Biometric sensor assembly with an integrated antenna

Abstract

A sensor assembly is provided. The sensor assembly includes a printed circuit board and one or more biometric sensor circuits coupled to the printed circuit board. The sensor assembly includes a cover having one or more electrodes, and the one or more electrodes are disposed on an outer side of the cover coupled to one or more electrical traces disposed inside the cover. The one or more electrical traces are electrically coupled to the one or more biometric sensor circuits. The sensor assembly also includes an antenna electrically coupled to the one or more electrodes. A wearable computing device incorporating the sensor assembly is also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to sensor assemblies, such as sensor assemblies for wearable computing devices. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a sensor assembly that includes an antenna electrically coupled to a sensor electrode(s) to improve the performance of the antenna (e.g., radiation efficiency).

Background Art

[0002] Recent advancements in technology, including those available via consumer devices, have provided corresponding advancements in the detection and monitoring of health conditions. For example, devices such as fitness bands and smartwatches can determine information regarding the health condition of the person wearing the device. While it is desirable to provide as many functions as possible, the form factor of these devices is limited, making it difficult to include the necessary components.

[0003] Considering the multifunctionality of electronic devices, there is a need for sensor assemblies for wearable computing devices that can improve the operation of other components of the device, such as an antenna.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] Aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure are set forth in part in the following description, or may be learned from the description, or may be learned through practice of the embodiments.

[0005] In one aspect, a sensor assembly is provided. The sensor assembly includes a printed circuit board, one or more biometric sensor circuits disposed on the printed circuit board, a cover having one or more electrodes, the one or more electrodes being disposed on an outer surface coupled to one or more electrical traces disposed on an inner surface of the cover, and an antenna electrically coupled to the one or more electrodes.

[0006] In some embodiments, the antenna can be coupled to one or more electrodes at a high frequency.

[0007] In some embodiments, the electrodes can be electrically coupled to a printed circuit board by one or more conductive foam pads, one or more spring clips, one or more pogo pins, or combinations thereof.

[0008] In some embodiments, the conductive foam pads can be a foamed material having one or more conductive fabric layers thereon.

[0009] In some embodiments, the electrodes can be stainless steel, aluminum, or a composite material of chromium and silver.

[0010] In some embodiments, the antenna can be copper. In some embodiments, the biometric sensor circuit can include an electrocardiogram (ECG) circuit.

[0011] In some embodiments, the biometric sensor circuit can include a photoplethysmography (PPG) circuit.

[0012] In some embodiments, the printed circuit board can be a flexible circuit board. In other aspects, wearable computing devices are provided that include electrodes and an antenna. The wearable computing device includes a main circuit board, a flexible printed circuit board electrically coupled to the main circuit board, a biometric sensor circuit coupled to the flexible printed circuit board, a cover having one or more electrodes, the one or more electrodes being disposed on an outer side of the cover and coupled to one or more electrical traces disposed inside the cover, the one or more electrical traces being electrically coupled to the one or more biometric sensor circuits, and can include the one or more electrodes and an antenna electrically coupled to the main circuit board.

[0013] In some embodiments, the antenna can be coupled to the one or more electrodes at a high frequency.

[0014] In some embodiments, the electrical traces can be electrically coupled to the biometric sensor circuit by one or more conductive foam pads, one or more spring clips, one or more pogo pins, or combinations thereof.

[0015] In some embodiments, the conductive foam pad can be a foam material having one or more conductive fabric layers thereon.

[0016] In some embodiments, the electrodes can be stainless steel, aluminum, or a composite material of chromium and silver.

[0017] In some embodiments, the antenna can be copper. In some embodiments, the biometric sensor circuit can be an ECG circuit.

[0018] In some embodiments, the biometric sensor circuit can be a PPG. In some embodiments, the first antenna spring clip can be electrically coupled to an antenna and an antenna tuning circuit disposed on a main circuit board. The first antenna tuning circuit can be electrically coupled to a cellular modem disposed on the main circuit board.

