Finger ring

By integrating a microphone and speaker unit into the ring, the problem of the lack of input and output components in smart rings is solved, enabling convenient voice input and audio output and improving the user experience.

WO2026051418A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2026-03-12BEIJING ZITIAO NETWORK TECH CO LTD
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-05-14
Publication Date
2026-03-12

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing smart rings lack input/output components such as microphones and speakers, resulting in a poor user experience, especially in terms of limited voice control and audio interaction.

Method used

The ring integrates a microphone and speaker unit, enabling voice input and output through pickup and output holes. It connects to external devices via a communication unit and is equipped with functional components such as buttons and indicator lights to enhance user interaction.

Benefits of technology

It improves the convenience and versatility of the ring for users, eliminating the need for external devices for voice input and audio output, thus enhancing the ring's practicality and user experience.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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  • Figure CN2025094980_12032026_PF_FP_ABST
    Figure CN2025094980_12032026_PF_FP_ABST
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Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a finger ring. The finger ring comprises: a housing configured to have an annular shape suitable for being worn on a user's finger and have a chamber, the housing comprising a sound pickup hole formed on the outer wall so as to allow sound to pass through and enter the chamber; and a functional assembly arranged in the chamber, and comprising a microphone unit configured to receive external sound transmitted through the sound pickup hole, and a communication unit configured to establish a data transmission link with an external device to transmit data, wherein the communication unit is electrically connected to the microphone unit and transmits the external sound to the external device. By using the microphone unit on the finger ring to input voice information or voice instructions to the external device, the external device is conveniently controlled to execute various functions or input information. In this way, the finger ring in the embodiments of the present application can significantly improve user experience when users use the finger ring and external devices.
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Description

Ring

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411253039.4, filed September 6, 2024, entitled “Ring” and Chinese Utility Model Patent Application No. 202422440260.2, filed October 9, 2024, entitled “Ring”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of wearable devices, and more specifically, to a ring. BACKGROUND

[0003] Smart rings are quite popular on the market today. These rings are typically connected to external devices such as mobile phones through wireless connection technology, allowing users to conveniently complete various tasks, such as controlling music playback, answering calls, or performing simple operations. Smart rings have gradually become a convenient tool in people's lives due to their lightweight and easy-to-use characteristics.

[0004] However, most smart rings currently have fewer input and output components and / or sensors, which brings a lot of inconvenience in actual use. For example, in voice control or call scenarios, users must rely on the microphone function of other devices, which not only increases the complexity of operation, but also limits the functional expansion space of smart rings.

[0005] In recent years, smart wearable devices such as smart rings have gradually gained popularity among consumers. These rings are typically connected to external devices such as mobile phones through wireless connection technology, allowing users to conveniently complete various tasks, such as controlling music playback, answering calls, or performing simple operations. Smart rings have gradually become a convenient tool in people's lives due to their lightweight and easy-to-use characteristics.

[0006] However, with the advancement of technology, consumers' demand for multi-functional wearable devices is increasing, which prompts researchers to explore how to integrate more functions into rings. Although there have been attempts to add sensors and communication modules to rings, there is still a lack of innovation in audio output. SUMMARY

[0007] A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a ring. The ring comprises: a housing configured to have a ring shape to be worn on a finger of a user and having a chamber, the housing comprising a sound pickup hole formed on an outer wall to allow sound to pass into the chamber; and a functional assembly arranged in the chamber and comprising: a microphone unit configured to receive external sound transmitted from the sound pickup hole; and a communication unit configured to establish a data transmission link with an external device to transmit data; wherein the communication unit is electrically connected with the microphone unit and transmits the external sound to the external device.

[0008] By using the microphone unit on the ring to input voice information or voice instructions to the external device, the external device is conveniently controlled to perform various functions or input information. In this way, the ring of the embodiments of the present disclosure can significantly improve the user experience of the user when using the ring and the external device.

[0009] In some embodiments, the sound pickup hole is located on the outer wall of the ring on the side of the thumb or the sound pickup hole is located on the outer wall of the ring on the side of the back of the finger.

[0010] In some embodiments, the chamber further comprises a speaker cavity, and the functional assembly further comprises a speaker unit, and the housing further comprises a sound outlet hole formed on the outer wall to allow the sound played by the speaker unit to be transmitted from the inside of the chamber.

[0011] In some embodiments, the speaker unit is electrically connected with the communication unit, and the speaker unit plays sound data received via the communication unit.

[0012] In some embodiments, the chamber comprises a microphone cavity and a communication cavity, and the microphone unit and the communication unit are correspondingly arranged in the microphone cavity and the communication cavity, respectively.

[0013] In some embodiments, the ring further comprises: a first sealing ring arranged in the microphone cavity and located between the outer wall and the microphone unit to form a sound pickup cavity between the sound pickup hole and the microphone unit.

[0014] In some embodiments, the ring further comprises a key, and the key comprises at least one of a mechanical key, a capacitive key, and a pressure-sensitive key.

[0015] In some embodiments, in a wearing state, the key is located on the side of the ring on the thumb.

[0016] In some embodiments, the functional assembly further comprises a key unit, the key unit is coupled with the key, the key unit is arranged in the chamber and is configured to generate a pressing input signal in response to receiving a pressing of the key by the user.

[0017] In some embodiments, the functional assembly further includes a processor arranged in the chamber and configured to: control the turning on or off of the microphone unit based on the press input signal; and / or, control the turning on or off of the speaker unit based on the press input signal.

[0018] In some embodiments, the housing includes a key hole, and the chamber further includes a key cavity, one end of the key is coupled with the key unit within the key cavity, and the other end of the key is exposed to the outside via the key hole for the user to press.

[0019] In some embodiments, the ring further includes: a second sealing ring arranged in the key cavity and surrounding the key hole, the second sealing ring includes an isolation layer arranged between the key and the key unit.

[0020] In some embodiments, the functional assembly further includes an indicator light unit, the indicator light unit is electrically connected to the communication unit to output light with a predetermined frequency and / or a predetermined color based on at least the control signal provided by the communication unit.

[0021] In some embodiments, the chamber further includes an indicator light cavity, the indicator light unit is arranged in the indicator light cavity, the indicator light cavity has a light output portion formed on the outer wall or the indicator light cavity has a light output portion formed on the side wall, the light output portion allows the light to be emitted from the indicator light cavity.

[0022] In some embodiments, the indicator light cavity has a light output portion formed on the side wall, the light output portion is semi-annular or annular.

[0023] In some embodiments, the ring further includes a vibrator unit arranged in the chamber and electrically connected to the communication unit to vibrate based on at least the control signal provided by the communication unit.

[0024] In some embodiments, the ring further includes: a battery unit including: a power management unit arranged in a battery management cavity in the chamber; and a battery component arranged in the battery cavity and coupled to the power management unit to supply power to the functional assembly via the power management unit.

[0025] In some embodiments, the battery unit further includes at least one of: a pair of charging contacts arranged to be exposed to the outside of the housing and coupled to the power management unit to connect with an external charging terminal to charge the battery component; or a wireless charging module arranged in the housing and configured to be coupled with an external charging coil to charge the battery component.

[0026] In some embodiments, the functional assembly further includes: a sensor arranged at least partially in the housing and configured to determine state data of the user according to acquired information related to the user.

