CA2182799A1

CA2182799A1 - Flexible wearable computer

Info

Publication number: CA2182799A1
Application number: CA002182799A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Craig M. Janik
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: VIA Inc
Priority date: 1994-02-07
Filing date: 1995-02-07
Publication date: 1995-08-10
Also published as: EP0748473A1; US6108197A; WO1995021408A1; US5491651A; EP0748473A4; US5581492A; JPH10502468A; US5798907A

Abstract

A flexible wearable computer in the form of a belt comprising, in combination, elements for computing comprising a microprocessor module (200), a RAM-I/O module (300), a plurality of mass memory modules (400), a power supply module (500), and a plurality of bus termination modules (100) operationally associated with a plurality of flexible signal relaying means. The computing elements are mechanically associated with a flexible non-stretchable member (004), and a protective covering means (006). The flexible non-stretchable wearable member (004) is secured around various parts of the body. An input and output device (060) is connected to the flexible wearable computer (004) by the I/O bus (061) attached to the output and input ports (326) and (327), respectively.

Description

~ WO95/21408 , ~1 827g9 ~ s ~ ~
, .
10 FLF~TRT F WEARABLE COMPUT

FTF.T.T- OF TT-TF. INVF.l~ION
This invention relates generally to the field of portable ~Ull~UL~
and more specifically to a flexible, wearable computer that can be wom on the body and repeatedly bent in an mfinite number of planes without 20 failure of operation.
DE~(-RTT'TION OF I~F.T ~TF.n ART
Definitions A computer system is defined as ~u~ lg three basic 25 ~V~ vll~ S. an input device, an output device and a computer. A
computer is defined as comprising memory, a processor, and associated support circuitry and ~UUI~JVllt~ . Memory comprises main memory which is volatile, and mass storage memory which is usually nonvolatile.
A portable computer system is one that the user can easily carry around.
30 Tl~uu~l.uul this text the author will refer to a computer to mean only and specifically the main and secondary storage memory, the processor, and a power supply. The author will also use volume to characterize both the size and the mass of ~:Ulll~U~ . This is because the overall density of WO 9SI21408 r ~
21827;9!7`,';~'`~1. --6ilicon-based ~UI111UU.~1D is aDylliluluLic to a constant. Therefore, volume will necessarily indicate a maximum weight.
Tntegrdtinn Small and therefore portable UUI~ ID have resulted from the r .`~ ll of innovations and inventions across a wide variety of domains and fields including the arts of silicon manipulation, and li.dl and electrical design, and Ulll,Uullt:llL ;"~ ,..li"". T~
is the process of decreasing the size of and the space between electrical 10 elements, and it has been the pathway to power reduction and speed. But size reduction accrued benefits independent of processing power.
Computers that once required buildings to house and small power plants to run can now be ~ull~ru~Lably lifted with one hand. Smce il,L~EjlaLiun and therefore " ,i";- l ", ;,,. ti~"~ has brought nearly all of the advances in service 15 levels to date, it is the major force in the creation of the prior art in portable ~:u~ uuLil~g and the direction of future adva~ L for computer CUllD~lU~iUII in general.
There has been tremendous innovation and invention using illL~;laLiull as a means of making ~UUII~UL~l~D portable. Computers are 20 available that are small enough to be lifted by one finger. The result has been explosive demand for portable computing devices. Dataquest predicts that by 1994 sales of portable ~uu~uuLiulg devices will be well over $13 billion (Byte, volume 16, number I1, p. 194)~
"Pi~u~uulluLlL~lD" are the shte of the art of i"~ " as a means of 25 creating portable computers (New York Times, March 23,1992). Inventors such as M. E. Jones, Jr. have developed a single chip that contams all of the elements needed for a computer. This has allowed creation of computer systems that can fit in the breast pocket of a man's jacket and run for 100 hours on a ~u~v~Liullal flashlight battery. The major l;",il,~li"~lC of these 30 computer systems is that they have very small amounts of memory greatly limiting the usefulness of the device for tasks to which most WO 95/21rU~8 ' ~ 1 ~ 2 7 ~ 9 ~ o computer users are ~ They also have very small input and output devices which are slow and illCUllVt:lUt~ to use.
Useful Portables Other innovations include ~UUL~UL.l, with increased processing abilities that-must be carried with one hand. These rigid rectilinear-shaped devices fall into the classes lap-top, palm-top or hand-held (.:UUI,UU~ and increase the processing and memory capacity of the picocomputer by including the required processors and memory power in a larger enclosure. For the episodic portable computer user that spends little time actually carrying these devices, these rigid rectilinear devices provide high levels of service rivaling desk-top micro and mini.ulll~u~lD. For the intensive user that processes large amounts of data and must also carry the corr.puter for long periods of time, these devices have several disadvanhges.
