IP Library Patent Application 15281499
Patent Application
App. No. 15/281,499

SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS OF MULTIPLEXED USE OF A CONDUCTIVE HOUSING

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
15/281,499
Abstract

A device includes a housing constructed from a conductive material, a first circuit coupleable to the housing and a second circuit coupleable to the housing. The housing is operable in a first configuration and a second configuration. The first and second configurations are associated with use of the housing for conduction. A control circuit is disposed between the first circuit and the second circuit. The control circuit is configured to operate the housing in the first configuration by conductively coupling the first circuit to the housing and by conductively isolating the second circuit from the housing. The control circuit is also configured to operate the housing in the second configuration by conductively coupling the second circuit to the housing and by conductively isolating the first circuit from the housing.

Claims (57)

1 . A device, comprising:

a housing, the housing constructed from a conductive material, the housing operable in a first configuration and in a second configuration, the first configuration and the second configuration associated with use of the housing for conduction;

a first circuit coupleable to the housing;

a second circuit coupleable to the housing; and

a control circuit disposed between the first circuit and the second circuit, the control circuit configured to:

operate the housing in the first configuration by conductively coupling the first circuit to the housing and by conductively isolating the second circuit from the housing; and

operate the housing in the second configuration by conductively coupling the second circuit to the housing and by conductively isolating the first circuit from the housing.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to be employed for capacitive touch input by a user of the device in at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to be employed for at least one of radio frequency transmission and radio frequency reception in at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the housing is configured to be employed for capacitive touch input by a user of the device in at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first circuit and the second circuit is configured as a capacitive touch circuit, and the other of the first circuit and the second circuit is configured as a radio frequency (RF) transmission circuit.

6 . (canceled)

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit includes:

a first filter conductively coupled to the first circuit and to the housing; and

a second filter conductively coupled to the second circuit to the housing,

at least one of the first filter and the second filter being a high pass filter, the other of the first filter and the second filter being a low pass filter.

8 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a processing circuit configured to receive fitness data from one or more sensors, the fitness data associated with a user of the device.

12 . A device, comprising:

a housing, the housing constructed from a conductive material, the housing operable in a first configuration and in a second configuration, the first configuration and the second configuration associated with use of the housing for conduction;

a first circuit coupleable to the housing;

a second circuit coupleable to the housing; and

a control circuit disposed between the first circuit and the second circuit,

the control circuit, first circuit, and second circuit collectively configured to:

operate the housing in the first configuration by conductively coupling the first circuit to the housing and by conductively isolating the second circuit from the housing; and

operate the housing in the second configuration by conductively coupling the second circuit to the housing and by conductively isolating the first circuit from the housing.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the housing is configured to be employed for capacitive touch input by a user of the device in at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration.

14 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the housing is configured to be employed for at least one of radio frequency transmission and radio frequency reception, in at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration.

15 . (canceled)

16 . The device of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first circuit and the second circuit configured as a capacitive touch circuit, and the other of the first circuit and the second circuit configured as a radio frequency (RF) transmission circuit.

17 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the control circuit includes a communication channel formed between the first circuit and the second circuit, and wherein:

the housing is configured to attain the first configuration when the first circuit transmits a first control signal to the second circuit via the communication channel; and

the housing is configured to attain the second configuration when the second circuit transmits a second control signal to the first circuit via the communication channel.

18 - 23 . (canceled)

24 . A method, comprising:

operating a housing of a device in a first configuration or a second configuration, the housing constructed from a conductive material, the first configuration and the second configuration associated with use of the housing for conduction, the device further including a first circuit coupleable to the housing and a second circuit coupleable to the housing, the operating including:

operating the housing in the first configuration by conductively coupling the first circuit to the housing and by conductively isolating a second circuit of the device from the housing; and

operating the housing in the second configuration by conductively coupling the second circuit to the housing and by conductively isolating the first circuit from the housing.

25 - 28 . (canceled)

29 . A method of claim 24 , wherein operating the housing in at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration further includes obtaining capacitive touch input from a user, and operating the housing in the other of the first configuration and the second configuration further includes at least one of transmitting radio frequency signal and receiving radio frequency signal.

30 . A method of claim 24 , wherein operating the housing in the first configuration further comprises:

conductively coupling the housing to at least one of a capacitive touch circuit and a radio frequency (RF) transmission circuit; and

conductively isolating the housing from the other of the capacitive touch circuit or the RF circuit.

31 . The method of claim 24 , wherein operating the housing in the second configuration further comprises:

conductively coupling the housing to at least one of a capacitive touch circuit and a radio frequency (RF) transmission circuit; and

conductively isolating the housing from the other of the capacitive touch circuit or the RF circuit.

32 . The method of claim 24 , wherein operating the housing in at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration includes selecting one of the first configuration or the second configuration via a third circuit, the third circuit including a control circuit conductively coupled to the first circuit, to the second circuit and to the housing.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the selecting including:

conductively coupling, via the third circuit, the first circuit to the housing to establish the first configuration; and

conductively coupling, via the third circuit, the second circuit and to the housing to establish the second configuration.

34 . The method of claim 24 , wherein operating the housing in at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration includes selecting one of the first configuration or the second configuration via a control circuit, the control circuit including a first filter and a second filter.

35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the selecting including:

conductively coupling, via the first filter, the first circuit to the housing to establish the first configuration; and

conductively coupling, via the second filter, the second circuit to the housing to establish the second configuration,

wherein at least one of the first filter and the second filter is a high pass filter, the other of the first filter and the second filter is a low pass filter.

36 - 48 . (canceled)

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2019
From: FOSSIL GROUP, INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 049383/0614 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2019
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: FOSSIL GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 048301/0298 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2019
From: FRAME GROUP, INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 049809/0499 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2018
From: FOSSIL GROUP, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 045335/0125 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: RUDOLPH, AARON MICHAEL; DIAMOND, STEVEN; MONTGOMERY, MATTHEW RYAN; MACK, ADAM MEKEEL
To: MISFIT, INC.
Reel/Frame 040811/0107 →
CONFIRMATORY ASSIGNMENT Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: MISFIT, INC.
To: FOSSIL GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 041226/0307 →