[0027] In some embodiments, the shell includes: an outer shell including the sound pickup hole formed thereon; and an inner shell disposed radially inward of the outer shell and sealingly coupled to the outer shell to form the chamber.

[0028] In some embodiments, the inner shell is formed by a glue-filling solidification process.

[0029] In some embodiments, the functional components are disposed on a flexible printed circuit board such that the functional components are disposed along the annular chamber of the ring.

[0030] A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a ring. The ring includes: a shell configured to have an annular shape to be adapted to be worn on a finger of a user; a protrusion protruding outward from a predetermined position of the shell to form a speaker cavity at the predetermined position of the shell, the protrusion having a sound outlet hole; and a speaker assembly disposed in the speaker cavity and including a sound emitting component and a sound cavity shell adapted to form a vibration cavity, the sound emitting component being disposed in the sound cavity shell and in airflow communication with the vibration cavity, the sound emitting component corresponding to a position of the sound outlet hole such that sound emitted by the sound emitting component can be transmitted out of the sound outlet hole.

[0031] By providing the speaker assembly with the vibration cavity, the ring worn on the finger of the user has the audio output capability. In this way, the user can no longer rely on external devices for information transmission or audio playback, thereby solving the deficiency of the conventional ring in audio interaction and improving the user experience.

[0032] In some embodiments, the shell includes: an outer shell including the protrusion; and an inner shell disposed radially inward of the outer shell to contact the finger and arranged to form the speaker cavity with the protrusion.

[0033] In some embodiments, the vibration cavity is disposed on a side of the sound emitting component away from the sound outlet hole.

[0034] In some embodiments, the sound cavity shell includes: a top portion disposed on a side of the sound cavity shell adjacent to the sound outlet hole and including a top opening aligned with the sound outlet hole, wherein the sound emitting component is disposed radially inward of the top portion; and a bottom portion disposed on a side of the sound cavity shell away from the sound outlet hole and configured to have an arc shape to follow the annular shape of the shell.

[0035] In some embodiments, the sound cavity shell further includes: a circumferential wall formed circumferentially between the top portion and the bottom portion to collectively form the vibration cavity with the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the circumferential wall includes a pair of planar walls oppositely arranged in an axial direction of the ring and a pair of outward protruding walls located between ends of the pair of planar walls, the pair of outward protruding walls respectively having an outward convex shape.

[0036] In some embodiments, the outward protruding walls have at least one of an arc shape or a bent shape.

[0037] In some embodiments, the protruding portion comprises: a platform portion arranged away from the inner shell and comprising the sound hole, wherein the sound cavity shell is arranged inside the platform portion; and a connecting portion arranged to connect the platform portion to other portions of the outer shell, the connecting portion extending in a tangential direction of the annular shape of the shell between the axial end walls of the shell.

[0038] In some embodiments, a first length of the platform portion in a tangential direction of the ring is in a range of 9mm-11mm, a first width of the platform portion in an axial direction is in a range of 7mm-9mm, and a first height of the platform portion from an inner circumferential surface of the ring is in a range of 2.5mm-4mm.

[0039] In some embodiments, a portion of the outer protruding wall adjacent to the connecting portion follows a shape of the connecting portion.

[0040] In some embodiments, the platform portion is connected to the connecting portion via a transition portion, the transition portion comprising at least one of a chamfer or a fillet.

[0041] In some embodiments, in a wearing state, the protruding portion is located on an outer side of the ring away from a back of a finger.

[0042] In some embodiments, the ring further comprises: a waterproof sound-permeable membrane arranged in the speaker cavity and located between the sound hole and the sound-producing component.

[0043] In some embodiments, the ring further comprises: a sealing ring arranged between the top opening and the sound-producing component.

[0044] In some embodiments, the inner shell is formed by a glue pouring and curing method.

[0045] In some embodiments, the shell further comprises: at least one functional chamber, and the ring further comprises: a functional component arranged in the at least one functional chamber and comprising at least one of a microphone unit, a communication unit, an indicator light unit, a button unit, a battery unit, a vibrator unit, and a sensor unit.

[0046] In some embodiments, the functional component comprises a communication unit configured to communicate with an external device and receive a voice played by a voice assistant sent by the external device, and the speaker component is configured to play the voice played by the voice assistant.

[0047] In some embodiments, a volume of the vibration cavity is in a range of 0.2mm 3 -0.5mm 3 .

[0048] In some embodiments, the second length of the sound production component in the tangential direction of the ring is in the range of 8mm~10mm, the second width in the axial direction is in the range of 5mm~7mm, and the second height in the radial direction is in the range of 1mm~3mm.

[0049] It is to be understood that the matters described herein are not intended to be key or essential features of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0050] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like elements throughout the drawings, and in which:

[0051] FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a ring according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0052] FIG. 1B illustrates an exploded view of a ring according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0053] FIG. 1C illustrates a side view of a ring according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0054] FIG. 1D illustrates a front view of a ring according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0055] FIG. 1E illustrates a cross-sectional view of a ring according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0056] FIGS. 1F and 1G respectively illustrate enlarged views of I and II parts of the ring of FIG. 1E according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0057] FIG. 2A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a ring according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0058] FIG. 2B illustrates an enlarged view of III part of FIG. 2A; and

[0059] FIG. 2C illustrates an exploded view of a ring according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. Like reference numerals can be used to refer to like elements throughout the drawings, and in which: the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; and these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0061] In the description of embodiments of the disclosure, the term "includes" and its conjugations are to be construed open-ended, i.e., "includes but is not limited to". The term "based on" is to be construed as "based at least in part on". The term "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" is to be construed as "at least one embodiment". The terms "first", "second" and the like can refer to different or identical objects. Other explicit or implicit definitions can also be included below.

[0062] The principles of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to several example embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Although the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the description of these embodiments is only to enable those skilled in the art to better understand and implement the present disclosure, and not to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

[0063] The embodiments of the present disclosure can involve data of users, acquisition and / or use of data, etc. These aspects all comply with the corresponding laws and regulations and relevant provisions. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, all data collection, acquisition, processing, processing, forwarding, use, etc. are carried out on the premise that the user is aware of and confirms. Accordingly, when implementing the embodiments of the present disclosure, the type of data or information that may be involved, the scope of use, the use scenario, etc. should be notified to the user and authorized by the user according to the relevant laws and regulations through appropriate means. The specific notification and / or authorization method can vary according to the actual situation and application scenario, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

[0064] In the description and embodiments of the present disclosure, if personal information processing is involved, it will be processed on the premise of legality (for example, obtaining the consent of the subject of personal information, or being necessary for the performance of a contract, etc.), and only within the prescribed or agreed range. The user refuses to process personal information other than the necessary information required for basic functions, which does not affect the user's use of basic functions.

[0065] Smart rings, as a sub-market of wearable devices, have gradually attracted the attention of technology giants and consumers in recent years. They are usually connected to devices such as smartphones through wireless technology to monitor human health and push to the user through the phone.

[0066] While the smart rings currently available on the market provide convenience in health monitoring and other aspects, they generally lack some key sensors and input / output components, such as microphones. The absence of these components limits the application of smart rings in more functions, such as voice control, calls, and high-quality multimedia experience. For example, when a user needs to make a voice call or interact with a smart assistant while using a smart ring, he or she must rely on other devices, such as a smartphone or a headset, which undoubtedly increases the complexity of use and reduces convenience. In addition, a smart ring without a loudspeaker cannot provide audio feedback, which may affect the user experience in some cases, such as when the user cannot directly hear notifications or music through the ring while exercising.