First, research has shown that people carrying these ~Ull~lU~ for long periods of time are prone to flexi carpi ulnaris tendonitis which can be painful and debilitating. This affliction is due to prolonged and ~im1lltAnPous clenching of the fingers and flexing of the wrist, an action unavoidable when carrying these devices.
Second, for intensive data ~rqllicitir~n applications, size once again is a .~ . The amount of secondary memory required for impl.~...~.,l ~l;...l makes this option impractical for portable ~ulll~u~.a in rigid rectilinear packaging. On-board memory ~ Uil~Ul~ Ls have been sidestepped by including wireless data links to a host computer for down-loading data. However, these options are very costly, up to the cost of the computer itself, and increase the volume of the devices by as much as a factor of two. Furthermore, wireless rl~mmllnir~irln is presently a very slow data transfer process.
Third, field service research for Rockwell International has mr~n~tr~tPd that user compliance of rigid rectilinear hand-carried and hand-held ~ U~ is low, and gets lower as the size of the device - wo 95121408 . ~ o 21 82 7gg .
., -J i ' `:
increases. Field service personnel expressed 1~7n~:~1Pr~hle ~ with having to lug a "brick" around during the execution of their task. Most notably it restricted the use of their hands by virtue of one, or both being used to carry the computer.
Wearable Portables There has been innovation and invention to harness rigid rectilinear ~UIII~UI~lD on various parts of the body. Reddy Tnfnrm~ti-~n Systems, Inc. has produced a computer called Red Figure 1 that has a head 10 mounted output device (A) from Rl~fl-~ti--n Technologies called the Private Eye, and a belt-mounted rigid rectilinear-packaged computer and input device (B) secured by a belt harness (C) (New York Times, March 29, 1992). Infogrip Inc. and Select Tech Inc. have combined tf~fhnnl~ c to produce the Hip Pc m a similar ~
There are two main disadvantages to this approach. First, h~rn~cSin~ a rigid rectilinear-packaged computer ii~nywhere on the body creates an uneven load on the spirle. Prolonged wearing of such devices creates strain in the supporting muscles opposite the place where the computer is hArn~ccl~i. Second, these ~ ri~ . do not allow the human body to ~ull~full~ly contact a firm surface. The rigid rectilinear computer on a harness or belt is literally a lump on the surface of the body.
Lastly, rigid rectilinear designs are inherently limited in l:Alu~uld~ility. To increase ~-u~?il-g power, hardware size must be increased. There is a volume limit beyond which the computer is no longer portable.
There has been iUUlUVO~iUII and invention to make ~Ulll,UUL~l~ more ~u .~ul~dblc to wear. Hideji Takemasa of NEC Corp. has created a variety of rigid curvilinear-packaged computer models that conform to various parts of the body (Figure 2) (Fortune, January 13, 1992). These devices include a processor and CD-ROM reader (D), and a fold out input/output device (E, F). Although :lPcth~ti~:llly more appealing than the rigid rectilinear lumps of the Red and Hip PC models, the NEC models nnnf~thPlf~cc suffer the same disadvantages. The NEC curvilinear designs wossm40s . r~
218~7g9 are rigid and dynamically n~ ",-,."~ and subject the spine to uneven loading. They also do not allow comfortable conhct of the human body with firm surfaces. r~Ll~ .v.~, these rigid, curvilinear designs must be made in many sizes smce it is technically i~l~yv:, ,;bl~ to make one of these 5 designs fit all human morphologies. They are also inherently limited in Pxr~nrl~hilify just as the rigid rectilinear designs.
SUMM~RY OF INV~NTION
The present invention exemplifies a new and unobvious art of a 10 flexible wearable computer. Briefly and generally, the flexible wearable computer u.l.~l;ses a microprocessor, memory, an input/output controller, and a power supply operably Acco~i~h~d with one another through a flexible signal relaying means. The assembly is supported by a tensile load bearing means and protected by a U111~I-..J;V~ load bearing 15 means. The microprocessor, memory, input/output controller, and power supply are m~rh~nit:~lly 7cco~ Ptl in a module assembly such that the flexible wearable computer can bend in an infinite number of planes without failure of operation.
20 Objects and Advamtages An important advantage of the flexible wearable computer is that it will always provide greater utility than rigid designs for those users that must carry their computer around while processing large amoumts of data, regardless of the state of the art of i~ "- and ",i"; l,.,;,..l;",. That is, regardless of how much computer power can be delivered in a given rigid package, providing a flexible wearable computer allows more of that computer power to be Lulll~ulL~Ibly carried by the user. For example, even if a Cray aU~ u",~uL~l can be reduced to the size of a wli~w~ L~II, the interlsive computer user will find more utility in a flexible computer that 30 is an array of the mi~lV~u~ ul:~ in the wl;d~w~L~Irsized Cray that is fashioned for instance as a ~ulllrulldBlc vest.