[0019] In some embodiments, the second antenna spring clip can be electrically coupled to an antenna and a second antenna tuning circuit disposed on the main circuit board. The second antenna tuning circuit can be electrically coupled to an RF circuit disposed on the main circuit board or can be electrically coupled to ground.

[0020] In some embodiments, the device can include a wireless charging pairing device configured to operate at an operating frequency for wirelessly charging the device.

[0021] In some embodiments, the device includes a capacitor electronically coupled to the antenna, and the antenna is configured to filter signals at the operating frequency of the wireless charging pairing device.

[0022] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the various embodiments of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description of embodiments and the accompanying claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the detailed description serve to explain the relevant principles.

[0023] A detailed description of embodiments directed to those skilled in the art is set forth in this specification with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the present disclosure and is not a limitation of the present disclosure. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still another embodiment. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to cover modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0026] As used herein, when used to modify a value, the terms “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” indicate that the value can be increased or decreased by 5% and still remain within the scope of the disclosed embodiments. Further, when multiple ranges are provided, any combination of the minimum and maximum values described in the multiple ranges is contemplated by the present disclosure. For example, if the ranges “about 20% to about 80%” and “about 30% to about 70%” are recited, the ranges “about 20% to about 70%” or “about 30% to about 80%” are also contemplated by the present disclosure.

[0027] Exemplary aspects of the present disclosure can be directed to, for example, a sensor assembly that can be included in a wearable computing device that can be worn on a user's wrist or other location on the user's body. The sensor assembly includes a biometric sensor circuit coupled to a printed circuit board, two electrodes disposed on a cover, and an antenna. Although any type of antenna is contemplated by the present disclosure, it should also be understood that the antenna can operate in other frequency bands, such as the frequency bands utilized by LTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth® applications, as known to those skilled in the art.

[0028] Regardless of the specific application in which the sensor assembly is utilized, the sensor assembly includes one or more electrodes configured to electronically couple with an antenna to improve the operating efficiency of the antenna. Advantageously, the material selection of the electrodes facilitates the operating function at lower frequency requirements necessary for collecting signals for processing by the biometric sensor circuit and the electrical coupling to the antenna at higher frequencies (e.g., high-frequency coupling), thereby improving the operating efficiency of the antenna. Specifically, the electrodes are formed from a metal material, such as a composite material of silver and chromium, enabling the biometric signal circuit to function properly and also facilitating high-frequency (RF) coupling to the antenna. Further, the selected metal material is important in that the electrodes can be disposed on the outer surface of the cover of a computing device, such as a wearable computing device (e.g., a smartwatch), and thus can be aesthetically pleasing to the end user. Since the electrodes are visible to the user, the material selection of the electrodes needs to be aesthetically pleasing while maintaining the desired functionality.

[0029] Also, by bringing the electrode close to the antenna, the electrical coupling between the antenna and the electrode can be facilitated. For example, the distance between the antenna and the electrode can be precisely controlled to be within a specific range to ensure the electrical coupling between the electrode and the antenna. Further, in specific applications such as wearable computing devices, the space for including the operating elements of the device is limited. Therefore, in order to improve the operation of the antenna, it can be difficult to include additional component materials or other antennas in the wearable computing device. Therefore, by including an electrode having a dual function, the performance of the antenna can be improved without the need to include additional components in the already limited space. The electrode can improve the radiation efficiency of the antenna in one or more LTE frequency bands in the range of about 600 MHz to about 960 MHz. For example, the radiation efficiency of the antenna can be improved by at least about 2 decibels, for example at least about 3 decibels, for example at least about 4 decibels, for example at least about 5 decibels in one or more LTE frequency bands.