[0067] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a ring 100 to solve or at least partially solve the above-mentioned problems or other potential problems existing in conventional rings. FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of the ring 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 1B shows an exploded view of the ring 100; FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D respectively show a side view and a front view of the ring 100; and FIG. 1E shows a cross-sectional view of the ring 100. As shown in FIGS. 1A-1E, generally, the ring 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing 101 and a functional assembly 102. The housing 101 is configured to have a ring shape to be worn on a finger of a user. The housing 101 has a cavity and a sound pickup hole 1013 formed on an outer wall. The cavity also has a substantially ring shape. The sound pickup hole 1013 allows sound to pass into the cavity.

[0068] In some embodiments, in order to facilitate the guarantee that sound can enter the inside of the cavity while ensuring the waterproof and dustproof capability of the ring 100, a waterproof sound-permeable film can be provided on the inner side of the outer wall where the sound pickup hole 1013 is provided. The waterproof sound-permeable film can effectively prevent water from entering the inside of the cavity to cause damage risk to the functional assembly 102, and also allow sound to pass into the inside of the cavity.

[0069] In some embodiments, in order to facilitate the user to input sound through the sound pickup hole 1013, the sound pickup hole 1013 is located on the outer wall of the ring 100 on the side of the thumb or the sound pickup hole 1013 is located on the outer wall of the ring 100 on the side of the back of the finger when the ring 100 is worn on the index finger. In this way, when the user needs to use the ring 100 to input voice instructions or voice information, the sound pickup hole 1013 can be close to the user's mouth when the user holds up the hand wearing the ring 100 and puts it near the mouth, thereby facilitating the voice output by the user to enter the cavity and improving the sound pickup performance of the ring 100.

[0070] The functional components 102 are arranged in the chamber and can realize various functions required by the ring 100. The functional components 102 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure at least include a microphone unit 1022 and a communication unit 1021. The communication unit 1021 can establish a data transmission link with an external device by appropriate means and transmit data, where the appropriate means can include but are not limited to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular network or near field communication (NFC) and the like. Considering the low-power transmission performance of Bluetooth, the embodiments of the present disclosure will mainly take the ring 100 connected with an external device through Bluetooth as an example to describe the concept according to the present disclosure. It should be understood that other communication means are also similar, which will not be described separately hereinafter. In addition, the external device herein can include but is not limited to terminal devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, tablet computers or desktop computers and the like, as well as earphones or sound boxes and the like.

[0071] The microphone unit 1022 is configured to receive external sound from the sound pickup hole 1013 and is electrically connected with the communication unit 1021 to transmit the external sound to the external device through the communication unit 1021. By being equipped with the microphone unit 1022, in some use scenarios, for example, when the user is not convenient to take out the external device such as a mobile phone, the user can use the microphone unit 1022 on the ring 100 to input voice information or voice instructions to the external device, to conveniently control the external device to perform various functions or input information. In this way, the user experience of the user in using the ring 100 and the external device can be significantly improved.

[0072] In some embodiments, the chamber can at least include a microphone cavity 1011 and a communication cavity 1012 for accommodating the microphone unit 1022 and the communication unit 1021, respectively. In some embodiments, the microphone cavity 1011 and the communication cavity 1012 can be independent and sealed chambers, and the electrical connection between the microphone unit 1022 and the communication unit 1021 is only established through appropriate means between the two, which will be further described below. The sound pickup hole 1013 mentioned in the foregoing is arranged on the outer wall corresponding to the microphone cavity 1011, so as to facilitate the introduction of sound from the outside into the microphone cavity 1011. The microphone cavity 1011 and other parts of the chamber including the communication cavity 1012 remain independent and sealed, which can improve the sound pickup performance of the microphone unit 1022 and improve the waterproof capability of the entire ring 100. Of course, in some alternative embodiments, the microphone cavity 1011 and the communication cavity 1012 can also be chambers in fluid communication with each other, and the embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit this.

[0073] In some embodiments, the ring 100 can further include a sealing ring. For the convenience of description, the sealing ring will be referred to as a first sealing ring 103 hereinafter. The first sealing ring 103 is arranged in the microphone cavity 1011 and located between the outer wall and the microphone unit 1022 to form a pickup cavity between the pickup hole 1013 and the microphone unit 1022. In this way, the pickup performance of the microphone unit 1022 can be further improved.

[0074] In some embodiments, the functional assembly 102 can further include a speaker unit (not shown). The speaker unit can be arranged in a speaker cavity of the chamber. The housing 101 further includes a sound outlet hole formed on the outer wall to allow the sound played by the speaker unit to be transmitted out from the inside of the chamber. The sound outlet hole can be an array formed by a plurality of holes, thereby facilitating the output of sound. In some embodiments, in order to ensure the output of sound while preventing water or other foreign matter from entering the chamber, a waterproof sound-permeable film can be arranged on the inner side of the outer wall forming the sound outlet hole, similar to the pickup hole 1013.

[0075] In some embodiments, the speaker unit can be electrically connected with the communication unit 1021 and used to play sound data received via the communication unit 1021. In this way, the user can conveniently hear the sound through the ring 100 without the need for earphones or other sound output devices, thereby further improving the user experience.

[0076] In some embodiments, in order to facilitate the user to operate the ring 100, the ring 100 can further include a button 104. The button 104 can include at least one of a mechanical button 104, a capacitive button 104, and a pressure-sensitive button 104. For the convenience of description, the concept of the present disclosure will be mainly described hereinafter taking the mechanical button 104 as an example of the button 104, and it should be understood that the concept is similar to other forms of the button 104, which will not be described separately hereinafter.

[0077] In some embodiments, when the ring 100 is in a wearing state, the button 104 is located on the side of the ring 100 where the thumb is located. In this way, the user can conveniently press and operate the button 104. In some embodiments, the functional assembly 102 further includes a button unit 1023. The button unit 1023 is arranged in the chamber and coupled with the button 104. The button unit 1023 is configured to generate a press input signal in response to receiving the press of the button 104 by the user. The press input signal can be transmitted to an external device through the communication unit 1021 to provide an input for the external device, thereby realizing the corresponding function. In addition, in some embodiments, the press input signal can also be used to directly control the opening and closing of the microphone unit 1022 and / or the speaker unit, which will be further described hereinafter.

[0078] In some embodiments, in order to facilitate the installation of the key 104 and facilitate the user pressing, the shell 101 comprises a key hole 1010, and the chamber further comprises a key cavity 1014 corresponding to the key hole 1010. One end of the key 104 is connected with the key unit 1023 in the key cavity 1014, and the other end of the key 104 is exposed to the outside via the key hole 1010 for the user to press.

[0079] In some embodiments, in order to prevent moisture or foreign matter such as dust from entering the inside of the chamber through the key hole 1010, the ring 100 can further comprise a second sealing ring 105. The second sealing ring 105 is arranged in the key cavity 1014 and surrounds the key hole 1010. The second sealing ring 105 comprises an isolation layer arranged between the key 104 and the key unit 1023. In this way, the key unit 1023 can be effectively isolated in the sealed key cavity 1014 while still allowing the user to press the key 104 exposed to the outside, thereby improving the waterproof performance while improving the user experience.