wossm40s 21 82 7~ 0 This rl~lAti~nqhip can be ~ AIly demonstrated with a common market model adapted for computer power demand. Refer now to equation (1) Q=c-aP+bS (1) 5 where, Q = total amount of computers APmAn~Pd m a specified context;
P = the price of ~UllllJULCl~- sold in the marketplace for that context;
S = the service level provided by computers in that context.
The service level of a computer for any specified context is related to 10 the number of useful operations per second (UOPS). This value is driven by several factors including the elegamce of the program, memory size and access time, and raw processing speed. Service level is also related to volume. Volume is less critical when a user does not need to carry the computer. It becomes a major ~l,,l.""i"~,.l when a user must be 15 ambulatory while usmg a computer.
Service level can be defmed as S= I~ F (2) VH person 20 where, F = min {VH, Vl};
VH = volume of the hardware;
UQPS = power density and is roughly constant. .
VH That is, the greater the UOPS, the larger the volume of the hardware.
Vl = the ~ ~, .~1, .,i. ,.o.1 volume of user interface, that is, the largest hardware volume the user can employ to accomplish a specific computmg task;
erson = the number of individuals that must use the hardware.
For the majority of computing applications volume is irrelevant.
Equations (1) and (2) m~ ." ~li.,,lly describe this C~Scl~aLiull. In these wo 95121408 218 2 7 9 9 ~ L ~ ~n contexts, the user is ul~ulla~lailled by the volume of the hardware, and V
is infinity making F equal to VH. Volume hence has no influence on the service level (5) and therefore no influence on the quantity (2) of ~Ulll~)U~la APm:\nA,o~1 However, for users that desire to or must carry a computer around, the volume of the hardware becomes critical. Equations (1) and (2) ,.._ll,.~...~li~ally describe this obs~lvlll;vll also. There exists for any rigid form factor a m~imllm volume (Vl) beyond which the user cannot carry a computer. (F) is then equal to (Vl). Hence, mcreasing the power density 10 is the only means to increase service level and therefore quantity A~mslnA~
Now it is clear from equation (2) that if Vl can be increased, VH can also be increased thus increasing the UOPS ol~L~Iillabl~. This can be done without ill~l~d~lllg power density. The flexible wearable computer directly 15 increases Vl compared to rigid park~in~ schemes because it allows hardware to be shaped like articles of clothing allowing the more comfortable placement of larger volumes of hardware on various areas of the body. It obviates the need to carry the entire hardware in one or both hands. It also ..li".;.. l.~c the un-ulllrull~le nature of strapping a rigid device onto one aspect of the body. It also eliminates the need to make a variety of sizes such as the rigid curvilinear designs require.
Another advantage of the flexible wearable form factor is that by implf~mPntin~ a computer as many small rigid elements instead of one large rigid element, the bending moment across each element is smaller since the area of each element is decreased. The bending moment is caused when a rigid element is worn against the body and the body comes into contact with any firm surface. Distributed or ~tn~ntrat~ loads are applied normal to the surface of the element. An example would be when a wearer sat down m a chair. The firm elements of the chair would exert 30 forces against the rigid elements.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention include:

WO 95/21408 ~ o 2l8?799,, '-(a) To provide a flexible wearable computer that can be shaped into a limitless variety of shapes and sizes.
(b) To provide a flexible wearable computer that can ~ f~ a wide variety of human lllol,vl ol~iès.
5 (c) To provide a flexible wearable computer that allows comfortable hands-free portability.
(d) To provide a flexible wearable computer that symmetrically distributes its volume and therefore evenly loads the spme.
(e) To provide a flexible wearable computer that eliminates flexi carpi ulnaris tLanflf nitic (f) To provide a flexible wearable computer that is ~v l~ ble to wear while the humam body is against a firm surface.
(g) To provide a flexible wearable computer that increases the compliance of field service users by allowmg hands-free portability without carrifi~in~ comfort.
(h) To provide a flexible wearable computer whereby the computer can be more comfortably carried and operated than an il~Ley,~ ed computer of l:v~ v~u~lbl~ processing power m a rigid rectilmear or curvilinear packages.
20 (i) To provide a flexible wearable computer with data transfer rates that are faster than wireless l fll~ systems.
(j) To provide a flexible wearable computer that can more easily and comfortably be expanded than rigid package designs.
(k) To mcrease the ~ugjjeLllleDD of a wearable computer by decreasing the size and thus the bending moment across any rigid elements.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention and a full ~mdf~rctandin~ thereof may be had by referring to the followmg detailed description and claims taken together with the accompanying ill,.~l,,.li...~c The i~ are described below in which like parts are 30 given like reference numerals in each of the drawmgs.
-WO95/21408 , r~ o ~ 7,18'~799 Drawing Figures Figure 1 is a p~lD~e~liv~ view of the prior art of a wearable portablecomputer system produced by Reddy T,.r... ,..~I;.... Systems called Red.
Figure 2 is a p..D~e~Lv~ view of the prior art of a wearable portable 5 computer system by Takemasa of NEC l~nrrnr~tinn Figure 3 is a view of a user wearing the preferred .~ bo.lil,l~ of the flexible wearable computer system which by definition mcludes an mput/output device.
Figure 4 is a view of a user wearing the flexible wearable computer system with the outer sheath ghosted.
Figure 5 is a p~lD~e.Livl: view of a preferred embodiment of the flexible wearable computer which by definition does not include the input/output device.
Figure 6 is a p~lD~e~Liv~ view of the flexible wearable computer showing the surface that contacts the body with the outer sheath partially removed.
Figure 7 is a p~ ue~live view of the flexible wearable computer with the outer sheath completely removed.
Figure 8 is a perspective exploded assembly view of a 20 Illi.lU~l~Dul module.
Figure 9 is an orthographic cross sectional view of the '.Ui~lU~JlU~éDDUl module.
Figure 10 is a p~lD~ ~liVt: exploded assembly view of the RAM-I/O
module.
Figure 11 is a p~lD~liV~ exploded assembly view of the mass memory module.
Figure 12 is a p~lDlue~liv~ exploded assembly view of the battery module.
Figure 13 is an exploded assembly view of the bus l~ ",;, module.
Figure 14 is a pt:lD~e.livl: view of an alternative ~mho-1imf~nt of the flexible wearable computer in the form of a vest.

