具体实施方式：
[0026]The present disclosure is now described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as necessarily being limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that the disclosure is thorough and complete, and fully conveys the concepts of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Also, features described with respect to certain example embodiments may be combined in and/or with various other example embodiments. Different aspects and/or elements of example embodiments, as disclosed herein, may be combined in a similar manner. Further, at least some example embodiments may individually and/or collectively be components of a larger system, wherein other procedures may take precedence over and/or otherwise modify their application. Additionally, a number of steps may be required before, after, and/or concurrently with example embodiments, as disclosed herein. Note that any and/or all methods and/or processes, at least as disclosed herein, can be at least partially performed via at least one entity, at least as described herein, in any manner, irrespective of the at least one entity have any relationship to the subject matter of the present disclosure.
[0027]The terminology used herein can imply direct or indirect, full or partial, temporary or permanent, immediate or delayed, synchronous or asynchronous, action or inaction. For example, when an element is referred to as being “on,”“connected” or “coupled” to another element, then the element can be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element and/or intervening elements may be present, including indirect and/or direct variants. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.
[0028]Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not necessarily be limited by such terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0029]The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be necessarily limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,”“an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,”“includes” and/or “comprising,”“including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0030]Example embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the present disclosure. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, the example embodiments of the present disclosure should not be construed as necessarily limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein, but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.
[0031]Any and/or all elements, as disclosed herein, can be formed from a same, structurally continuous piece, such as being unitary, and/or be separately manufactured and/or connected, such as being an assembly and/or modules. Any and/or all elements, as disclosed herein, can be manufactured via any manufacturing processes, whether additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing and/or other any other types of manufacturing. For example, some manufacturing processes include three dimensional (3D) printing, laser cutting, computer numerical control (CNC) routing, milling, pressing, stamping, vacuum forming, hydroforming, injection molding, lithography and/or others.
[0032]Any and/or all elements, as disclosed herein, can include, whether partially and/or fully, a solid, including a metal, a mineral, a ceramic, an amorphous solid, such as glass, a glass ceramic, an organic solid, such as wood and/or a polymer, such as rubber, a composite material, a semiconductor, a nano-material, a biomaterial and/or any combinations thereof. Any and/or all elements, as disclosed herein, can include, whether partially and/or fully, a coating, including an informational coating, such as ink, an adhesive coating, a melt-adhesive coating, such as vacuum seal and/or heat seal, a release coating, such as tape liner, a low surface energy coating, an optical coating, such as for tint, color, hue, saturation, tone, shade, transparency, translucency, non-transparency, luminescence, anti-reflection and/or holographic, a photo-sensitive coating, an electronic and/or thermal property coating, such as for passivity, insulation, resistance or conduction, a magnetic coating, a water-resistant and/or waterproof coating, a scent coating and/or any combinations thereof.
[0033]Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized and/or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0034]Furthermore, relative terms such as “below,”“lower,”“above,” and “upper” may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another element as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Such relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of illustrated technologies in addition to the orientation depicted in the accompanying drawings. For example, if a device in the accompanying drawings is turned over, then the elements described as being on the “lower” side of other elements would then be oriented on “upper” sides of the other elements. Similarly, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements would then be oriented “above” the other elements. Therefore, the example terms “below” and “lower” can, therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below.
[0035]If any disclosures are incorporated herein by reference and such incorporated disclosures conflict in part and/or in whole with the present disclosure, then to the extent of conflict, and/or broader disclosure, and/or broader definition of terms, the present disclosure controls. If such incorporated disclosures conflict in part and/or in whole with one another, then to the extent of conflict, the later-dated disclosure controls.
[0036]FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of an artificial nail in wireless communication with a mobile phone according to the present disclosure.
[0037]An artificial nail 100 includes a body 102 having an upper side 104, a lower side 106, and a plurality of sidewalls spanning therebetween. The side 104 is visible to others when the nail 100 is worn. The side 106 at least partially faces a wearer's fingernail when the nail 100 is worn.