[0080] In some embodiments, the functional assembly 102 can further comprise a processor arranged in the chamber. The processor is at least configured to control the opening or closing of the microphone unit 1022 based on the pressing input signal. That is, the processing unit can be coupled to the key unit 1023 to make the user close or open the microphone unit 1022 in response to the pressing input signal generated by the user pressing the key 104. For example, when the user needs to input a voice instruction to the external device, the microphone unit 1022 can be turned on and input sound to the microphone unit 1022 by long pressing (or other appropriate pressing manner). In some embodiments, the processor can also control the opening or closing of the speaker unit based on the pressing input signal.

[0081] Of course, it should be understood that the above examples of controlling the opening or closing of the microphone unit 1022 and / or the speaker unit through the key 104 are only illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The key 104 and the key unit 1023 can also have other uses and the microphone unit 1022 or the speaker unit can also be turned on or off in other ways. For example, in some embodiments, the pressing input signal generated by the key unit 1023 can also provide corresponding input for other functions of the external device to realize the corresponding functions. In some embodiments, the microphone unit 1022 or the speaker unit can also be turned on or off by the control of the external device.

[0082] In some embodiments, the ring 100 can provide light and / or vibration output in addition to providing sound output through the speaker unit. For example, in some embodiments, the functional component 102 can further include an indicator light unit 1024. The indicator light unit 1024 is electrically connected to the communication unit 1021 to output light having a predetermined frequency and / or a predetermined color based on at least a control signal provided by the communication unit 1021. For example, an external device can output a designated signal to the indicator light unit 1024 via the communication unit 1021. The indicator light outputs light that flashes, is constantly on (for a predetermined time), is a single color, and / or alternates between multiple colors, etc. according to the corresponding signal.

[0083] In some embodiments, the indicator light unit 1024 can be disposed in an indicator light cavity 1015 of the chamber. The indicator light cavity 1015 has a light output portion 1016 formed on the outer wall to allow light to be emitted from the indicator light cavity 1015. In some embodiments, the light output portion 1016 can be a through-hole formed on the outer wall. In this case, in order to be able to maintain the airtightness of the indicator light cavity 1015 while allowing light to pass through, a light-transmitting but air-tight material can be provided in the through-hole. In some embodiments, the light output portion 1016 can also be a transparent portion or a translucent portion formed on the outer wall.

[0084] In some embodiments, the light output portion 1016 can have an appropriate shape and size. For example, in some embodiments, the light output portion 1016 can be a through-hole for light to pass through, and the cross-sectional shape of the through-hole can include, but is not limited to, a circle, an ellipse, a square, a triangle, a star, a polygon, or other appropriate regular or irregular shape. In some embodiments, alternatively or additionally, the indicator light cavity 1015 also has a light output portion formed on the side wall. In such embodiments, the light output portion 1016 can also be a light strip extending along at least part of the profile of the ring 100. That is, for the light output portion formed on the side wall, it can have a semi-annular or annular shape.

[0085] In some embodiments, the ring 100 can further include a vibrator unit (not shown). The vibrator unit is disposed in the chamber and is electrically connected to the communication unit 1021 to vibrate based on at least a control signal provided by the communication unit 1021. For example, when an external device has a matter that needs to be handled by the user, the external device can send a control signal to the vibrator unit through the communication unit 1021 to control the vibrator to vibrate, thereby reminding the user to handle the matter presented in the external device.

[0086] In some embodiments, the ring 100 can also include a battery unit 106. The battery unit 106 can include a battery management unit 1061 and a battery component 1062. The battery management unit 1061 is disposed in a battery management cavity 1017 in the chamber. The battery component 1062 is disposed in the battery cavity and is coupled to the battery management unit 1061 to supply power to the functional components 102 via the battery management unit 1061. The battery management unit 1061 is capable of managing the supply of power from the battery component 1062 to the individual units in the functional components 102 to ensure proper functioning of the individual units. The battery component 1062 can have a shape corresponding to the annular chamber of the ring 100 to enable a larger capacity battery to be disposed in a limited space to ensure the endurance of the ring 100.

[0087] In some embodiments, the battery unit 106 can also include charging contacts 1063 and / or a wireless charging module. In particular, a pair of charging contacts 1063 is disposed to be exposed to the outside of the housing 101 and is coupled to the battery management unit 1061 to connect with an external charging terminal to charge the battery component 1062. The pair of charging contacts 1063 can be disposed on the inner side of the ring 100. When charging is needed, the user can take off the ring 100 from the finger and couple the charging contacts 1063 with the external charging terminal to charge the battery component 1062.

[0088] In some embodiments, as mentioned above, the battery unit 106 can also include a wireless charging module disposed within the housing 101 and configured to couple with an external charging coil to charge the battery component 1062. At least a portion of the wireless charging module can be disposed in the chamber or a wall of the housing 101 (e.g., the outer housing 1018 or the inner housing 1019 to be mentioned below) to facilitate coupling with the external charging coil to charge the battery component 1062.

[0089] In some embodiments, the shell 101 can further include an outer shell 1018 and an inner shell 1019. The outer shell 1018 includes the aforementioned sound pickup hole 1013 formed thereon. In some embodiments, similar to the sound pickup hole 1013, the aforementioned sound outlet hole and / or the key hole 1010 can also be formed on the outer shell 1018. The outer shell 1018 can have a complete annular shape and a U-shaped cross section in the radial direction, thereby facilitating the arrangement of the individual units in the functional assembly 102. The inner shell 1019 is arranged radially inside the outer shell 1018 and is sealingly coupled to the outer shell 1018 to form a cavity. In some embodiments, similar to the outer shell 1018, the inner shell 1019 can also have a complete annular shape and a U-shaped cross section in the radial direction, thereby facilitating the arrangement of the individual units in the functional assembly 102. As mentioned above, in some embodiments, at least part of the wireless charging module (e.g., the charging coil) can be arranged in the inner shell 1019 or the outer shell 1018.

[0090] In some embodiments, the inner shell 1019 can be formed by a glue pouring and curing process. Specifically, the outer shell 1018 can be first arranged in a proper position in a mold, and the individual units of the aforementioned functional assembly 102 can be placed according to the predetermined positions. After the individual units of the functional assembly 102 are placed in the proper positions of the outer shell 1018, the positions of the individual units can be fixed by a proper jig, and a liquid glue can be poured into the mold. After the glue is cured, proper polishing or trimming can be performed, thereby forming a sealed cavity and the inner shell 1019. In this way, the ring 100 can be more convenient to manufacture and have better sealing performance, thereby improving the sealing and waterproof performance of the ring 100.

[0091] In this way, each part of the cavity, i.e., the aforementioned microphone cavity 1011, the indicator light cavity 1015, the key cavity 1014, the communication cavity 1012, the battery management cavity 1017, and the speaker cavity and the vibrator cavity not shown in the figure, can each be an independent cavity, and the individual units contained therein are only electrically connected through a proper electrical connection manner (e.g., the flexible circuit board to be mentioned below). In this way, the waterproof capability of the ring 100 as a whole and the stability and reliability of the functional assembly 1012 can be improved.