WO 95i21408 ~ 30 21~7gg . X O

Figure 15 is a p~:lD~e.~iv~ view of the alternative embodiment in the form of a vest with the outer sheath ghosted.
Figure 16 is a rear ~el,~e.~ivt: view of the alternative embodiment in the form of a vest with the outer sheath ghosted.
Figure 17 is a schematic ~ e~iv~ view of the user wearing the flexible wearable computer system in the form of a vest with a touch sensitive flexible LCD output device worn wrapped around the forearm.
Figure 18 is a schematic p~lD~e.~iv~ view of the user wearing the flexible wearable computer system in the form of a belt with a hand-mounted free-space pointer input device.
Figure 19 is a schematic p~ e~iv~ view of the user wearing the flexible wearable computer system in the form of a belt with a tethered infra-red L~ s-~i~.. worn cln the shoulder.
Figure 20 is a schematic p~.a~,e.liv~ view of the user wearing the flexible wearable computer system in the form of a belt with a wireless infra-red ~lallS~iv~ mmtlnir~fion link between the belt and a hand held pen based display device.
Figure 21 is a schematic perspective view of the user wearing the flexible wearable computer system in the form of a vest with a wireless infra-red ~lallS~ . . nmmllni~-~ti.~n link between the vest and a heads-up display.
Figure æ is a schematic p~:l~e.~iv~ view of the user wearing the flexible wearable computer system in the form of a vest with a projection display mounted to it.
Figure 23 is a schematic p~l",e.~ivt: view of the user wearing the flexible wearable computer âystem im the form of a headband with a heads-up display motmted to it.
Figure 24 is a schematic p~ e.~iv~ view of the user wearmg the flexible wearable computer system in the form of a belt with a split QWERTY keyboard mput device mounted to it.

~ WO 95/21408 218 ~ 7 9 9 ~ T ~,./1 ~1631) Figure 25 is a schematic p~ e.live view of the user wearing the flexible wearable computer system in a form that wraps around the forearm.
Figure 26 is a schematic p~la~-Livt: view of the user wearing the 5 flexible wearable computer system in the form of a vest with a headâ-up display mounted in the breast area.
Figure 27 is a schematic p~lal,e.Liv~ view of the user wearing the flexible wearable computer system in the form of a vest with an ear clip speaker and ~ u~l~ul~e input/output device tethered to it.
Figure 28 is a schematic ~e~lb~e~livt: view of the user wearing the flexible wearable computer system in the form of a garment with motion sensors int~ra~ into the garment.
Figure 29 is a schematic p~,~e.Livc~ view showing the computer in a totally hands-free operation.
Drawing Reference Numerals A Reflection T~ .. Private Eye wearable display B Reddy Information Systems 1 ) 05 rigid rectilinear personal computer and RAM card reader 20 C Padded harness D NEC Cu. ~ul~-Liu-,'s personal computer and CD-ROM reader E NEC Corporation's input device F NEC Cul~ul~Liull's output device 002a Flexible circuit 002b Flexible circuit 002c Flexible circuit 002d Flexible circuit 002e Flexible circuit 002f Flexible circuit 30 004 Tensile load strap 005a Belt latch, male 005b Belt latch, female wogsm408 ' ~ t., ~ O
21~ 799~

006 Foam sheath 010 Module recess 011a Eyelet snap 011b Eyelet snap 5 046 Seam surface 0vO Portable input/output device 061 I/O bus 100 Bus ~ module 112 Bus ~ ",i,~li, resistors 10 114 Bus l.~ lillll prmted circuit board 115 Bus ~ module solder pins 116 Bus l "il)~l; plated via holes 200 Microprocessor module 212 Mi~v~u~vvol 15 212a ~iLlvlUlv~vvUl support ~ul-l~v~e-lls 214 Mi~lv~lu~è~vvl printed circuit board 215 Microprocessor printed circuit board solder pins 216 MiLlv,ulv~é~vvl plated via holes 217 Mi~lv,ulv~cvvu~ module top shell 20 218 Microprocessor module bottom shell 219 Mi~lululv~3vo- module boss 219 Mi..u,ulu.~vvo. module bo~s 220 Holes for llli~lU~JlV~tvvUl module assembly 222 Mi~lv~lv~ssv- module retention plate 25 223 Mi~v~u~ u~ module self tappmg screw 300 RAM-I/O module 314 RAM-I/O printed circuit board 317 RAM-I/O module top shell 322 RAM-I/O module retention plate 30 323 RAM-I/O port bezel 324 Random access memory chips 325 RAM-I/O Module orifice -- WO95/21408 I'-_IIL~
~ 21~2i7`9'9~

