IP Library Granted Patent US 11,003,246
Granted Patent B2
US 11,003,246 · App. 14/806,385 · Granted May 11, 2021

External user interface for head worn computing

Inventors: Nicholas Benjamin Pelis (San Francisco, CA); Preston Douglas Brown (San Francisco, CA); Sean Thomas Mostajo O'Hara (San Mateo, CA); Robert Michael Lohse (Palo Alto, CA); Andrew Carl Heisey (Walnut Creek, CA)
Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC
G06F3/014A63F13/00G06F1/163G06F3/011G06F3/0304G06F3/038G06F3/0383G06F3/03542G06F3/03545G06F3/03547G06F3/04883G02B27/017G02B2027/014G06F2203/0331
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,003,246
App. No.
14/806,385
Filed
Jul 22, 2015
Granted
May 11, 2021
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2622
USPC
345/174
Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to user interface control of a head-worn computer.

Claims (36)

1. A device comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted on a finger of a user, the housing having an inner surface adapted to rest on the finger when the housing is mounted on the finger;

a sensor positioned to detect that the finger of the user is touching the inner surface when the device is worn by the user; and

a user recognition system adapted to generate a confirmation of an identity of the user, wherein:

the sensor is configured to communicate with a processor,

the sensor is further positioned inside of the housing and is exposed through an opening in the housing such that the sensor detects the finger of the user without direct contact,

the processor is configured to communicate a signal to a wearable head device in response to receiving from the sensor, within a predetermined period of time of receiving the confirmation of the identity of the user, an indication of a presence of the finger of the user, and

the processor is further configured to forgo communicating the signal to the wearable head device in accordance with a determination that the indication was not received within the predetermined period of time of receiving the confirmation of the identity of the user.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a first material, and the device includes a strap comprising a second material, different than the first material.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a mechanical sensor.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a proximity sensor.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the signal communicated to the wearable head device is generated based on an inertial measurement indicative of a movement of the device.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the signal communicated to the wearable head device is generated based on a movement of the device.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a handle region with a rear surface and a button region with a top surface.

9. The device of claim 8 , further comprising one or more actuators located on the top surface.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor does not extend through the housing.

11. A method comprising:

at a processor in communication with a finger mounted user interface device,

wherein the device comprises a housing adapted to be mounted on a finger of a user, the housing having an inner surface adapted to rest on the finger when the housing is mounted on the finger,

wherein the device further comprises a sensor positioned to detect that the finger of the user is touching the inner surface when the device is worn by the user,

wherein the sensor is further positioned inside of the housing and is exposed through an opening in the housing such that the sensor detects the finger of the user without direct contact, and

wherein the device further comprises a user recognition system adapted to generate a confirmation of an identity of the user:

receiving the confirmation of the identity of the user;

determining whether the finger of the user has been detected by the sensor within a predetermined period of time of receiving the confirmation of the identity of the user;

in accordance with a determination that the finger of the user has been detected by the sensor within the predetermined period of time of receiving the confirmation of the identity of the user, communicating a signal to a wearable head device; and

in accordance with a determination that the finger of the user has not been detected by the sensor within the predetermined period of time of receiving the confirmation of the identity of the user, forgoing communicating the signal to the wearable head device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises a first material, and the device includes a strap comprising a second material, different than the first material.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a mechanical sensor.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a proximity sensor.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the signal communicated to the wearable head device is generated based on an inertial measurement indicative of a movement of the device.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the signal communicated to the wearable head device is generated based on a movement of the device.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises a handle region with a rear surface and a button region with a top surface.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the housing further comprises one or more actuators located on the top surface.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor does not extend through the housing.

Assignments (9)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: MAGIC LEAP, INC.; MENTOR ACQUISITION ONE, LLC; MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073388/0027 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Nov 7, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050967/0138 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 22, 2019
From: MAGIC LEAP, INC.; MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.; MENTOR ACQUISITION ONE, LLC
To: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050138/0287 →
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENTS AND PATENT APPLICATIONS Recorded Apr 18, 2019
From: JGB COLLATERAL, LLC
To: MENTOR ACQUISITION ONE, LLC
Reel/Frame 048945/0939 →
SECURED PARTY BILL OF SALE Recorded Apr 18, 2019
From: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
To: JGB COLLATERAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 051018/0883 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2018
From: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
To: JGB COLLATERAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 045606/0295 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2017
From: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
To: O-FILM GLOBAL (HK) TRADING LIMITED
Reel/Frame 044127/0501 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2017
From: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
To: 21ST CENTURY FOX AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 044052/0367 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2017
From: PELIS, NICHOLAS BENJAMIN; O'HARA, SEAN TOMAS MOSTAJO; LOHSE, ROBERT MICHAEL; HEISEY, ANDREW CARL
To: OSTERHOUT GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 043347/0675 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170024007A1 · Jan 26, 2017
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