[0092] Of course, it should be understood that the above arrangement of each part of the cavity is only illustrative and is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present disclosure. Each part of the cavity can also have other arrangements. For example, in some alternative embodiments, at least part of the cavities can be in communication with each other or isolated from each other in other proper manners, which are not limited by the present disclosure.

[0093] In some embodiments, to facilitate the arrangement of the individual units of the functional assembly 102 in the annular chamber, the individual units in the functional assembly 102 can be arranged on a flexible printed circuit board to enable the arrangement of the functional assembly 102 along the annular chamber of the ring 100. The flexible circuit board can have a certain strength or only a certain structural strength in certain locations, for example, to provide support when the keys 104 are pressed, to ensure the reliability of the ring 100 and the corresponding units.

[0094] In some embodiments, the functional assembly 102 further comprises a sensor arranged at least partially within the housing 101 and configured to determine user-related state data according to acquired state data.

[0095] In some embodiments, the sensor can include a GPS, an IMU, etc., to obtain motion information of the user.

[0096] In some embodiments, the sensor can include a motion sensor and / or a health sensor. For example, the health sensor is arranged at least partially within the housing 101 and configured to determine health data of the user according to acquired vital information of the user, the health data at least including at least one of heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen saturation. These health data can be transmitted to an external device via the communication unit 1021 for further use and processing by the external device to further improve the user experience.

[0097] For example, the health sensor can include a heart rate sensor, a blood oxygen sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor, and / or a bioimpedance analysis (BIA), etc. The heart rate sensor can use a photoplethysmography (PPG) technique or an electrocardiogram (ECG) technique to monitor heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV). The blood oxygen sensor can use a PPG sensor of red light and infrared light to estimate the saturation of oxygen in the blood. The temperature sensor can measure the skin surface or body temperature for monitoring body temperature changes. The pressure sensor can detect the pressure changes of gas or liquid for blood pressure monitoring, etc. The acceleration sensor can measure body movement and activity for motion tracking. The EDA sensor can be used to measure skin electrical activity for monitoring stress and emotional state. The BIA sensor can measure body fat percentage and water by sending a small current through the body. In addition to the above-mentioned sensors, the ring 100 can also include a proximity sensor to detect the presence of nearby objects for gesture recognition and non-contact interaction, etc.

[0098] FIG. 2A shows a cross-sectional view of the ring according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2B shows an enlarged view of the III portion in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2C shows an exploded view of the ring.

[0099] As shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, generally, the ring according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a housing 201, a protrusion 202, and a speaker assembly 203. The housing 201 is configured to have a ring shape to be worn on a finger of a user. For the difference in thickness of the fingers, a plurality of specifications of the housing 201 can be provided. The protrusion 202 protrudes outward from a predetermined position of the housing 201 to form a speaker cavity at the predetermined position of the housing 201. The protrusion 202 has a sound hole 2021.

[0100] The speaker assembly 203 is arranged in the speaker cavity and includes a sound emitting component 2031 and a sound cavity shell 2033 adapted to form a vibration cavity 2032. The sound emitting component 2031 is arranged in the sound cavity shell 2033 and in airflow communication with the vibration cavity 2032. The vibration cavity 2032 can increase the air pressure change when the diaphragm of the sound emitting component 2031 moves, thereby enhancing the sound output at a specific frequency. When the diaphragm vibrates, it causes the air in the cavity to resonate, which can enhance the output of the sound emitting component 2031 at certain frequencies, especially low frequencies. In addition, the shape and internal structure of the vibration cavity 2032 can affect the propagation of sound waves. Sound wave reflection inside the vibration cavity 2032 can enhance sound waves at certain frequencies while attenuating or eliminating sound waves at other frequencies, thereby improving the frequency response of the speaker.

[0101] The sound emitting component 2031 corresponds to the position of the sound hole 2021 so that the sound emitted by the sound emitting component 2031 can be transmitted from the sound hole 2021. Here, the correspondence can mean that the diaphragm of the sound emitting component 2031 is at least partially aligned with the sound hole 2021, thereby facilitating sound output. The sound hole 2021 can be an array of a plurality of small holes arranged according to a predetermined rule, etc. The shape of the array, the shape and spacing of the small holes, etc. can be adjusted as needed, which is not limited herein.

[0102] By providing the speaker assembly 203 with the vibration cavity 2032, the small ring worn on the finger of the user has the ability to output audio. In this way, the user can no longer rely on external devices for information transmission or audio playback, thereby solving the deficiency of conventional rings in audio interaction and improving user experience.

[0103] In some embodiments, the second length L2 of the sound emitting component 2031 in the tangential direction of the ring is in the range of 8-10 mm, for example, 9 mm, the second width W2 in the axial direction is in the range of 5-7 mm, for example, 6 mm, and the second height H2 in the radial direction is in the range of 1-3 mm, for example, 2 mm or 3 mm, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C. The sound emitting component 2031 with such dimensions can make the ring more compact and easy to wear.

[0104] In some embodiments, a waterproof sound-permeable film can be arranged between the sound outlet hole 2021 and the sound production component 2031 in the speaker cavity. The waterproof sound-permeable film can effectively prevent water from entering the inside of the speaker cavity to cause damage to the sound production component 2031, and can also allow sound to be transmitted from the inside of the sound production component 2031.

[0105] As can be seen from the example of FIG. 2C, the shell 201 has an outer peripheral wall, an inner peripheral wall, and axially opposite side walls between the inner peripheral wall and the outer peripheral wall. When worn on a user's finger, the inner peripheral wall contacts the user's finger, and the outer peripheral wall is located at the radially outermost side of the ring. In some embodiments, the side walls can adopt a substantially planar structure, and optionally, an arc-shaped or bent transition can be adopted at the connection with the inner peripheral wall and the outer peripheral wall. In some embodiments, the side walls of the shell 201 can also have an outwardly convex arc shape, so that the shell 201 is more rounded as a whole.

[0106] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned shape of the shell 201 can be implemented in a structure including an outer shell 2011 and an inner shell 2012. Specifically, in some embodiments, the shell 201 can include the outer shell 2011 and the inner shell 2012 coupled together in the radial direction. The outer shell 2011 includes the protrusion 202 formed or arranged thereon. For example, in some embodiments, the protrusion 202 can be integrally formed with the outer shell 2011. In some alternative embodiments, the protrusion 202 can also be coupled to other parts of the outer shell 2011 by appropriate means. The outer shell 2011 can have a complete annular shape, and the cross section in the radial direction can have a U-shaped shape. The inner shell 2012 is arranged radially inside the outer shell 2011 and is sealingly coupled to the outer shell 2011 to form the aforementioned speaker cavity and at least one functional chamber 2013. As will also be described in detail later, the at least one functional chamber 2013 is used to accommodate functional components, which can include but are not limited to at least one of a microphone unit 2051, a communication unit, an indicator light unit 2052, a key unit 2053, a battery unit 2054, a vibrator unit, and a sensor unit. In some embodiments, similar to the outer shell 2011, the inner shell 2012 can also have a complete annular shape, and the cross section in the radial direction can also have a U-shaped shape, thereby forming the speaker cavity and the at least one functional chamber 2013.