[0038]The body 102 attempts to visually mimic an appearance of the fingernail, but in other embodiments, the body 102 avoids visually mimicking the appearance of the fingernail. The body 102 is shaped and sized as the fingernail, such as in a nail form, but in other embodiments, the body 102 is shaped and sized in a nail tip form. However, note that the body 102 can be shaped in any shape, such as a circle, a star, a triangle, a rectangle, and so forth. The body 102 includes plastic, but in other embodiments, the body 102 includes another suitable material, such as metal, glass, wood, acrylic, and rubber. The side 104 and the side 106 are similarly shaped and sized, but in other embodiments, the side 104 and the side 106 differ from each other in at least one of shape and size.
[0039]The side 106 is directly coupled to the fingernail, but in other embodiments, the side 106 is indirectly coupled to the fingernail. The side 106 is coupled to the fingernail via an adhesive, such as a glue, an adhesive coating, a resin, a tape, and other suitable adhesive technology. Such adhesive can be waterproof. In other embodiments, the side 106 is coupled to the fingernail via another technology, which can include a magnet, a clamp, a hook-and-loop fastener, a male-female mater, an interlocker, and other suitable technologies. Note that the fingernail can be of any finger of a male wearer and/or a female wearer, whether an infant, a toddler, a teen, an adult, and an elderly person. Also, note that the side 106 can be coupled to another artificial nail, whether directly and/or indirectly. For example, the side 106 can be directly coupled to the another artificial nail when the another artificial nail is already coupled to the fingernail. Further, note that the side 106 is coupled to at least an outer portion of the fingernail, which is visible to a naked eye of the wearer. However, in other embodiments, the side 106 is coupled to another portion of the fingernail, such as underneath the fingernail. In yet other embodiments, the body 102 is coupled to the fingernail without using the side 106, such as via the side 104, a sidewall of the body 102, and another suitable methodology.
[0040]The body 102 includes a power source unit, a processing unit, a memory unit, and a receiving unit. The power source unit includes at least one of a battery and a capacitor. The power source unit can be rechargeable, such as in at least one of a wired manner and a wireless manner. The power source unit can be selectively removable from the body 102, such as for repair, replacement, and so forth. The processing unit includes at least a single core chip. The processing unit is powered via the power source unit. The memory unit includes nonvolatile memory hardware, such as a flash memory chip. The memory unit is operably coupled to the processing unit, such as via wired contact. The memory unit can be powered via the power source unit. The receiving unit is operably coupled to the processing unit, such as via wired contact. The receiving unit can be powered via the power source unit. The receiving unit is configured for at least receiving a wireless communication sent via at least one of a radio technology, an optic technology, a sound technology, and an induction technology. For example, the receiving unit, such as a receiver, a transceiver, and so forth, can receive a wireless communication, such as via an antenna, a light emitting diode (LED), and so forth, based on a short-range wireless communication protocol, such as Bluetooth®, infrared, and so forth. Also, for example, the receiving unit can be configured for at least receiving a wireless communication based on a Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard. Further, for example, the receiving unit can be configured for at least a wireless communication with a cell site. Moreover, for example, the receiving unit can be configured for at least a wireless communication with an orbiting satellite.
[0041]The side 104 includes a display 108 displaying visual information, such as an ornamental pattern for a decorative purpose. The display 108 is electronic, but in other embodiments, the display 108 is analog. The display 108 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, an electrophoretic display, a light emitting diode (LED) display, and so forth. The display 108 can be of any shape, such as a rectangle, a triangle, a square, a circle, an oval, a pentagon, an alphanumeric character, a symbol, and so forth. Although the display 108 is a single display, in other embodiments, the display 108 is defined via a plurality of sub-displays 108. Also, note that more than one display 108 can be used, whether identical to and/or different from the display 108 in any manner, such as size, shape, function, and so forth. Note that such use can be dependent on each other, with one master display 108 and one slave display 108, and/or independent of each other, with each of the displays 108 operating independently from each other, such as via displaying different visual information simultaneously. Note that such displays 108 can be oriented in any way with respect to each other. Also, note that such displays 108 can be immediately adjacent to each other or spaced apart from each other, such as via a strip on the side 104 interposed between such displays 108, where the strip spans between the sidewalls on the side 104.