326 Output device port 327 Input device port 328 {~t~mmllnilAti~ nC port 347 Input/output processor 5 347a Support circuitry ~UIII~Ullelllb 400 Mass memory module 412 Flash memory chip 414 Mass memory circuit board 417 Mass memory module top shell 10 500 Battery module 508 Battery bezel 514 Battery module prmted circuit board 517 Battery module top shell 523 Battery module self tapping screw 15 530 Battery cartridge 531 Battery fixture 533 Voltage rP~ n ~UUI~Ull~ b DE~RIPTION OF l~ ) FM13OD~MF~TS
Referring now to the drawings, with particular attention to Figures 3-4. The method of using the flexible wearable computer is r. ., vvald. The user adjusts the flexible wearable computer to fit comfortably around the waist by varying the .-t)nnP~tion of male and female belt latches 005a, 005b to a flexible tensile load strap 004. An input/output device 060 is a pen based liquid crystal display device that has a clip allowmg easy ..~ l to a flexible ~ull.lul~;v~ Çoam sheath 006 when not in use. The input/output device is ~-r)nnPctP-1 to the processor amd mass memory by an I/O bus 061.
Figure 5 ~1~..,~...~.l,..l ~ the detail of a preferred ~ b~liultllL. The 30 computer is entirely encased in foam sheath 006 injection-molded out of antimicrobial microcellular polyull:Lllalle foam (such as Poron, available from Rogers Corporation), and varies in thickness from 0.140 inches thick .. . ..