[0107] In the shell 201 having the outer shell 2011 and the inner shell 2012, the aforementioned radially outer wall of the outer shell 2011 forms the outer peripheral wall of the shell 201, the inner peripheral wall of the shell 201 is formed by the radially inner wall of the inner shell 2012, and the side walls are formed by the outer shell 2011 and the inner shell 2012 together. In some alternative embodiments, the shell 201 can also be formed by other structures of two or more parts, which will not be described separately hereinafter.

[0108] In some embodiments, the protrusion 202 is located on the outer side of the ring away from the finger dorsum in the wearing state, so as to facilitate the sound output to the outside. In some embodiments, the protrusion 202 can include a platform portion 2022 and a connecting portion 2023. The platform portion 2022 is arranged away from the inner shell 2012, and includes the aforementioned sound hole 2021. That is, the platform portion 2022 can be part of the aforementioned outer peripheral wall. The sound cavity shell 2033 is arranged on the inner side of the platform portion 2022. The connecting portion 2023 is arranged to connect the platform portion 2022 to other parts of the outer shell 2011, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C, the connecting portion 2023 is located between the axial end walls of the shell 201 along the tangential direction of the annular shape of the shell 201 (i.e., the part belonging to the outer peripheral wall). In some embodiments, the platform portion 2022 is connected to the connecting portion 2023 via a transition portion, which can include at least one of a chamfer or a fillet. In this way, the structure of the protrusion 202 can be made more ergonomic, making the ring more aesthetically pleasing and comfortable to wear for the user.

[0109] In some embodiments, the first length L1 of the platform portion 2022 in the tangential direction of the ring is in the range of 9mm-11mm, for example 10mm, the first width W1 in the axial direction is in the range of 7mm-9mm, for example 8mm, and the first height H1 of the platform portion 2022 from the inner peripheral surface of the ring is in the range of 2.5mm-4mm, for example 3mm, 3.4mm, 3.5mm, etc., as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C. The platform portion 2022 with such dimensions can make the ring more compact and easy to wear.

[0110] Of course, it should be understood that the structure of the protrusion 202 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C is only illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure. As long as the speaker assembly 203 can be reasonably accommodated, the protrusion 202 can have any other appropriate structure. For example, in some alternative embodiments, the protrusion 202 can also protrude along one or both sides of the axial direction of the ring.

[0111] In some embodiments, the inner shell 2012 can be formed by a glue-curing process. Specifically, the outer shell 2011 can be first arranged in a proper position in a mold, and the units of the functional assembly can be placed according to the pre-determined positions. After the units of the functional assembly are placed in the proper positions of the outer shell 2011, the positions of the units can be fixed by a proper jig, and the liquid glue can be poured into the mold. After the glue is cured, proper polishing or trimming can be performed, so as to form the sealed cavity and the inner shell 2012 at the same time. In this way, the ring can be more convenient to manufacture and has better sealing performance, and the sealing and waterproof performance of the ring can be improved.

[0112] In some embodiments, the vibration cavity 2032 can adopt a rear cavity design, i.e., the vibration cavity 2032 is arranged on the side of the sound production component 2031 away from the sound hole 2021. The rear cavity design can reasonably utilize the limited space of the ring. In addition, as the volume of the rear cavity increases, the low frequency response of the loudspeaker can be improved. In addition, the volume of the vibration cavity can also be reasonably set according to the needs of the sound production component 2031, for example, in the range of 0.2mm 3 ~0.5mm 3 Not equal or other any appropriate size, for example, can be 0.2mm 3 .

[0113] The specific structure of the sound cavity shell 2033 will be described below in combination with FIGS. 2A and 2C. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C, the sound cavity shell 2033 includes a top portion and a bottom portion 2035. The top portion is arranged on the side of the sound cavity shell 2033 adjacent to the sound hole 2021. The top portion has a top opening 2034, which is aligned with the sound hole 2021. The sound production component 2031 is arranged on the inner side of the top portion. The bottom portion 2035 is arranged on the side of the sound cavity shell 2033 away from the sound hole 2021, and is configured to have an arc shape to follow the annular shape of the shell 201.

[0114] In some embodiments, a sealing ring can be arranged between the top opening 2034 and the sound production component 2031, so as to effectively avoid the risk of foreign matter or moisture entering the sound cavity shell 2033. In this way, the sealing ring can improve the waterproof ability and shock resistance of the entire ring.

[0115] In some embodiments, the acoustic cavity housing 2033 further comprises a circumferential wall. The circumferential wall is formed circumferentially between the top portion and the bottom portion 2035 to cooperatively form the vibration cavity 2032 with the top portion and the bottom portion 2035. As shown in FIG. 2C, the circumferential wall can comprise a pair of planar walls arranged oppositely in the axial direction of the ring, and a pair of outward protruding walls located between the ends of the pair of planar walls. The pair of outward protruding walls are shaped convexly outward, respectively. For example, in some embodiments, the outward protruding walls are shaped to comprise at least one of an arc shape or a bent shape. FIGS. 2A and 2C respectively show the outward protruding walls having a bent shape. The portions of the outward protruding walls adjacent to the connecting portion 2023 can follow the shape of the connecting portion 2023.

[0116] In one aspect, the adoption of the speaker assembly 203 with the acoustic cavity housing 2033 can facilitate the manufacturing of the entire ring. In manufacturing, the various units of the functional assembly, which can include the speaker assembly 203 here, are placed according to predetermined positions. Liquid glue is then poured into a mold after the positions of the various units are fixed by appropriate jigs, thereby forming the inner shell 2012. This manufacturing process is simple and fast while not causing any impact to the interior of the speaker assembly 203. In another aspect, the adoption of the outward protruding walls shaped convexly outward can optimize the space occupation of the acoustic cavity housing 2033 and effectively avoid the generation of standing waves.

[0117] It should be understood that the structure of the acoustic cavity housing 2033 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C is only illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Any other appropriate structure of the acoustic cavity housing 2033 is possible as long as it can accommodate the sound producing component 2031 and provide an effective vibration cavity 2032. For example, in some alternative embodiments, the outward protruding walls of the acoustic cavity housing 2033 can also be shaped to an arc shape. In some embodiments, the acoustic cavity housing 2033 can be manufactured with a metal material in order to reduce the wall thickness while ensuring the structural strength. The various portions of the acoustic cavity housing 2033 can be manufactured by welding, stamping, or a combination of both.

[0118] The functional assembly mentioned in the foregoing can be connected to the sound producing component 2031 by means of a cable or a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), etc. In some embodiments, appropriate positions of the outward protruding walls of the acoustic cavity housing 2033 can have perforations or slots for the cable or the flexible printed circuit board to pass through, thereby facilitating the electrical connection of the cable or the flexible printed circuit board to the sound producing component 2031 and other functional assemblies.

[0119] The communication unit in the functional assembly can establish a data transmission link with an external device and transmit data by appropriate means, which can include but are not limited to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular network, near field communication (NFC), etc. Considering the low power consumption transmission performance of Bluetooth, the ring of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be connected to an external device by Bluetooth.

[0120] In some embodiments, the speaker assembly 203 can be electrically connected with the communication unit, and used to play sound data received via the communication unit. In this way, the user can conveniently hear the sound through the ring without the need for earphones or other sound output devices, thereby further improving the user experience. In some embodiments, the ring is connected with the mobile phone through Bluetooth, and the voice played by the voice assistant on the mobile phone can be transmitted to the ring through Bluetooth and played through the speaker assembly 203 on the ring.