[0042]The display 108 is bezel-free, but in other embodiments, the display 108 at least partially includes a bezeled portion. The display 108 fully covers the side 104. However, in other embodiments, the display 108 less than fully covers the side 104 in any orientation, whether longitudinally, laterally, and/or diagonally, in any shape. For example, the wearer can apply a nail polish onto those portions of the side 104 which lack the display 108.
[0043]The display 108 is powered via the power source. The display 108 is operably coupled to the processor, such as via wired contact. The display 108 displays in at least two dimensions, such as a horizontal X-axis and a vertical Y-axis. The display 108 displays in at least one color, such as a monochrome setting, a grayscale setting, and/or a color setting. Note that such color selection can be manufacturer restricted and/or wearer selectable. The display 108 displays according to a resolution sufficiently high such that the display 108 appears as a fingernail with a nail polish thereon to a nearby casual observer. For example, such resolution can be at least 720 pixels i.e. 1280×720p: 921,600 pixels per frame. The display 108 is at least one of convex, concave, and flat. The display 108 is at least one of a matte display and a glossy display. The display 108 can be coated with an anti-reflective coating. The display 108 is at least one waterproof, such as via a rubber seal, scratch-proof, such as via an anti-scratch coating, and shock-proof, such as via an internal shock absorber. The display 108 is not touch enabled. However, in other embodiments, the display 108 is touch-enabled, such as via at least one of a resistive technology, an acoustic technology, a capacitative technology, an infrared technology, an optical technology, and dispersive technology. For example, the display 108 is touch enabled such that displayed visual information can be wearer manipulated via a single gesture and/or a multi-touch gesture, such via the user's finger and/or a stylus pen. Note that the display 108 can display any type of visual information. For example, the display 108 can display at least one of a color, a pattern, a shape, a logo, a design, a symbol, an alphanumeric character, a still image, a video, an animation, a screensaver, and so forth. Also, note that the nail 100 can self-generate images based on artificial intelligence, local context conditions, and so forth. Some examples include ambient lighting conditions, such as automatically detected via an onboard light sensor of the nail 100 and/or an onboard camera of the nail 100. Other examples include a personal preference memorialized in the memory unit, a frequency of use analysis performed via the processor, and so forth. In other embodiments, the display 108 is sufficiently bright for use as at least one of a flashlight and a camera flash, whether displaying an ornamental pattern or displaying some other visual information, such as a white light. For example, the display 108 can output the white light when the nail 100 is synchronized with a camera, a camera phone, a camera tablet, and so forth.
[0044]In other embodiments, the display 108 is configured for displaying visual information mechanically. For example, the display 108 can be defined via a plurality of shutter panels, where each of the panels includes a surface with some visual information depicted thereon, whether electronically and/or mechanically. For instance, such panels can be adjacent to each other, flush with each other, and square shaped. Together, such surfaces with such information form a single image when the surfaces are movably positioned accordingly. Note that the body 102 includes a moving mechanism configured to rotate the panels between a plurality of positions. Such mechanism is operably coupled to the processor, such as via wired contact, and powered via the power source. In other embodiments, at least one of such panels can be shaped as a polyhedron, such as an octagonal prism.
[0045]In other embodiments, the side 106 includes another display 108, such as described above. Such display 108 can be operate dependent on and/or independent from the display 108 on the side 104. For example, the display 108 on the side 104 can display a color, while the display 108 on the side 106 can display a pattern.
