaying (e.g. only) a reduced size watch face/hands preferably (e.g. only) when the cover is in closed position, said watch battery may last long time (e.g. upon a single charge). The watch battery may preferably be separate from the power source of the smartwatch (e.g. herein may be referred to as the main battery) which supplies power for smartwatch functionalities (e.g. processing, displaying contents including time, etc.). By considering that a smartwatch's most popular function is showing time, most of the time, when the main battery is empty or turned off, the luxury smartwatch will/may continue to show time, working as a/similar to a regular (wrist) watch. Preferably, the watch battery is integrated within the smartwatch module. Optionally the watch battery is integrated anywhere else such as in the watch box or in the strap.
(67) According to one embodiment, one side of the cover of the box of the smartwatch may have a display unit connected to the smartwatch to display the/a content of the smartwatch. The other side of the cover of the smartwatch may include a regular (e.g. physical) watch. Said cover may be rotatable relating to the housing of the smartwatch so that the use can rotate the face of the luxury smartwatch from displaying time to displaying smartwatch output or vice versa.
(68) According to one embodiment, the front side of a luxury smartwatch may have a/the display unit of the smartwatch and the backside of said luxury smartwatch may show time (e.g. be covered by a regular wristwatch). In this case, according to one aspect, the luxury smartwatch may entirely be rotated on the wrist to show time or alternatively to show the output content of the smartwatch.
(69) It is understood that the embodiments in this patent application are exemplary. Based on the principles described herein, other methods/system of transforming a smartwatch into a luxury item may be considered by people skilled in the art.
(70) Note that in this application, the terms “watch face”, “watch dial” and “watch hands” are used to explain some of the principles of the invention. In general/preferably, the term “watch face” may preferably be referred to a watch dial together with the watch hands, and the term “watch dial” may preferably be referred to a watch face (virtual or physical) excluding the watch hands or it may preferably be referred to a surface (virtual or physical) that shows/includes the digits or other signs (e.g. bars) that represent hours (e.g. 1 to 12).
(71) Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to alternative embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the disclosed invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.