[0030] The electrodes can be disposed on the outside of a cover configured to contact the user's skin. The electrodes are coupled to an electrical trace disposed on the inner surface of the cover, and the electrical trace is electrically coupled to a printed circuit board. The electrical trace can be electrically coupled to the printed circuit board via a conductive foam pad, such as a foam material entrapped within one or more conductive fabric layers. The conductive foam pad is disposed between the electrical trace and the printed circuit board. The properties of the foam material (e.g., density, indentation force deflection (IFD)) can be carefully selected so that the foam material does not act to increase forces within the assembly. The foam material can be laminated with a conductive fabric to facilitate an electrical connection between the electrode (via the electrical trace) and the printed circuit board. The conductive fabric can include any woven or non-woven fabric that includes conductive elements dispersed therein. For example, the conductive fabric can be made from a thermoplastic polymer (e.g., polyester) that is plated or embedded with a metallic material, such as copper or nickel. The conductive fabric can have a resistance of less than 1 ohm per foot in any direction across the fabric.

[0031] The sensor circuit is disposed on the printed circuit board. For example, the sensor circuit can include a biometric sensor circuit. The biometric sensor circuit can be disposed on the printed circuit board. The biometric sensor circuit can include an electrocardiogram (ECG) circuit or a photoplethysmography (PPG) circuit. Additional biometric sensor circuits can be included on the printed circuit board as desired. For example, the biometric sensor circuit can include a galvanic skin activity (GSA) monitoring circuit and / or a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) circuit. The sensor assembly can be incorporated into a number of devices where biometric sensor functionality is required.

[0032] Furthermore, in embodiments related to wearable computing devices, the antenna can be electrically connected to the main printed circuit board. For example, a first fastener (e.g., a spring clip, a booster pin, a compression spring, etc.) can be used to electrically couple the antenna to a first antenna tuning circuit disposed on the main circuit board. The first antenna tuning circuit can electrically couple the antenna to a power radiator, an RF circuit, or a cellular modem. Further, the antenna can be DC grounded at a second position thereon on the main printed circuit board. For example, a second fastener (e.g., a spring clip, a booster pin, a compression spring, etc.) can be used to electrically couple the antenna to a second antenna tuning circuit that is electrically coupled to ground. Additional fasteners can be utilized to electrically couple the antenna to other antenna circuits on the main printed circuit board as desired. The first position and the second position can be spaced apart from each other along the printed circuit board. Further, the printed circuit board can include a first fastener (e.g., a spring clip, a booster pin, a compression spring, etc.) at the first position and a second fastener (e.g., a spring clip, a booster pin, a compression spring, etc.) at the second position, and couple the antenna to the main printed circuit board through a first opening and a second opening at the first position and the second position, respectively. For example, the first contact of the antenna and / or the second contact of the antenna can be mechanically coupled and / or electrically coupled to the main printed circuit board through the first fastener and the second fastener, respectively, rather than through a solder connection. It should be understood that the antenna tuning circuit(s) include various electronic components (e.g., capacitors, inductors, resistors, switching devices, etc.) to facilitate electrically coupling the antenna to a radiator, a cellular modem, or to ground the antenna. For example, the antenna can be RF grounded or DC grounded to the main printed circuit board.

[0033] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-2 illustrate a sensor assembly 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The sensor assembly includes a cover 102, which has electrodes 104 and electrical traces 106 disposed thereon. The sensor assembly 100 further includes an antenna 108 and a printed circuit board 110. A biometric sensor circuit 112 is disposed on the printed circuit board. In certain embodiments, the printed circuit board 110 is a flexible printed circuit board. The biometric sensor circuit 112 can be disposed anywhere on the printed circuit board 110 as long as space permits. The biometric sensor circuit 112 can include an ECG circuit and / or a PPG circuit. In such embodiments, the ECG circuit and the PPG circuit can be disposed in positions optimal for a particular device design. The ECG and PPG circuits can include any suitable circuits known, used, or appropriate for such functions. The electrodes 104 can be connected to the ECG circuit, which can detect small changes in the charge on the skin that vary with the user's heartbeat. It can be attempted to monitor the ECG data over time to determine the irregularity of the heartbeat that can indicate a serious heart problem. Conventional ECG measurements are typically obtained by measuring the electrical potential of the heart over a period of time corresponding to multiple cardiac cycles. By having the user place their skin (e.g., wrist or finger) on the exposed electrodes for a minimal period of time during which the ECG measurement is taken, an application running on the sensor assembly can collect and analyze the ECG data and provide feedback to the user.