[0121] The microphone unit 2051 can be configured to receive external sound from the sound pickup hole of the shell 2011, and electrically connected with the communication unit to transmit the external sound to an external device through the communication unit. By being equipped with the microphone unit 2051, in some use scenarios, for example, when the user is not convenient to take out an external device such as a mobile phone, the user can use the microphone unit 2051 on the ring to input voice information or voice instructions to the external device, to conveniently control the external device to perform various functions or input information. In this way, the user experience of the user when using the ring and the external device can be significantly improved.

[0122] In some embodiments, the functional chamber 2013 can include at least a microphone cavity and a communication cavity for accommodating the microphone unit 2051 and the communication unit, respectively. In some embodiments, the microphone cavity and the communication cavity can be independent and sealed chambers, and the electrical connection between the microphone unit 2051 and the communication unit is established only through appropriate means. The sound pickup hole mentioned in the foregoing is arranged on the outer wall corresponding to the microphone cavity, so as to facilitate the introduction of sound from the outside into the microphone cavity. The microphone cavity and other parts of the chamber including the communication cavity remain independent and sealed, which can improve the sound pickup performance of the microphone unit 2051, and can improve the waterproof capability of the entire ring. Of course, in some alternative embodiments, the microphone cavity and the communication cavity can also be chambers in fluid communication with each other, and the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

[0123] In some embodiments, in order to facilitate the user to operate the ring, the ring can further include a key unit 2053. The key unit 2053 can include a key, and the key can include at least one of a mechanical key, a capacitive key, and a pressure-sensitive key. For the convenience of description, the concept of the present disclosure will be mainly described below by taking a mechanical key as an example of the key, and it should be understood that the same is true for other forms of keys, which will not be described separately hereinafter.

[0124] In some embodiments, when the ring is in the wearing state, the button is located on the side of the ring where the thumb is located. In this way, the user can conveniently press and operate the button. In some embodiments, the button unit 2053 is arranged in the cavity and is configured to generate a press input signal in response to receiving the user's pressing of the button. The press input signal can be transmitted to the external device through the communication unit, thereby providing an input to the external device to thereby implement a corresponding function. In addition, in some embodiments, the press input signal can also be used to directly control the opening and closing of the microphone unit 2051 and / or the speaker assembly 203, which will be further described below.

[0125] In some embodiments, in order to facilitate the installation of the button and facilitate the user's pressing, the shell 201 includes a button hole 2014, and the functional cavity further includes a button cavity corresponding to the button hole 2014. One end of the button is connected with the button unit 2053 in the button cavity, and the other end of the button is exposed to the outside through the button hole 2014 for the user to press.

[0126] In some embodiments, in order to prevent moisture or foreign matter such as dust from entering the inside of the cavity through the button hole 2014, the ring can also include a button sealing ring. The button sealing ring is arranged in the button cavity and surrounds the button hole 2014. The button sealing ring includes an isolation layer arranged between the button and the button unit 2053. In this way, the button unit 2053 can be effectively isolated in the sealed button cavity while still allowing the user to press the button exposed to the outside, thereby improving the waterproof performance while improving the user experience.

[0127] In some embodiments, the functional assembly can also include a processor. The processor is arranged in the functional cavity and is at least configured to control the opening or closing of the microphone unit 2051 based on the press input signal. That is, the processing unit can be coupled to the button unit 2053 to cause the user to close or open the microphone unit 2051 in response to the press input signal generated by the user pressing the button. For example, when the user needs to input a voice instruction to the external device, the user can open the microphone unit 2051 and input sound to the microphone unit 2051 by long pressing (or other appropriate pressing manner). In some embodiments, the processor can also control the opening or closing of the speaker assembly 203 based on the press input signal.

[0128] Of course, it should be understood that the above examples regarding the control of the microphone unit 2051 and / or the speaker assembly 203 by the key to turn on or off are only illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure. The key and the key unit 2053 can also have other uses and the microphone unit 2051 or the speaker assembly 203 can also be turned on or off by other means. For example, in some embodiments, the pressing input signal sent by the key unit 2053 can also provide corresponding input for other functions of the external device to realize the corresponding functions. In some embodiments, the microphone unit 2051 or the speaker assembly 203 can also be turned on or off by the control of the external device.

[0129] In some embodiments, the indicator light unit 2052 in the functional assembly can provide light output. For example, the indicator light unit 2052 is electrically connected to the communication unit to output light with a predetermined frequency and / or a predetermined color based on at least the control signal provided by the communication unit. For example, the external device can output a designated signal to the indicator light unit 2052 via the communication unit. The indicator light outputs light that flashes, is constantly on (for a predetermined time), is monochromatic and / or is multicolor alternating, etc. according to the corresponding signal.

[0130] In some embodiments, the indicator light unit 2052 can be arranged in an indicator light cavity of the cavity. The indicator light cavity has a light output portion formed on the outer wall, thereby allowing light to be emitted from the indicator light cavity. In some embodiments, the light output portion can be a through hole formed on the outer wall. In this case, in order to be able to maintain the airtightness of the indicator light cavity while allowing light to pass through, a light-transmitting but air-tight material can be provided in the through hole. In some embodiments, the light output portion can also be a transparent portion or a translucent portion formed on the outer wall.

[0131] In some embodiments, the light output portion can have an appropriate shape and size. For example, in some embodiments, the light output portion can be a through hole for light to pass through, and the cross-sectional shape of the through hole can include but is not limited to a circle, an ellipse, a square, a triangle, a star, a polygon, or other appropriate regular or irregular shapes. In some embodiments, the indicator light cavity 2015 also has a light output portion formed on the side wall. In such embodiments, the light output portion can also be a light strip extending along part of the profile of the ring, in addition or instead. That is, for the light output portion formed on the side wall, it can have a semi-ring shape or a ring shape.

[0132] In some embodiments, the vibrator unit in the functional assembly is arranged in the functional chamber and electrically connected to the communication unit to vibrate based at least on the control signal provided by the communication unit. For example, when the external device has an item that needs to be handled by the user, the external device can send a control signal to the vibrator unit through the communication unit to control the vibrator to vibrate, thereby reminding the user to handle the item presented in the external device.

[0133] In some embodiments, the battery unit 2054 in the functional assembly can include a battery management unit and a battery component. The power management unit is arranged in a battery management cavity in the chamber. The battery component is arranged in a battery cavity in the functional chamber and coupled to the power management unit to supply power to the functional assembly via the power management unit. The battery management unit can manage the power supply of the battery component to the various units in the functional assembly, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the various units. The battery component can have a shape corresponding to the annular chamber of the ring, thereby being able to arrange a larger capacity battery in a limited space to ensure the endurance of the ring.

[0134] In some embodiments, the battery unit 2054 can also include charging contacts and / or a wireless charging module. Specifically, a pair of charging contacts are arranged to be exposed to the outside of the housing 201 and coupled to the power management unit to connect with external charging terminals to charge the battery component. The pair of charging contacts can be arranged on the inner side of the ring. When charging is needed, the user can take off the ring from the finger and couple the charging contacts with the external charging terminals to charge the battery component.

