Kaz, CDI's Wearable partner, VIA has a patent which IMO is tighter than XYBR's patent and CDI has the trademark "THE WEARABLE" for our offering. XYBR has already had to fight off Rockwell relative to their patent, while nobody has challenged the VIA patent. The difference in the patents is that ours is for a FLEXIBLE WEARBLE COMPUTER which allows us to offer smaller packaging.
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I've read them both. XYBR's was filed about 4 years earlier no? Either way - CDI/VIA will not be able to make a hands-free wearable computer, or something that uses voice as input anyway. CDI/VIA would lose that battle for sure. Here's what we'll do, we'll post both patents and filling dates....
Xybernaut's:
"Hands-Free user supported portable computer"
Patent #5,305,244
Filed 04/06/92
Accepted 04/19/94
Abstract:
A compact, self-contained portable computing apparatus is provided which is completely supported by a user for hands-free
retrieval and display of information for the user. The computing apparatus includes a voice-recognition module, in communication
with a processor, for receiving audio commands from the user, for converting the received audio commands into electrical signals,
for recognizing the converted electrical signals and for sending the recognized electrical signals to the processor for processing, the
voice-recognition module being supported by the user. The computing apparatus further includes a display in communication with
the processor for receiving information from the processor and for displaying the received information for the user, the display
being supported by the user whereby the user may operate the computing apparatus to display information in a hands-free manner
utilizing only audio commands.
The Competition:
Patent#'s: 5,285,398
Filed: May 15, 1992 (Hmm that's odd a little over a month )
Accepted: Feb 8, 1994 (after XYBR these guys file this patent!)
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 circuit
(002a, 002b, 002c, 002d, 002e, 002f). The computing elements are mechanically associated with a flexible nonstretchable
member (004), and a protective covering device (006). The flexible nonstretchable wearable member (004) is secured around the
waist by belt latches (005a, 005b). An input and output device (060) is connected to the flexible wearable computer by the I/O
bus (061) attached to the output and input ports (326), and (327) respectively.
(THERE ARE MORE PATENTS, DO A SEARCH UNDER 'WEARABLE COMPUTER
THE ONE ABOVE WAS THE EARLIEST I COULD FIND FOR THIS FLEXIBLE
WEARABLE COMPUTER)
- Kaz |