[0034] As specifically shown in FIGS. 3-4, cover 102 includes an outer surface 114 on which electrode 104 is disposed. In this example, electrode 104 is at least a portion of a metal ring, although other types and forms of electrodes can be used within the scope of various embodiments. Electrode 104 is configured to be disposed on a user's skin and can detect small changes in the charge on the skin that vary with the user's heartbeat. Although two electrodes are shown, the present disclosure is not so limited, and in fact, it is contemplated that only one electrode can be utilized or additional electrodes can be utilized as long as space permits. As specifically shown in FIG. 4, electrode 104 on outer surface 114 of cover 102 is coupled to an electrical trace 106 disposed on inner surface 116 of cover 102. The electrical trace 106 is then coupled to a printed circuit board 110, as further described herein below.

[0035] Electrode 104 is formed from a metallic material and is sized to be at least as large as cover 102 or, compared to the computing device in which sensor assembly 100 is integrated, is sufficiently large to enable good contact with the user's skin. In an exemplary embodiment, electrode 104 has a size of at least about 150 mm 2 or more. Electrode 104 is formed from a metallic material such as stainless steel, aluminum, or a composite material of silver and chromium. The choice of metallic material enables electrode 104 to function with low-frequency DC requirements to collect signals from biometric sensor circuit 112 on printed circuit board 110. Further, electrode 104 can be RF coupled to antenna 108 to improve the radiation efficiency of antenna 108. Specifically, not only the material and size of electrode 104 but also their position relative to antenna 108 contribute to the ability of electrode 104 to electrically resonate at the operating frequency of antenna 108, boosting the radiation performance of antenna 108.

[0036] Antenna 108 can have signals operating in a plurality of different frequency bands. For example, antenna 108 can operate in the frequency bands of one or more Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS), GLONASS, Galileo, etc.). For example, the frequency bands of one or more Global Navigation Satellite Systems can include one or more GPS frequency bands (e.g., 1164 MHz to 1189 MHz, 1563 MHz to 1587 MHz, 1215 MHz to 1240 MHz). It should also be understood that antenna 108 can operate in other frequency bands, such as the frequency bands used in LTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth applications known to those skilled in the art. Antenna 108 is formed from any suitable metallic material. In certain embodiments, antenna 108 is formed from copper, a copper alloy, or any other material containing copper.

[0037] When operating in one or more frequency bands, the electrode 104 emits radiation that induces one or more currents in the antenna, and can improve the performance (e.g., radiation efficiency) of the antenna 108 in one or more frequency bands. For example, the electrode 104 can improve the radiation efficiency within frequency bands such as those used in LTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth applications. Referring now to FIG. 5, line 122 shows the operation of an antenna not electrically coupled to the electrode, and line 120 shows the operation of an antenna electrically coupled (e.g., RF coupled) to the electrode. As shown, the electrical coupling between the electrode 104 and the antenna 108 improved the radiation efficiency of the antenna 108 in one or more LTE frequency bands in the range from about 600 MHz to about 960 MHz. The radiation efficiency of the antenna 108 can be improved by at least about 2 decibels, e.g., at least about 3 decibels, e.g., at least about 4 decibels, e.g., at least about 5 decibels in the frequency bands of the present disclosure. Notably, the improvement in the radiation efficiency of the antenna 108 can be achieved without the need for a mechanical coupling between the electrode 104 and the antenna 108. Additional tuning circuits (not shown) including inductors and capacitors can also be electrically coupled to the electrode 104 to optimize the electrode resonance at the operating frequency of the antenna 108.