wo ssm40s 21~2799 to 0.250 inches thick, and is a~ a~l:ly 15.0 inches long. Flexible ;V~ foam sheath 006 necks lnarrows) down at each end such that the opening in foam sheath 006 is the same width as tensile load strap 004.
Tensile load strap 004 is a belt strap consisting of woven aramid fibers 5 (otherwise known as Kevlar, available from Dupont), but could consist of common nylon strapping or thin steel stranded cables. Tensile load strap 004 is a~lu~dll~al~:ly 2.0 inches x 0.02 inches x 47.0 inches. A port bezel 323 is adhered to foam sheath 006 with adhesive. It allows output device port 326, input device port 327, and rommllnir~ir~n~ port 328 to be exposed 10 through foam sheath 006. A battery bezel 508 is adhered to foam sheath 006. Port bezel 323 and battery bezel 508 are all injection-molded out of ABS plastic.
Figures 4 and 7 .~.".."~l",l~ the structure beneath foam sheath 006 of the preferred embodiment. Five different types of modules 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 are electrically connected to each other by polyamide (Kapton, available from Dupont) flexible circuits 002a, 002b, 002c, 002d, 002e, 002f.
Each computer ~u~ module 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 is affixed to the tensile load strap 004. The two-part belt latch 005a and 005b is connected to each end of tensile load strap 004.
Referring now to Figure 6, the flexible wearable computer is ~1. ,.. ~II,.I~.i with foam sheath 006 partially open }evealing a molded-in module recess 010 which is a~lv~d,llldlc~ly 0.125 inches deep. Each module 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 is seated in a separate module recess 010. Fig. 6 also reveals that fûam sheath 006 is fastened to tensile load strap 004 by a pair of eyelet snaps 011a and OIlb, located at both narrowed ends of foam sheath 006. Seam surfaces 046, which rum the bottom length of foam sheath 006, are fastened to each other with adhesive.
Microprocessor Module Referring to Figure 8, the microprocessor module 200 is demonstrated. Microprocessor 212 and microprocessor support IJlllpoll~l~L:, 212a are of surface mount size, and are soldered to a WO95/21408 218 2 ~ 9 9 T~.l/l D ''`'t microprocessor printed circuit board 214. The ~lim~ncinn.~ of lU~JlU~eDDUl printed circuit board 214 are clululuAill~ ly 2.25 inches x 1.55 inches x 0.06 inches. At each of the long edges of microprocessor printed circuit board 214 are an array of microprocessor printed circuit 5 board solder pins 215 which register with a corresponding array of plated via holes 216 on flexible circuit 002b. Solder pins 215 are soldered into plated via holes 216. Flexible circuit 002b and microprocessor printed circuit board 214 are sandwiched between a mi~lululu~ ul module top shell 217 and mi~lululu~:sDul module bottom shell 218. Flexible circuit 002b is ~luluAi~dl~ly 2.65 inches long x 2.00 inches wide x 0.006 inches thick. Mi.lululu.~DDol module bosses 219 extend from the Illi~lU~lU~D~Ul module top shell 217 through holes 220 in flexible circuit 002b and Illi~lUlUlUC~sDul printed circuit board 214. The ".~. I.,..,i. ,.l l.-~;~l~,.li.", and therefore electrical .. ,.~. I;.. of plated via holes 216 with solder pins 215 15 is held true by bosses 219.
Microprocessor module top shell 217 and bottom shell 218 are shown m cross-section in Figure 9 as having approximately a 0.10 inch radius edge detail curving away from flexible circuit 002b. This feature provides a limit on the radius of curvature e~r~riPn~ Ptl by flexible circuit 20 002b~ Tensile load strap 004 is fastened against mi~lu~lu.~Daul module bottom shell 218 by mi~lU~lU~t:DDUI module retention plate 222 and self-tappmg screws 223. Self-tapping screws 223 fasten the entire assembly together by screwing into bosses 219 on IlliLlululU~DDUl module top shell RAM-I/O and Mass Memory Modules Figure 10 dc:lllullDLI.lL~D RAM-I/O module 300. It has the same basic construction as mi~lV~IU~aDOI module 200 except for two ~liff~r~nr~c First, instead of a microprocessor, random access memory chip 324 and 30 input/output processor 347 and support circuitry ~UIII1UUII~ D 347a, are soldered onto RAM-I/O circuit board 314 Second, output device port 326, input device port 327, and ~ r mm11ni~til-nC port 328 are electrically wo g5/2l408 ~ 7 9 9 T ~ 0 rt~nnPrt~rl to RAM-I/O printed-circuit board 314, and extend through RAM-I/O module orifice 325 in RAM-I/O module top shell 317. Flexible circuit 002c is registered and fastened against RAM-I/O printed-circuit board 314 the same way as with the previously described IlLi~lV~JlV~ aUl 5 module 200. RAM-I/O module 300 is also connected to tensile load shrap 004 in the same way as in previously described mi.lv~Jlu~ vl module 200.
Figure 11 ~rmonctrAtrc mass memory module 400. Multiple mass memory modules are shown in a preferred embodiment and are identical 10 except for their software addresses, and have the same basic ~Ullsl.u~iull as ~ vlUlu~ Ul module 200 except for two .~irf~ First, instead of a .ILi~lU~lU~ Ul, flash memory chips 412 (of which there are four) are soldered to printed-circuit board 414. Flexible circuits 002d, 002e are registered and fastened against printed-circuit board 414 the same way as in 15 lu~viuusly described modules 200. Mass memory modules 400 are also rt7nnrrtP~ to tensile load strap 004 in the same way as in previously described module 200.
Battery and Bus T..,..i.,~l;..., Modules Figure 12 .i~.,.. ,.~l.,.l.~ a battery module 500 rr~ntAinin~ a battery cartridge 530 held by a battery fixture 531, and a battery module top shell 517. Battery fixture 531 is fastened onto a printed-circuit board 514 with a screw 523. Voltage regulation ~:UIII~JVIL~ 533 are of surface mQunt size, and are soldered to printed-circuit board 514. Flexible circuit 002f is 25 registered and fastened against primted-circuit board 514 the same way as in previously described module 200. Module top shell 517 and module bottom shell 518 are fastened the same way as in ~l~YiOusly described module 200. Battery module 500 is also connected to tensile load strap 004 in the same way as m previously described module 200.
A bus l.-,.. i,.~lir"~ module 100 is shown in Figure 13. Bus l~-.,,i..~l;.-., resistors 112 are of surface mount size and soldered to a bus h .I..i..~li..l. circuit board 114. Bus trrtninAhr,n circuit board 114 measures WO 95/21408 ~ ~18 2 7 9 9 r~ 630 ~, . ...

d~ aLely 2.00 inches x 0.30 inches x 0.06 inches. Bus ~
circuit board 114 has an ârray of bus 1~ module solder pins 115 along one long edge which register with bus l~, .. ~i, . ~l .. , plated via holes 116 on flexible circuit 002f. Flexible circuits 002a and 002f measure 5 approximately 1.5 inches long x 2.00 inches wide x 0.006 inches. Bus l~,.--;,-~l;~-" module 100 is connected to tensile load strap 004 in the same way as im ~ viuu~l~/ described module 200.
Summary, l?~mifil~ti~mc and Scope A~ dill~ly, the reader will see that the flexible computer has the advantage of in. r.~qin~ the service level of portable computer hardware while also i.,...:dDi.,g the comfort of using the hardware. In addition, the flexible wearable computer has the advantages of:
?~ mmf)~*n~ a wide variety of human morphologies;
. allowing hands-free carrying and operation;
allowmg the user to comfortably sit or lie while wearing the device;
allowing the weight of the computer to be ~y~ Lli~dlly ,li L~ uLell on thebody;
f~ the muscle and tendon strain ~cco~ with carrying rigid rectilinear ~ uLel l, increasing the compliance of field service personnel that must use a computer;
allowing qi~nifir~ntly larger amounts of secondary flash memory to be comfortably carried by the useri allowing ~l-r~nqion more easily and comfortably than rigid designs; and mcreasing the r-l~ . of a mobile wearable computer by decreasmg the area of the rigid elements, thereby decreasing the bending moment across each element.
Although the description above contains many ~,e~iL.iLies, these should not be construed as limitmg the scope of the invention, but merely WO 95/21408 , . ~ ~0 21g2~'9~`"''`' V

