A smart ring with a slot antenna structure

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of intelligent ring with slot antenna structure, and the electrically conductive ring body is provided with ring gap, and the ring gap makes the electrically conductive ring body form non-closed geometric path, and the electrically conductive ring body is respectively fixed with a plurality of redundant protruding parts on the first cross section and the second cross section formed by the ring gap, and the electrically conductive ring body and the protruding part are made of integrated molding technology, and the inner wall surface of the electrically conductive ring body is provided with a receiving chamber extending along the bending direction of the electrically conductive ring body, and the antenna assembly is arranged inside the receiving chamber, and the filling part is made of non-conductive material, and the filling part is embedded in the ring gap, and is fixedly connected with the protruding part and the cross section of the electrically conductive ring body. Through the utility model, under the premise of ensuring the closed body of the intelligent ring, the antenna signal output function is realized, and the connection stability between the electrically conductive ring body and the filling part is effectively improved, and the overall structural strength of the intelligent ring is further improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of antenna design technology, and in particular relates to a smart ring with a slot antenna structure. Background Technology

[0002] A smart ring is a wearable device that integrates microelectronics and sensors. It can perform a range of intelligent functions and interact with the user's other digital devices. Smart rings are designed to provide users with convenient access to information, health monitoring functions, and a personalized user experience.

[0003] Under current technology, smart rings mostly use metal materials for the outer shell to ensure their strength and appearance. However, a closed smart ring made of metal materials will affect the signal transmission function of its internal antenna. If a slot is directly opened on the closed smart ring, the structural integrity and mechanical strength of the smart ring will be reduced, and the appearance consistency will be damaged. In addition, the conventional method of manufacturing smart rings by machining or powder metallurgy is complex and costly. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention aims to provide a smart ring with a slotted antenna structure to solve the technical problems of poor antenna signal transmission performance in conventional fully enclosed metal smart rings, as well as the complex manufacturing process and weak structural strength of smart rings in the prior art.

[0005] To solve the above problems, the technical solution of this utility model is: a smart ring with a slot antenna structure, comprising: A conductive ring body has an annular slit, which causes the conductive ring body to form a non-closed geometric path; the conductive ring body has a plurality of redundant protrusions fixed on a first cross section and a second cross section formed by the annular slit; the conductive ring body and the protrusions are manufactured using an integral molding technology; An antenna assembly is provided in which an accommodating cavity is provided on the inner wall surface of the conductive ring, extending along the bending direction of the conductive ring, and the antenna assembly is disposed inside the accommodating cavity; The filling part is made of a non-conductive material, and is embedded in the annular gap and fixedly connected to the protrusion and the cross section of the conductive ring.

[0006] Preferably, the conductive ring and the protrusion are integrally formed using 3D printing technology, CNC cutting forming technology, 3D printing-CNC cutting composite forming technology, or powder metallurgy-CNC cutting composite forming technology.

[0007] Preferably, the conductive ring and the protrusion are made of titanium alloy, stainless steel, aluminum alloy or aluminum-magnesium alloy.

[0008] Preferably, the inner diameter of the conductive ring is limited to 13mm-24mm, and the width of the ring gap is limited to less than or equal to 10% of the circumference of the closed ring formed by extending the conductive ring along its bending direction.

[0009] Preferably, the outer wall surfaces of the conductive ring and the filling portion are coated with a tungsten carbide coating, a ceramic coating, or an epoxy resin coating.

[0010] Preferably, the antenna types in the antenna assembly include Bluetooth antennas, GNSS / GPS antennas, and wireless charging receiving power coils.

[0011] Preferably, a dielectric isolation layer is provided between the antenna assembly and the inner wall surface of the conductive ring.

[0012] Preferably, after the antenna assembly is disposed inside the accommodating cavity, epoxy resin for fixing the antenna assembly is injected into the gap inside the accommodating cavity.

[0013] Preferably, the protrusion has a insertion groove arranged radially along the conductive ring body, the filling part is integrally formed using 3D printing technology, and the filling part has a plug-in component that matches the insertion groove. When the filling part is embedded in the ring gap, the plug-in component and the insertion groove are engaged to fix the conductive ring body and the filling part.