[0038] Referring now to FIG. 6, the components of the disclosed sensor assembly can be incorporated into a wearable computing device 200. Although the drawings illustrate an exemplary embodiment with respect to a smartwatch, the present disclosure is not so limited and the sensor assembly can be incorporated into any number of wearable computing devices. FIG. 6 shows a wearable computing device 200 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, the wearable computing device 200 can be worn, for example, on a user's wrist 202. For example, the wearable computing device 200 can include a band 204 and a housing assembly 210. The housing assembly 210 can be coupled to the band 204. In this way, the band 204 can be fastened around the user's wrist 202 to secure the housing assembly 210 to the user's wrist 202.

[0039] In some embodiments, the wearable computing device 200 can include a display 212 that can display content (e.g., time, date, etc.) to the user. In some embodiments, the display 212 can include an interactive display (e.g., a touch screen or touch-free). In such embodiments, the user can interact with the wearable computing device 200 via the display 212 to control the operation of the wearable computing device 200. Alternatively or additionally, the wearable computing device 200 can include one or more input devices 214 that can be operated by the user to interact with the wearable computing device 200. For example, the one or more input devices 214 can include mechanical buttons that can be operated (e.g., pressed) to interact with the wearable computing device 200. In some embodiments, the one or more input devices 214 can be operated to control the operation of a backlight (not shown) associated with the display 212. It should be understood that the one or more input devices 214 can be configured to enable the user to interact with the wearable computing device 200 in any suitable manner. For example, in some embodiments, the one or more input devices 214 can be operated by the user to navigate one or more menus on the display 212.

[0040] In some embodiments, the wearable computing device 200 can be designed to be worn by a user (e.g., continuously). When worn, the wearable computing device 200 can collect data regarding activities performed by the user or regarding the user's physiological state. Such data can include data representing the surrounding environment around the user or the user's interaction with the environment. For example, the data can include motion data regarding the user's movement, ambient light, ambient noise, air quality, etc., and / or physiological data obtained by measuring various physiological characteristics of the user such as heart rate, sweating level, body temperature, etc.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 7-9, the elements of the sensor assembly are incorporated into the wearable computing device 200. For example, by having the cover 102 have the electrodes 104 on its outer surface 114, the back side or the side facing the skin of the wearable computing device 200 can be formed. The wearable computing device 200 includes a housing assembly 210, within which a printed circuit board 110 having the biometric sensor circuit 112 thereon and an antenna 108 are disposed. Further, a wireless charging pairing device 115 can also be disposed within the housing assembly 210 of the wearable computing device 200. The wireless charging pairing device 115 can be configured to operate at an operating frequency for charging the device, as further described hereinbelow.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 9, a cross-sectional view of a wearable computing device 200 is shown. An electrical trace can be coupled to a printed circuit board via a conductive foam pad, one or more spring clips, one or more pogo pins, or a combination thereof. As shown, the electrical trace 106 is coupled to the printed circuit board 110 via the conductive foam pad 117. The conductive foam pad 117 can be formed from a conductive foam material. For example, the conductive foam material can be a foam formed from a suitable polymer plated with a conductive material (e.g., metal) or a polymer having a conductive material disposed therein. In certain embodiments, the conductive foam material includes a non-conductive foam that is wrapped in one or more conductive fabric layers. Such conductive fabrics are known and can be woven or non-woven fabrics that disperse a conductive material (e.g., metal) throughout the fabric. The conductive foam pad 117 has a first end 118 coupled (e.g., in contact) to the electrical trace 106 and a second end 119 coupled (e.g., in contact) to the printed circuit board 110. Thus, the conductive foam pad 117 functions to electrically couple the electrode 104 to the printed circuit board 110 such that signals from the electrode 104 can be processed by a biometric sensor circuit disposed on the printed circuit board 110. The conductive foam pad 117 can further function to reduce forces within the internal components of the wearable computing device 200. For example, the material of the conductive foam pad 117 can be selected such that the conductive foam pad 117 can be compressed between the printed circuit board 110 and the electrical trace 106 on the outer cover 102 without substantially increasing the internal forces within the wearable computing device 200.