providing illllctr~til7n of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. The flexible wearable computer could be imrlPmPntPrl in many different ways. For example, each module could be potted with a solid thermoset plastic rather than have a two part shell. The flexible 5 tensile load bearing means could consist of individually twisted aramid fibers encased in the potting compound. The flexible tensile load bearing means could be fibers woven into cloth or even a homogeneous thin layer of material. The flexible signal relaying means could be glued or otherwise p~ ly attached to the tensile load bea}ing means.
('.. ".1,.. ,.. -,.1~. and support circuitry need not be surface mount size and soldered. The ~UIII~UIIt~ S may be affixed to the circuit board with conductive epoxy. The computer may be made even thinner and more flexible by implPmPntin~ it using chip-on-board manufacturing technology. Each int~ratP~l circuit would be bonded directly to a small 15 printed circuit board and the terminals would be electrically connected to the board. Each IC would be covered with an epoxy dab. Each discrete circuit board module could be as small as a 0.5 square inch.
The computer could be implemented as one long multi-layer polyamide flexible, or rigid-flex, circuit board. As an entirely flexible 20 board, the module shells would rigidify the areas populated with electronic l.~ Ull~ . As a rigid-flex design, the sections with electronic would be laminated with rigid fiberglass board stiffeners.
The flexible signal relaying means, the length of which between any two computing elements is greater than the length of the wearable 25 member between any two computing elements, could be discrete wires or discrete non metallic filaments. It could be produced with ink traces or any type of non-metallic, flexible conductive material. The computer could be implemented as a fiber optic device. The flexible circuit could be optical fiber filaments instead of metallic or non-metallic conductors.
30 Also, the flexible signal relaying means could be an easily detachable and re-attachable bus that is disposable.

2 1 8 2 7 9 9 ~ o Furthermore, the ~:ul.ri~;ulaLivl. of the flexible wearable computer need not be m a belt. The module and bus assembly can be fashioned in a vâriety of ways. Figure -14 ~ an alternative t~UlBOIIilllclll of the flexible wearable computer in the shape of a vest for increasmg the 5 number of elements for computing. Figure 15 shows the foam sheath of the vest removed revealing an increased number of modules. Figure lG
~ mnngtratf~c the bus .~ ;c~ l-l to A~ / nmmn~lAtf~ the mcreased number of modules thereby greatly f~yp~n~lin~ the memory and lUlU~c~billg capacity of the flexible wearable computer.
Referring now to Figure 17, the computer is shown there in the form of a vest. The output device is a touch sensitive flexible LCD 534 worn on the forearm. The wearer controls the computer by touching virtual graphical elements on the LCD with the right hand. There is an infra-red wireless data link between the computer and the LCD via infra-red ll~llb~c;~ 535 and 536.
Figure 18 r1~mnnctrAtf~c a ullri~ul~llioll with the computer in the form of a belt, a free-space pointer input device 537 and a Private Eye heads-up display 538 as the output device. A free-space pointer, such as a GyroPoimt, translates relative three-~ motion of the hand into digital pulses which are ~ul~ilv-cd by the computer. Software drivers translate the digital pulses into nf)rr~crnnrlin~ IllVVClllclllb of the cursor in the virtual screen gnerated by the heads-up display. Both the free-space pointer 537 and the heads-up display 538 are functionally connected to the computer via tethers 539 and 540.
Figure 19 shows a method of wirelessly rnnnf~tin~ the comput~r, in the form of a belt, to a Local Area Network (LAN). An infra-red eivcl 541, such as a Photor~ics Infra-red Transceiver, is functionally ronn~l~te~1 to the computer via a tether 542. The transceiver t nmmllni,~Atf.c via infra-red pulses with a plurality of infra-red repeaters 543 mounted overhead in the ~IIVilUIIlllCllt Wireless ~omm1lnil Atinn could also be of radio-frequency type m which case the computer receiver would be included as a ~ nl~ module as shown m Figure 15.