[0014] Preferably, the filling part is formed by curing in the circumferential seam using a nano-injection molding process.

[0015] Because of the adoption of the above technical solution, this utility model has the following advantages and positive effects compared with the prior art: This invention provides a smart ring with a slotted antenna structure. It comprises a conductive ring made of metallic material, an antenna assembly, and a filling portion made of non-metallic material. The conductive ring has an annular slot, forming a non-closed geometric path. The antenna assembly is located on the inner wall of the conductive ring. The conductive ring has protrusions on the first and second cross-sections formed by the annular slot. The filling portion can be a prefabricated workpiece. A fixed connection between the filling portion and the conductive ring is achieved by interlocking the connectors in the filling portion with the slots in the protrusions. Alternatively, the filling portion can be directly solidified in the annular slot using a nano-injection molding process. The protrusions enhance the connection strength between the filling portion and the conductive ring. In this invention, the antenna assembly serves as the excitation source, and the conductive ring forms a radiation port at the annular slot. The signal generated by the antenna is ultimately output outward through the annular slot. The smart ring as a whole forms a slotted antenna structure. The protrusions and filling portion ensure that the finished smart ring, while maintaining a closed shape, possesses excellent signal radiation performance and structural strength. Furthermore, the one-piece molding technology effectively simplifies the various manufacturing steps of the smart ring. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the first structure of the conductive ring provided by this utility model; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the second structure of the conductive ring provided by this utility model; Figure 3 This utility model provides a schematic diagram of the structure after the filling part and the conductive ring are assembled; Figure 4 This invention provides a schematic diagram of the signal radiation area of ​​a smart ring with a slot antenna structure.

[0017] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1: Conductive ring; 2: Circumferential seam; 3: Protrusion; 4: Antenna assembly; 5: Filler; 6: Insertion slot. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, provides a further detailed account of the smart ring with a slotted antenna structure proposed in this utility model. The advantages and features of this utility model will become clearer from the following description and claims.

[0019] The term "comprising" and its variations as used herein are open-ended inclusions, meaning "including but not limited to". The term "based on" means "at least partially based on". The term "one embodiment" means "at least one embodiment"; the term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment"; the term "some embodiments" means "at least some embodiments". Definitions of other terms will be given in the description below.

[0020] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0021] See Figures 1-4 This embodiment provides a smart ring with a slot antenna structure, which is used to enable the smart ring to radiate signals into the external space. The main structure of the smart ring includes a conductive ring 1, an antenna assembly 4, and a filling part 5.

[0022] The conductive ring 1 is a ring structure with an annular seam 2, which forms a non-closed geometric path. Several redundant protrusions 3 are fixedly provided on the first and second cross-sections of the ring formed by the annular seam 2. The protrusions 3 on the first and second cross-sections face each other. In this embodiment, the number of protrusions 3 is set to four groups. The conductive ring 1 and the protrusions 3 are manufactured using an integral molding technique to simplify the manufacturing process of the conductive ring 1 and the protrusions 3 and to improve the connection strength between the conductive ring 1 and the protrusions 3.

[0023] The inner wall of the conductive ring 1 has a receiving cavity extending along the bending direction of the conductive ring 1, and the antenna assembly 4 is disposed inside the receiving cavity. The receiving cavity can be understood as a real groove for receiving the antenna assembly 4 provided on the inner wall of the conductive ring 1, or it can be understood as a space for receiving the antenna assembly 4 on the plane of the inner wall of the conductive ring 1.

[0024] In addition, the inner wall of the conductive ring 1 is also provided with components such as control circuits, batteries, and sensors that work in conjunction with the antenna assembly 4, which will not be described in detail here.

[0025] The filling part 5 is made of a non-conductive material, such as plastic. During the assembly process of the conductive ring 1 and the filling part 5, the filling part 5 is embedded in the ring seam 2, and the filling part 5 is fixedly connected to the protrusion 3 and the cross section of the conductive ring 1, so that the smart ring becomes a relatively closed structure.