[0046]In other embodiments, for enhanced safety, such as for avoidance of at least one of overheating and electric shock, the body 102 can include at least one of a thermal insulator and an electric insulator. The body 102 includes at least one of a bevelled portion and a chamfered portion, which can include the display 108. The body 102 can be at least one of waterproof, such as via a rubber seal, scratch-proof, such as via an anti-scratch coating, and shock-proof, such as via an internal shock absorber. Note that the nail 100 is configured for at least one of a single use and a plurality of uses.
[0047]In other embodiments, the body 102 includes a microphone for receiving a vocal command from the wearer on what visual information to display via the display 108. The body 102 also includes a voice command logic, whether hardware based and/or software based, such as stored in the memory unit, processing the vocal command, as received via the microphone, for such displaying. The microphone is operably coupled to the processing unit, such as via wired contact. For example, based on vocal input via the microphone, the processing unit instructs the display 108 to display based on the vocal input, which can be without using the receiving unit and/or without the receiving unit. The microphone is powered via the power source. The microphone can be positioned on at least one of the sidewalls, the side 104, and the side 106. The voice command can be natural language based and/or preset command based.
[0048]In other embodiments, the body 102 includes a speaker for outputting a sound to the wearer, such as when playing a video with audio, streaming from another device, and so forth. The speaker is operably coupled to the processing unit, such as via wired contact. The speaker is powered via the power source. The speaker can be positioned on at least one of the sidewalls, the side 104, and the side 106.
[0049]In other embodiments, the power source is rechargeable via body heat, such as via a thermoelectric generator.
[0050]In other embodiments, the nail 100 operates in an awake mode and an asleep mode. For example, the display 108 can be placed into the asleep mode for hibernation after a time period of inactivity. Likewise, the display 108 can be woken up from the hibernation via a command, such as a wireless signal from another device.
[0051]In other embodiments, the nail 100 houses a vibrator operably coupled to the processing unit, such as via wired contact. The vibrator is configured to vibrate upon an action, such as when the display 108 changes visual information. The vibrator is operably coupled to the processing unit, such as via wired contact. The vibrator is powered via the power source.
[0052]In other embodiments, the nail 100 houses a graphics card operably coupled to the processing unit, such as via wired contact. The card is operably coupled to the display 108, such as via wired contact. The card assists the display 108 in displaying visual information. The card is powered via the power source. In other embodiments, the display 108 can include the card.
[0053]Note that the nail 100 can also be configured for placing over a toenail. For example, one type of the nail 100 can be configured for placing over the fingernail, while another type of the nail 100 can be configured for placing over the toenail. However, note that some embodiments can allow for the nail 100 to be configured for placing over the toenail and the fingernail.
[0054]A mobile phone 200 includes a body 202 and a display 204. The phone 200 runs a software application, which displays a graphical user interface (GUI) via the display 204. The GUI depicts a plurality of icons 206 corresponding to a plurality of ornamental patterns 208. A right pattern 208 is currently selected via having a circle around the right pattern 208. Resultantly, above the icons 206, the GUI depicts an image of the nail 100 displaying the right pattern 208 on the display 108. Likewise, the display 108 on the nail 100 depicts the right pattern 208. Note that the application can be local to the phone 200, such as downloaded from an app store, and/or the application be remote to the phone 200, such as network browser operated, for instance online-based. Also, note that the GUI is one manner of performing such functionality and other suitable GUIs can be used, whether additionally and/or alternatively.
[0055]In an example mode of operation, the wearer adheres the nail 100 onto the wearer's fingernail via the side 106 such that the side 104 is visible to the naked eye of the wearer. The wearer pairs the phone 200 to the nail 100 for short range wireless communication. The wearer operates the phone 200 to select one of the icons 206. The phone 200 wirelessly communicates the wearer's selection to the nail 100. The nail 100 displays the pattern 208 via the display 108. Note that the pattern 208 displayed via the display 108 can be selected randomly, whether via the module 112 of the nail 100 and/or the phone 200 via the application. Such random selection can be based on a plurality of locally stored images and/or a plurality of remotely stored images, whether local to the nail 100 and/or the phone 200, whether remote to the nail 100 and/or the phone 200. Also, the nail 100 can be configured for automatically iterating through a sequence of the patterns 208, such as for a wearer selected time period.