WO 9~/21408 . . ' ; ' 1 ~
.21g2799 In Figure 20, the .. t;~,".,.I;~,.. is the same as Figure 3, but instead of a 1~ d r/~nn~ortir~n, both the computer and pen-based display device 60 have wireless infra-red pulse Ll~llD~:iV~lD 544 and 545. The pen-based display 60 sends pen location data to the computer and the computer sends 5 ..,ll..,~ ldillg graphical ;..r..,..,~i.... to the pen-based device 60.
Figure 21 r~ LI,.lP~ a wireless mfra-red rrlmmllnir~tit~n link between a Private Eye heads-up display 538 and the computer. An infra-red receiver 546 is located on the heads-up display. An infra-red L1~1D~iV~I 547 is located m the shoulder area of the computer.
In Figure 22, an LCD projection display 548 is moumted on the front abdominal area of the computer, which is in the form of a vest. This device works by projecting a strong light through an LCD that is controlled by a computer, and then through a focusing lens. The LCD projection display 548 projects a computer generated image of any reflective, flat 15 surface, such as a reflection pad 548' hanging from the user's waist, or the user's palm. To view the computer's output, the user would hold up the reflection pad 548' or the palm in the path of the image that is being projected. The image is reflected and thus readable to the user.
Figure 23 shows the wearable computer system in the form of a 20 headband 549 with an attached heads-up display 538.
Figure 24 shows the computer in the form of a belt with a split QWERTY keyboard 550 attached to the computer so that it hangs downward in front of the user and can be easily reached. The user types in , ,.I."" .".l'. just as he would at a desk top keyboard.
Figure 25 shows the computer implemented as a flexible form that wraps around the forearm. The user mterface consists of a keypad 551 and speech l~ . .;l ;. ., . and speech synthesis capability. A microphone 552 and speaker 553 are included m the computer.
Figure 26 shows the computer in the form of a vest with a Private Eye heads-up display 554 mounted on the left breast. To access the graphical output of the computer, the user looks down and to the left into the heads-up display 554.

- WO 95121408 2 18 2 7 9 9 ~ s -~n ~ .

Figure 27 shows the computer in the form of a vest with an ear clip microphone/speaker device 555. The method of controlling the computer is speech .~-..,~,.;l;l-" The output from the computer to the wearer is speech synthesis. This ~ullri~LllAliU~ allows only the wearer to hear the 5 ouhput from the computer, and to speak at low volumes when inputting 8rmm~n~1~
Figure 28 shows the computer in the form of a garment with motion sensors 556a, 556b, 556c, 556d, 556e and 556f. The computer continually polls ~ese sensors. The data from these sensors is used by the 10 computer as input to drive software that would interpret the data from the sensors as certain gestures. These gestures can be used to control the computer. For example, the user may be able to switch the computer into a mode where it is listening for the wearer's voice mput simply by making a circular motion with the left arm. A circular motion in the opposite 15 direction would switch off the listen mode.
Figure 29 illushrates the invention in a totally hands-free operation.
The computer is in vest form and in~ulluulAl~ a speech rect-gniti- n and/or speech synthesis interface including a microphone 557 and a speaker 558. In this . .",ri~".,~.li~.,~, the need for rigid interface hardware 20 such as keyboards or liquid crystal displays is obviated.
Many of the various interface peripherals can be used in combination with each other. For example, the arm mounted flexible LCD
shown in Figure 17 could be used as the output device and voice ~ U~lliliull could be used as the input device. Or, referring to Figure 25, 25 the flexible wearable computer wom on the forearm could be controlled with voice rf~-~ngnih-m.
Thus the scope of the invention should be ~ t~rmin~cl by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
30 I CLAIM:

Claims

22

1. A portable computer comprising; in combination, elements for computing comprising:
input means for inputting data;
output means for outputting data, and a plurality of computing components;
a flexible non-stretchable human wearable member;
means for rigidly mounting said computing elements on said wearable member; and flexible signal relaying means electrically connecting said computing elements, the length of said relaying means between any two of said computing elements being greater than the length of said wearable member between said any two computing elements.

2. The computer of claim 1 including certain elements in the form of a belt.

3. The computer of claim 1 including certain elements in the form of a sleeve.

4. The computer of claim 1 including certain elements in the form of a headband.

5. The computer of claim 1 including means for forming a free space pointer.

6. The computer of claim 1 including a heads-up display device.

7. The computer of claim 1 including a wireless communication link between said computing elements and one or more of said input means and said output means.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein the output means comprises a touch-sensitive flexible LCD adapted to be worn on a user's forearm.

9. The computer of claim 6, further comprising a free space pointer linked to the heads-up display device.

10. The computer of claim 1, including connecting means for connecting the computer to a Local Area Network.

11. The computer of claim 10, wherein the connecting means comprises an infra-red transceiver for communicating with at least one infra-red repeater of the Local Area Network.

12. The computer of claim 1, wherein at least one of the input means and the output means includes a pen-based display device, the computer further comprising a wireless communication link between the display device and the computing elements.

13. The computer of claim 6, further comprising a wireless communication link between the heads-up display device and the computing elements.

14. The computer of claim 1, further comprising an LCD projection display linked to the computing elements, and a reflection pad positioned to reflect output of the display so as to be readable by a user of the computer.

15. The computer of claim 6, further comprising a headband coupled with the heads-up display device to support the heads-up display device on the head of a user of the computer.

16. The computer of claim 1, wherein the input means comprises a split keyboard.

17. The computer of claim 1, wherein the computer is adapted to be supported on the forearm of a user, the computer further comprising a microphone, a speaker, and a user interface with speech recognition and speech synthesis capability.

18. The computer of claim 6, further comprising a vest supporting the heads-up display device below the head of an operator of the computer.

19. The computer of claim 1, further comprising a microphone/speaker device for speech input and output.

20. The computer of claim 1, further comprising a garment with motion sensors coupled with the computing elements to input data to the computer.