[0043] Furthermore, the main printed circuit board 220 is also provided within the wearable computing device 200. The main printed circuit board 220 can include other circuits to facilitate the functions of the entire device. Such additional circuits are known and can include controllers, microcontrollers, processors, microprocessors, modems, modules, or chip sets necessary to provide the desired functions of the wearable computing device 200. Additionally, components of the sensor assembly can be coupled either electrically or mechanically to the main printed circuit board 220 as desired. For example, in some embodiments, the printed circuit board 110 can be electrically coupled to the main printed circuit board 220. Further, the wireless charging pairing device 115 can also be coupled to the main printed circuit board 220 to facilitate charging of the wearable computing device 200. Additionally, the antenna 108 can be electrically coupled to the main printed circuit board 220 as further described herein below.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 10, the antenna 108 is electrically coupled to the main printed circuit board 220. For example, known structures for electrically coupling an antenna to a main printed circuit board are known. In some embodiments, the main printed circuit board 220 can include a first fastener 230 (e.g., a spring clip) at a first position 234 thereon and a second fastener 232 (e.g., a spring clip) at a second position 236 thereon. In this way, the antenna 108 can be mechanically coupled to the main printed circuit board 220 at the first position 234 and the second position 236 via the first fastener and the second fastener, respectively. The antenna 108 can be electrically coupled or mechanically coupled to one or more antenna tuning circuits disposed on the main printed circuit board 220. For example, the antenna 108 can be electrically coupled to a first antenna tuning circuit 240 at the first position 234 and a second antenna tuning circuit 242 at the second position 236. The antenna tuning circuits 240, 242 can be used to electrically ground the antenna 108 or to electrically couple the antenna 108 to other components on the main printed circuit board 220, such as a cellular modem, a radio chipset, an RF circuit, etc.

[0045] Figures 11 to 13 show schematic views of the electrical connections of the electrode 104 and the antenna 108 to the main printed circuit board 220 as seen from above. As shown, the antenna 108 can be electrically coupled to the main printed circuit board 220 in a plurality of positions and by a plurality of configurations. As shown in FIG. 11, the antenna 108 is electrically coupled at a first position 234 to a first antenna tuning circuit 240 that is electrically coupled to a radiator 244, such as an RF generator or a cellular modem. Further, the first position 234 and the first antenna tuning circuit 240 can be used to electrically ground the antenna 108. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, the antenna 108 is electrically coupled at a first position 234 to a first antenna tuning circuit 240 that is electrically coupled to a radiator 244, such as a cellular modem, and is electrically coupled at a second position 236 to a second antenna tuning circuit 242 that is electrically grounded. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 13, the antenna 108 is electrically coupled at a first position 234 to a first antenna tuning circuit 240 that is electrically coupled to a radiator 244, and is electrically coupled at a second position 236 to a second antenna tuning circuit 242 that is electrically coupled to an RF circuit 246. The antenna 108 can be configured to be electrically coupled to the main printed circuit board 220 at various different positions as desired and as space permits.

[0046] As described above with respect to FIGS. 8-9, a wireless charging pairing device 115 is provided that is configured to charge a wearable computing device 200. The wireless charging pairing device 115 can be configured to charge the device at an operating frequency or over an operating frequency range. Such frequencies are generally known in the art. The wireless charging pairing device is electrically coupled to a transmitter that draws power from a power source, such as a wall outlet. The wireless charging pairing device 115 then emits radiation at an operating frequency for transferring power from the power source to a portable power source (e.g., a battery) within the wearable computing device 200. However, considering the proximity of the placement of the wireless charging pairing device 115 to the antenna 108 within the wearable computing device 200, the antenna 108 can be electrically coupled to a capacitor 250 to filter or block signals at the operating frequency (or frequencies) of the wireless charging pairing device 115 at the antenna 108. FIGS. 11-13 illustrate the use and placement of the capacitor 250 on the antenna 108.