[0056]FIG. 2 shows an example embodiment of an artificial nail receiving a wireless signal from at least one computer according to the present disclosure. Some elements of this figure are described above. Thus, same reference characters identify identical and/or like components described above and any repetitive detailed description thereof will hereinafter be omitted or simplified in order to avoid complication.
[0057]The nail 100 is configured for receiving a wireless signal from at least one of a laptop computer 300, a desktop computer 400, a watch 500, and a tablet computer 600. Such signal, as described above, allows for display of the ornamental pattern 208 via the display 108 on the nail 100. Note how at least one of the laptop computer 300, the desktop computer 400, the watch 500, and the tablet computer 600 displays the GUI depicting the icons 206 corresponding to the patterns 208. However, also note that other GUIs can also be used, whether identical to and/or different from each other. Further, note that such communication can be synchronous and/or asynchronous. Note that watch 500 can be digital and/or analog.
[0058]FIG. 3 shows an example embodiment of an artificial nail charged in a wired manner according to the present disclosure. Some elements of this figure are described above. Thus, same reference characters identify identical and/or like components described above and any repetitive detailed description thereof will hereinafter be omitted or simplified in order to avoid complication.
[0059]The body 102 includes a port 110 within one of the sidewalls. Note that more than one port 110 is possible, whether within one of the sidewalls and/or within a plurality of the sidewalls, whether identical and/or different from each other. For example, the port 110 can be a Firewire® port, a Thunderbolt® port, a universal serial bus (USB) port, and so forth. The port 110 can be configured for water resistance when the body 102 is exposed to water. For example, such resistance can be in under ten feet of water.
[0060]The body 102 houses a hardware module 112 containing at least the processing unit, the memory unit, and the receiving unit. Note that module 112 can include other components, as described herein, such as the graphics card. Although the module 112 is non-removable from the body 102, in other embodiments, the module 112 is removable from the body 102, such as for repair, replacement, upgrades, and so forth.
[0061]The body 102 houses a plurality of cylindrical batteries 114, which power the module 112 and the display 108. For example, the batteries 114 can be lithium based. In other embodiments, the body 102 houses only one of the batteries 114 powering the module 112 and the display 108. Also, note that the batteries 114 can be shaped non-cylindrically as well, such as a cuboid, a sphere, and so forth.
[0062]A charging cable 700 includes a cord 702 and a plug 704. The port 110 receives the plug 704 such that the port 110 and the plug 704 are in male-female coupling relationship. Note that the cable 700 can also feed data, such as visual information, video, audio, and so forth, to the memory unit of the module 112. Also, note that the charging and/or data transfer can be for many types of peripherals, whether unidirectional and/or bidirectional. Such computer peripherals include, but are not limited to a mobile phone, a desktop computer, a wearable computer, a monitor, a webcam, a keyboard, a digital camera, a printer, a portable media player, a personal computer, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a video game console, and other electronic devices.
[0063]FIG. 4 shows an example embodiment of a plurality of artificial nails displaying one design according to the present disclosure. Some elements of this figure are described above. Thus, same reference characters identify identical and/or like components described above and any repetitive detailed description thereof will hereinafter be omitted or simplified in order to avoid complication.
[0064]The wearer's right hand has five fingernails, each of which is wearing the nail 100 via adhesion with the side 104 facing the wearer and the side 106 facing the fingernail. The wearer operates the GUI of the application running on the phone 200 such that the nails 100 display an identical ornamental pattern on the displays 108. Note that such operation can be on an individual basis, such as nail-by-nail, and/or a group basis, such as concurrently for at least two of the nails 100. For example, the GUI can depict a hand with five fingers such that the wearer can select at least one of the fingers for at least one of image selection and image setting based on the selection.
