Flexible wearable ring device
Inventors
Huttunen, Heikki Juhani • Haverinen, Teemu Juhani • Huopana, Jouni Juhani • Lämsä, Antti Kalevi • Ihme, Sami Sakari • Mäkinen, Jukka Tapani
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11911181-B1
Publication Date
2024-02-27
Expiration Date
2043-03-02
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Abstract
A wearable device is described. The wearable device may be constructed of one or more flexible materials, and may be referred to as a flexible wearable device. The flexible wearable device may include a flexible housing that is made of a material that is elastically deformable, where the flexible housing at least partially surrounds components of the flexible wearable device. The flexible housing may include apertures disposed within the surface of the flexible housing to enable light to be transmitted and received through the flexible housing. The flexible wearable device may also include a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within the flexible housing (e.g., within a cavity formed by the flexible housing). The PCB may include sensors configured to acquire physiological data from a user by transmitting light and receiving light through the apertures. The PCB may be constructed of flexible regions that are elastically deformable.
Core Innovation
The invention described is a flexible wearable device, exemplified by a flexible wearable ring, that includes a flexible housing made of elastically deformable material. This flexible housing at least partially surrounds components of the device, such as a printed circuit board (PCB) that includes sensors configured to acquire physiological data by transmitting and receiving light through apertures disposed in the flexible housing. The flexible PCB includes flexible regions that enable it to elastically deform, allowing the device to bend, flex, and stretch in response to forces and then return to its original shape.
The problem being addressed arises from conventional wearable devices which often suffer from poor skin contact due to rigid materials and fixed sizes. Such poor contact between the device's sensors and the user's skin can cause inaccurate physiological readings, increased power consumption, and reduced battery life. Additionally, rigid wearables can be uncomfortable, expensive to manufacture because of the need for multiple discrete sizes, and present safety risks during physical activities where the device may snag or apply excessive pressure to tissue.
This invention solves these problems by employing a flexible and elastically deformable housing and flexible PCBs. These flexible components conform to the user's tissue, improve fit by reducing gaps between skin and sensors, accommodate changes in size due to physiological factors, reduce manufacturing complexity and cost by tolerating a range of sizes, resist scratches better, and enhance safety by deforming under force to reduce user injury and device damage. The flexible design maintains sensor alignment with apertures and enables reliable wireless communication through the housing, making the device suitable for continuous physiological data monitoring during various user activities.
Claims Coverage
The claims include two independent claims focusing on a flexible wearable device and a flexible wearable ring device, highlighting key inventive features related to the flexible housing, sensors, and deformability.
Flexible housing with differentiated stiffness components
The device includes a flexible housing made from elastically deformable material comprising an inner housing component with a first stiffness and an outer housing component with a different second stiffness.
Flexible printed circuit board with elastically deformable regions and sensors
A printed circuit board disposed within the flexible housing comprises multiple sensors to acquire physiological data through apertures in the housing and includes one or more flexible regions that are elastically deformable.
Molded inner and outer housing components with apertures
The flexible housing comprises a molded inner housing component containing apertures through which light is transmitted and received, coupled with a molded outer housing component that may include the flexible material or an additional flexible material.
Battery apparatus with segmented, elastically deformable connection segments
The battery apparatus electrically coupled to the sensors comprises multiple battery segments connected via one or more elastically deformable connection segments aligned with flexible regions of the PCB.
Elastic deformation response with resistive force
The flexible wearable device elastically deforms from a first shape to a second shape under applied force, where the material and flexible regions exert resistive forces increasing with deformation magnitude.
Bonded assembly of flexible housing and PCB maintaining sensor alignment
The flexible housing is molded over and bonded to the PCB such that their surfaces remain stationary relative to each other during elastic deformation, preserving sensor alignment with apertures.
Transparent material in apertures for optical transmission
The apertures in the flexible housing are filled with a transparent material that enables efficient transmission and reception of light to and from the sensors.
Flexible materials supporting wireless communication
The flexible material enables wireless signals such as NFC and Bluetooth to be communicated through the housing to and from radio frequency components coupled with the sensors.
Construction of flexible ring-shaped wearable device
The device can be a flexible wearable ring having a flexible ring-shaped housing and apertures disposed within the inner circumferential surface of the ring housing.
Material property adaptation for component protection and deformation control
Differing stiffness values of inner and outer housing portions are selected based on components' placement to prevent damage and exert resistive forces during deformation.
Overall, the claims cover a flexible wearable device characterized by an elastically deformable housing and PCB with embedded sensors aligned to apertures enabling optical physiological measurements, employing segmented flexible batteries, and configured for elastic deformation that improves fit, safety, and measurement accuracy while supporting wireless communication.
Stated Advantages
Improved fit for the user by reducing gaps between sensors and skin due to stretchable and conformal flexible materials.
Reduced manufacturing cost and complexity by accommodating varying appendage sizes, reducing the number of discrete device sizes needed.
Enhanced safety and comfort for the user during activities where devices may snag or be compressed, as flexible materials deform to reduce injury risk.
Better resistance to scratches compared to rigid metal or plastic housings, improving device aesthetic durability.
Maintained alignment between sensors and apertures within the flexible housing during deformation to preserve measurement accuracy.
Enables continuous physiological data collection even during activities that would otherwise require device removal in rigid devices.
Improved wireless communication efficiency and reliability through the flexible housing material.
Documented Applications
Wearable physiological monitoring devices, including rings and other wearable forms such as watches, bracelets, necklaces, headbands, and clothing integrated wearables.
Collection of physiological data such as temperature, heart rate, heart rate variability, respiration rate, oxygen saturation, and motion data.
Use in contexts where users perform physical activities including weightlifting and operating machinery, requiring safe and comfortable wearable devices.
Sleep stage classification and sleep pattern evaluation based on physiological data collected continuously by the wearable device.
Application of circadian and biological rhythm adjustment models in processing physiological data collected by the flexible wearable device.
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