[0026] In this embodiment, based on the magnetic dipole radiation mechanism, the antenna assembly 4 acts as an excitation source to generate a magnetic field. The conductive ring 1 is cut by the magnetic field, generating a corresponding high-frequency current and forming a standing wave resonance within the conductive ring 1. The ring slot 2 can be considered as a circumferential magnetic dipole. Ultimately, the conductive ring 1 can radiate electromagnetic waves into the external space through the ring slot 2. That is, the smart ring as a whole forms a slot antenna structure. In this process, in addition to directly outputting the signal into the external space through the ring slot 2, the conductive ring 1 as a whole also acts as an antenna to radiate signals into the external space. In this embodiment, a filling part 5 is also provided and assembled in the ring slot 2 of the conductive ring 1. Without affecting the signal output, the smart ring has a closed shape. Furthermore, the conductive ring 1 has protrusions 3 on the first and second cross sections formed by the ring slot 2. The protrusions 3 and the filling part 5 cooperate to further improve the connection stability between the conductive ring 1 and the filling part 5, that is, to improve the mechanical strength of the smart ring.

[0027] The following will provide a more detailed description of the specific structure and function of the smart ring with a slot antenna structure provided in this embodiment: Preferably, in one embodiment, the integral molding technology used for the conductive ring and the protrusion includes 3D printing technology, numerical control (CNC) cutting molding technology, 3D printing-CNC cutting composite molding technology, or powder metallurgy (MIM)-CNC cutting composite molding technology. Based on the integrated structural design, the connection strength between the conductive ring and the protrusion is improved. At the same time, the use of 3D printing-CNC cutting composite molding technology or powder metallurgy-CNC cutting composite molding technology can further improve the manufacturing accuracy of the conductive ring and the protrusion. The multiple choices of integral molding technology can meet the manufacturing accuracy requirements of users under different needs.

[0028] Preferably, in one embodiment, both the conductive ring 1 and the protrusion 3 are made of metallic materials, including titanium alloy, stainless steel, aluminum alloy or aluminum-magnesium alloy, so that the conductive ring 1 and the protrusion 3 achieve the best balance between lightweight, structural strength, corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, electromagnetic / thermal properties and processing cost.

[0029] Preferably, in one embodiment, the inner diameter of the conductive ring 1 is limited to 13mm-24mm, and the thickness of the antenna assembly 4 can be fabricated to a minimum of 0.3mm. The conductive ring 1 covers the size parameters of mainstream smart rings, fully adapting to the usage needs of different users. The width of the slit 2 is limited to less than or equal to 10% of the circumference of the closed ring formed by extending the conductive ring 1 along its bending direction. That is, the circumference of the closed ring is calculated based on the radius parameter of the conductive ring 1, and the width of the slit 2 is less than or equal to one-tenth of the circumference of this closed ring. The width limitation of the slit 2 is used to ensure the strength of the signal radiated by the smart ring to the external space.

[0030] Preferably, in one embodiment, the outer wall surfaces of the conductive ring 1 and the filling part 5 are coated with a coating, including a tungsten carbide coating, a ceramic coating, or an epoxy resin coating. The coating can be used to improve the smart ring's properties such as corrosion resistance, wear resistance, heat insulation, conductivity / insulation, decoration, and biocompatibility. In another embodiment, the outer wall surfaces of the conductive ring 1 and the filling part 5 can also be sandblasted and polished. Specifically, sandblasting is first used to eliminate burrs on the outer wall surfaces of the conductive ring 1 and the filling part 5, followed by applying a coating, and finally polishing the outer wall surfaces of the conductive ring 1 and the filling part 5 to reduce surface roughness and increase light reflectivity, thereby optimizing the tactile and visual performance of the smart ring.

[0031] In addition, based on user needs, painting or vapor deposition processes can be applied to the outer wall surfaces of the conductive ring 1 and the filling part 5, but these will not be described in detail in this embodiment.