[0047] The subject matter of the present disclosure has been described in detail with respect to its various specific and illustrative embodiments, but each example has been provided for purposes of illustration and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art will, upon reaching the foregoing understanding, readily be able to make alterations, modifications, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the subject disclosure is not intended to exclude such modifications, alterations, and / or additions to the subject matter that would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used in another embodiment to create yet another embodiment. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to cover such modifications, alterations, and equivalents.

Claims

1. A printed circuit board, One or more biometric sensor circuits coupled to the printed circuit board, A cover having one or more electrodes, the one or more electrodes being disposed on an outer side of the cover coupled to one or more electrical traces disposed inside the cover, the one or more electrical traces being electrically coupled to the one or more biometric sensor circuits, An antenna electrically coupled to the one or more electrodes, A sensor assembly comprising.

2. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is coupled to the one or more electrodes at a high frequency.

3. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one or more electrical traces are electrically coupled to the printed circuit board by one or more conductive foam pads, one or more spring clips, one or more pogo pins, or combinations thereof.

4. The sensor assembly according to claim 3, wherein the one or more conductive foam pads comprise a foaming material having one or more conductive fabric layers thereon.

5. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one or more electrodes comprise stainless steel, aluminum, or a composite material of chromium and silver.

6. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises copper.

7. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one or more biometric sensor circuits comprise an electrocardiogram (ECG) circuit.

8. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one or more biometric sensor circuits comprise a photoplethysmography (PPG) circuit.

9. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board is a flexible circuit board.

10. A main circuit board, A flexible printed circuit board electrically coupled to the main circuit board, One or more biometric sensor circuits coupled to the flexible printed circuit board, A cover having one or more electrodes, the one or more electrodes being disposed on an outer side of the cover coupled to one or more electrical traces disposed inside the cover, the one or more electrical traces being electrically coupled to the one or more biometric sensor circuits, The one or more electrodes and an antenna electrically coupled to the main circuit board, A wearable computing device comprising the same. **Claim 11** The wearable computing device according to claim 10, wherein the antenna is coupled to the one or more electrodes by a high-frequency coupling. **Claim 12** The wearable computing device according to claim 10, wherein the one or more electrical traces are electrically coupled to the one or more biometric sensor circuits by one or more conductive foam pads, one or more spring clips, one or more pogo pins, or combinations thereof. **Claim 13** The wearable computing device according to claim 12, wherein the one or more conductive foam pads comprise a foam material having one or more conductive fabric layers thereon. **Claim 14** The wearable computing device according to claim 10, wherein the one or more electrodes comprise stainless steel, aluminum, or a composite material of chromium and silver. **Claim 15** The wearable computing device according to claim 10, wherein the antenna comprises copper. **Claim 16** The wearable computing device according to claim 10, wherein the one or more biometric sensor circuits comprise an ECG circuit. **Claim 17** The wearable computing device according to claim 10, wherein the one or more biometric sensor circuits comprise a PPG circuit. **Claim 18** The wearable computing device according to claim 10, comprising a first antenna spring clip electrically coupled to the antenna and a first antenna tuning circuit disposed on the main circuit board, wherein the first antenna tuning circuit is electrically coupled to a cellular modem disposed on the main circuit board. **Claim 19** The wearable computing device according to claim 10, comprising a second antenna spring clip electrically coupled to the antenna and a second antenna tuning circuit disposed on the main circuit board, wherein the second antenna spring clip is (i) electrically coupled to an RF circuit disposed on the main circuit board or (ii) electrically coupled to ground. **Claim 20** A wearable computing device according to claim 10, comprising a wireless charging pairing device configured to operate at an operating frequency for wirelessly charging the device, further comprising a capacitor electronically coupled to the antenna, the antenna being configured to filter signals at the operating frequency of the wireless charging pairing device.

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