[0065]FIG. 5 shows an example embodiment of a plurality of artificial nails displaying a plurality of different designs according to the present disclosure. Some elements of this figure are described above. Thus, same reference characters identify identical and/or like components described above and any repetitive detailed description thereof will hereinafter be omitted or simplified in order to avoid complication.
[0066]Unsatisfied with the ornamental pattern of FIG. 4, the wearer operates the GUI of the application running on the phone 200 such that the nails 100 on an index finger and on a ring finger display an ornamental pattern different from the other fingers. Note that such changes can be performed at will.
[0067]FIG. 6 shows another example embodiment of a plurality of artificial nails displaying a plurality of different designs according to the present disclosure. Some elements of this figure are described above. Thus, same reference characters identify identical and/or like components described above and any repetitive detailed description thereof will hereinafter be omitted or simplified in order to avoid complication.
[0068]Again unsatisfied with the ornamental patterns of FIG. 5, the wearer again operates the GUI of the application running on the phone 200 such that the nails 100 on on a middle finger, the ring finger, and a little finger display an ornamental pattern different from the index finger and the ring finger, as described above. Note that such changes can be performed at will.
[0069]FIG. 7 shows still another example embodiment of a plurality of artificial nails displaying a plurality of different designs according to the present disclosure. Some elements of this figure are described above. Thus, same reference characters identify identical and/or like components described above and any repetitive detailed description thereof will hereinafter be omitted or simplified in order to avoid complication.
[0070]Again unsatisfied with the ornamental patterns of FIG. 6, the wearer again operates the GUI of the application running on the phone 200 such that the nails 100 display images, such as photographs. Note that any type of visual information can be displayed.
[0071]FIG. 8 shows an example embodiment of an artificial nail having a photovoltaic cell according to the present disclosure. Some elements of this figure are described above. Thus, same reference characters identify identical and/or like components described above and any repetitive detailed description thereof will hereinafter be omitted or simplified in order to avoid complication.
[0072]The side 106 includes a pair of opposing side ridges 106.1 longitudinally extending along the body 102. The body 102 includes a photovoltaic cell 116 extending between the ridges 106.1 along the body 102. The cell 116 can be of any shape. The cell 116 recharges the power source, such as the batteries 114. The cell 116 is a crystalline silicon cell, but can be of any suitable type. Note that the body 102 can include a plurality of the cells 116. In other embodiments, the side 104 and/or at least one of the sidewalls includes the cell 116.
[0073]FIG. 9 shows an example embodiment of an artificial nail cover having an activation switch according to the present disclosure. Some elements of this figure are described above. Thus, same reference characters identify identical and/or like components described above and any repetitive detailed description thereof will hereinafter be omitted or simplified in order to avoid complication.
[0074]The side 106 includes a turn on/off mechanism, which turns on the nail 100 and turns off the nail 100. The mechanism includes a defined path 118 and a switch 120 traveling the path 118 between a turn on position and a turn off position. Note that other types of such mechanisms can be used as well, such as a button, a touchscreen, and so forth.
[0075]FIG. 10 shows an example embodiment of a charging station wirelessly charging an artificial nail according to the present disclosure. Some elements of this figure are described above. Thus, same reference characters identify identical and/or like components described above and any repetitive detailed description thereof will hereinafter be omitted or simplified in order to avoid complication.
[0076]A wireless charging station 800 includes a charging cord 802, a plug 804, and a base 806. The base 806 includes an upper side 808 including a plurality of induction charging couplings 810 extending thereon. Each of the coupling 810 includes an induction coil creating an alternating electromagnetic field from within base 806. The station 800 functions as a wireless energy sender.
[0077]The nail 100 includes an induction charging element 122 extending along the side 106. The nail 100 is resting on the side 808