[0032] Preferably, in one embodiment, the antenna types in the antenna assembly 4 include a Bluetooth antenna, a GNSS / GPS antenna, and a wireless charging receiving power coil. The Bluetooth antenna is used to realize the Bluetooth communication function between the smart ring and peripheral devices, the GNSS / GPS antenna is used to realize the satellite positioning function of the smart ring, and the wireless charging receiving power coil is used to realize the wireless charging function of the smart ring.

[0033] Preferably, in one embodiment, a dielectric isolation layer is provided between the antenna assembly 4 and the inner wall surface of the conductive ring 1. The dielectric isolation layer may be made of polymer film, ceramic / glass, oxide / nitride deposition layer, adhesive layer or air layer, etc., to achieve non-conductive contact between the antenna assembly 4 and the conductive ring 1 and prevent short circuit between the antenna assembly 4 and the metal conductive ring 1.

[0034] Preferably, in one embodiment, after the antenna assembly 4 is disposed inside the accommodating cavity, epoxy resin for fixing the antenna assembly 4 is injected into the gap inside the accommodating cavity. That is, in this embodiment, when the accommodating cavity is a groove that actually exists on the inner wall surface of the conductive ring 1, epoxy resin can be directly injected into the groove, and the injection height of the epoxy resin is the same as the height of the groove. After the epoxy resin cures, the antenna assembly 4 and the conductive ring 1 can be fixedly connected, and the inner wall surface of the conductive ring 1 and the epoxy resin surface can form the inner contact ring surface of the smart ring; when the accommodating cavity is a groove that actually exists on the inner wall surface of the conductive ring 1, epoxy resin can be directly injected into the groove, and the injection height of the epoxy resin is the same as the height of the groove. When the inner wall surface of the ring 1 has space to accommodate the antenna assembly 4, the antenna assembly 4 is arranged to fit against the inner wall surface of the conductive ring 1. Then, epoxy resin is injected into the circumferential space of the antenna assembly 4 so that the epoxy resin completely covers the antenna assembly 4 and the inner wall surface of the conductive ring 1. After the epoxy resin is cured, the surface of the epoxy resin is polished so that the shape of the cured epoxy resin is adapted to the conductive ring 1. In this way, the fixed connection between the antenna assembly 4 and the conductive ring 1 can also be achieved, and the surface of the epoxy resin can be formed as the inner contact ring surface of the smart ring.

[0035] Of course, in other embodiments, a cover plate can be further assembled inside the conductive ring 1 to encapsulate the antenna assembly 4. When the cover plate is made of metal, it is also necessary to ensure that the cover plate forms a relative non-metallic notch on one side of the ring seam, and that the cover plate and the antenna assembly 4 are in non-conductive contact.

[0036] Preferably, in one embodiment, the protrusion 3 is provided with a insertion groove 6 arranged radially along the conductive ring 1, and the filling part 5 is a pre-made workpiece, that is, a matching filling part 5 is generated in advance according to the shape of the conductive ring 1 and the protrusion 3. The filling part 5 can be integrally formed by 3D printing technology. The filling part 5 is provided with an insertion member along the height direction of the filling part 5 and matching the size and shape of the insertion groove 6. When the filling part 5 is embedded in the annular seam 2, the insertion member and the insertion groove 6 are engaged to achieve the fastening of the insertion member and the insertion groove 6, thereby fixing the conductive ring 1 and the filling part 5.

[0037] The cross-sectional shape of the insertion slot 6 can be selected as circular, rectangular, or irregular.

[0038] In other embodiments, in order to ensure the continuity of the inner and outer ring surfaces of the final smart ring, the filling part 5 can be divided into an upper filling part and a lower filling part. The upper filling part and the lower filling part are spliced ​​from the outer side and the inner side of the conductive ring 1 respectively, and the plugs in the upper filling part and the lower filling part are inserted into the plug slot 6 from the upper and lower ends respectively, so that the inner and outer ring surfaces of the final smart ring form a smooth plane.

[0039] Preferably, in another embodiment, the filling part 5 can also be selected to be directly cured in the annular seam 2 using a nano-injection molding process. After the filling part 5 cools and solidifies, the protrusion 3 is inserted into the filling part 5, increasing the contact area between the filling part 5 and the conductive ring 1 and the protrusion 3, thereby significantly improving the connection strength between the filling part 5 and the conductive ring 1.

[0040] In summary, this utility model provides a smart ring with a slot antenna structure, comprising a conductive ring 1 made of metal, an antenna assembly 4, and a filling part 5 made of non-metallic material. The conductive ring 1 has an annular slot 2, which forms a non-closed geometric path. The antenna assembly 4 is disposed on the inner wall surface of the conductive ring 1. The conductive ring 1 has protrusions 3 on the first and second cross sections formed by the annular slot 2. The filling part 5 can be a prefabricated workpiece. The filling part 5 is fixedly connected to the conductive ring 1 by the insertion of the connector in the filling part 5 into the insertion groove 6 in the protrusion 3. Alternatively, the filling part 5 can be directly cured in the annular slot 2 by nano-injection molding process. The connection strength between the filling part 5 and the conductive ring 1 is improved by the protrusion 3. In this invention, the antenna assembly 4 serves as the excitation source, and the conductive ring 1 forms a radiation port at the ring gap 2. The signal generated by the antenna is output outward through the ring gap 2. The smart ring is formed as a slot antenna structure. At the same time, it is provided with a protrusion 3 and a filling part 5, so that the finished smart ring has excellent signal radiation performance and structural strength while meeting the requirements of a closed shape. Moreover, the integrated molding technology effectively simplifies the various manufacturing steps of the smart ring.

[0041] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Even if various changes are made to the present invention, if these changes fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalents, they shall still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A smart ring with a slot antenna structure, characterized in that, include: A conductive ring having an annular slot, the annular slot causing the conductive ring to form a non-closed geometric path; The conductive ring has several redundant protrusions fixed on its first and second cross sections, which are formed by the annular seam; the conductive ring and the protrusions are manufactured using an integral molding technique. An antenna assembly is provided in which an accommodating cavity is provided on the inner wall surface of the conductive ring, extending along the bending direction of the conductive ring, and the antenna assembly is disposed inside the accommodating cavity; The filling part is made of a non-conductive material, and is embedded in the annular gap and fixedly connected to the protrusion and the cross section of the conductive ring.

2. The smart ring with a slot antenna structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The conductive ring and the protrusion are integrally formed using technologies including 3D printing, CNC cutting, 3D printing-CNC cutting composite molding, or powder metallurgy-CNC cutting composite molding.

3. The smart ring with a slot antenna structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The conductive ring and the protrusion are made of titanium alloy, stainless steel, aluminum alloy or aluminum-magnesium alloy.

4. The smart ring with a slot antenna structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner diameter of the conductive ring is limited to 13mm-24mm, and the width of the ring gap is limited to less than or equal to 10% of the circumference of the closed ring formed by extending the conductive ring along its bending direction.

5. The smart ring with a slot antenna structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The outer wall surfaces of the conductive ring and the filling part are coated with tungsten carbide coating, ceramic coating or epoxy resin coating.

6. The smart ring with a slot antenna structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The antenna types in the antenna assembly include Bluetooth antennas, GNSS / GPS antennas, and wireless charging receiving power coils.

7. The smart ring with a slot antenna structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A dielectric isolation layer is provided between the antenna assembly and the inner wall surface of the conductive ring.

8. The smart ring with a slot antenna structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, After the antenna assembly is disposed inside the accommodating cavity, epoxy resin for fixing the antenna assembly is injected into the gap inside the accommodating cavity.

9. The smart ring with a slot antenna structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The protrusion has a slot arranged radially along the conductive ring. The filling part is integrally formed using 3D printing technology. The filling part has a connector that matches the slot. When the filling part is embedded in the ring gap, the connector engages with the slot to fix the conductive ring and the filling part together.

10. The smart ring with a slot antenna structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The filling part is formed by curing in the circumferential seam using a nano-injection molding process.

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