[0135] In some embodiments, as mentioned in the foregoing, the battery unit 2054 can also include a wireless charging module arranged inside the housing 201. The wireless charging module can be coupled with an external charging coil to charge the battery component. At least part of the wireless charging module can be arranged in the chamber or the wall of the housing 201, such as the outer shell 2011 or the inner shell 2012 mentioned above, thereby facilitating coupling with the external charging coil to charge the battery component.

[0136] In some embodiments, in order to facilitate the arrangement of various units or components of the functional assembly in the annular chamber, the various units in the functional assembly can be arranged on a flexible printed circuit board to arrange the functional assembly along the annular chamber of the ring. The flexible circuit board can have a certain strength, or only a certain structural strength at certain positions, thereby being able to provide support when the keys are pressed, for example, to ensure the reliability of the ring and the corresponding units.

[0137] In some embodiments, the functional components can further include a sensor unit. The sensor unit is at least partially disposed within the housing 201 and configured to acquire user-related state data. In some embodiments, the sensor can include a global positioning system (GPS), an inertial measurement unit (IMU), etc. to acquire motion information of the user.

[0138] In some embodiments, the sensor can include a motion sensor and / or a health sensor. For example, the health sensor is at least partially disposed within the housing 201 and configured to determine health data of the user based on acquired vital information of the user, the health data including at least one of heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen saturation. These health data can be transmitted to an external device via the communication unit for further use and processing by the external device to further improve user experience.

[0139] For example, the health sensor can include a heart rate sensor, a blood oxygen sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor, and / or a bioimpedance analysis (BIA), etc. The heart rate sensor can use a photoplethysmography (PPG) technique or an electrocardiogram (ECG) technique to monitor heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV). The blood oxygen sensor can utilize a PPG sensor of red and infrared light to estimate the saturation of oxygen in blood. The temperature sensor can measure skin surface or body temperature for monitoring temperature change. The pressure sensor can detect pressure change of gas or liquid for blood pressure monitoring, etc. The acceleration sensor can measure body movement and activity level for motion tracking. The EDA sensor can be used to measure skin electrical activity for monitoring stress and emotional state. The BIA sensor can measure body fat percentage and water by sending a small current through the body. In addition to the above-mentioned sensors, the ring can also include a proximity sensor to detect the presence of nearby objects for gesture recognition and non-contact interaction, etc.

[0140] Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the above description is exemplary only, is not exhaustive, and is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The choice of terms used herein is intended to best explain the principles of the embodiments, practical application, or technical improvement to the technology in the market, or to enable other ordinary skilled persons in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A ring, comprising: a shell (101) configured to have a ring shape to be worn on a finger of a user and having a cavity, the shell comprising a sound pickup hole (1013) formed on an outer wall to allow sound to pass into the cavity; and a functional assembly (102) disposed in the cavity and comprising: a microphone unit (1022) configured to receive external sound transmitted from the sound pickup hole (1013); and a communication unit (1021) configured to establish a data transmission link with an external device to transmit data; wherein the communication unit (1021) is electrically connected with the microphone unit and transmits the external sound to the external device. 2.The ring of claim 1, wherein in a wearing state, the sound pickup hole (1013) is located on the outer wall of the ring (100) on the side of the thumb or the sound pickup hole (1013) is located on the outer wall of the ring (100) on the side of the back of the finger. 3.The ring of claim 1, wherein the cavity further comprises a speaker cavity, and the functional assembly (102) further comprises a speaker unit, and the shell further comprises a sound outlet hole formed on the outer wall to allow sound played by the speaker unit to pass out from inside the cavity. 4.The ring of claim 3, wherein the speaker unit is electrically connected with the communication unit (1021), and the speaker unit plays sound data received via the communication unit (1021). 5.The ring of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the cavity comprises a microphone cavity (1011) and a communication cavity (1012), and the microphone unit (1022) and the communication unit (1021) are correspondingly disposed in the microphone cavity (1011) and the communication cavity (1012), respectively. 6.The ring of claim 5, further comprising: a first sealing ring (103) disposed in the microphone cavity (1011) and located between the outer wall and the microphone unit (1022) to form a sound pickup cavity between the sound pickup hole (1013) and the microphone unit (1022). 7.The ring of claim 3, further comprising a button (104), the button (104) comprising at least one of a mechanical button, a capacitive button, and a pressure-sensitive button. 8.The ring of claim 7, wherein in a wearing state, the button (104) is located on the side of the thumb of the ring (100). 9.The ring of claim 7, wherein the functional assembly (102) further comprises a button unit (1023), the button unit (1023) being coupled with the button (104), the button unit (1023) being disposed in the cavity and being configured to generate a press input signal in response to receiving a press of the button (104) by the user.

10. The ring of claim 9, wherein the functional components further comprise a processor arranged in the chamber and configured to: control turning on or off of the microphone unit (1022) based on the press input signal; and / or, control turning on or off of the speaker unit based on the press input signal.

11. The ring of claim 9, wherein the housing (1014) comprises a key hole (1010), and the chamber (100) further comprises a key chamber, one end of the key (104) being coupled with the key unit (1023) within the key chamber, the other end of the key (104) being exposed to outside via the key hole (1010) for being pressed by a user.

12. The ring of claim 11, further comprising: a second sealing ring (105) arranged in the key chamber (1014) and surrounding the key hole (1010), the second sealing ring (105) comprising an isolation layer arranged between the key (104) and the key unit (1023).

13. The ring of any one of claims 1-4 and 6-12, wherein the functional components (102) further comprise an indicator light unit (1024) electrically connected to the communication unit (1021) to output light with a predetermined frequency and / or a predetermined color based on at least a control signal provided by the communication unit (1021).

14. The ring of claim 13, wherein the chamber further comprises an indicator light chamber (1015), the indicator light unit (1024) being arranged in the indicator light chamber (1015), the indicator light chamber (1015) having a light output portion (1016) formed on an outer wall or the indicator light chamber (1015) having a light output portion formed on a side wall, the light output portion (1016) allowing the light to be emitted out of the indicator light chamber (1015).

15. The ring of claim 14, wherein the indicator light chamber (1015) has a light output portion formed on a side wall, the light output portion being semi-annular or annular.

16. The ring of any one of claims 1-4, 6-12, 14 and 15, further comprising a vibrator unit arranged in the chamber and electrically connected to the communication unit (1021) to vibrate based on at least a control signal provided by the communication unit (1021).

17. The ring of any one of claims 1-4, 6-12, 14 and 15, further comprising: a battery unit (106) comprising: a power management unit (1061) arranged in a battery management chamber (1017) in the chamber; and a battery component (1062) arranged in the battery chamber and coupled to the power management unit (1061) to supply power to the functional components (102) via the power management unit (1061). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 18. The ring of claim 17, wherein the battery unit (106) further comprises at least one of: a pair of charging contacts (1063) arranged to be exposed to an exterior of the housing (101) and coupled to the power management unit (1061) to connect with external charging terminals to charge the battery component (1062); or a wireless charging module arranged within the housing (101) and configured to couple with an external charging coil to charge the battery component (1062).

19. The ring of any one of claims 1-4, 6-12, 14, 15, and 18, the functional assembly (102) further comprising: a sensor arranged at least partially within the housing (101) and configured to determine state data of a user based on acquired information related to the user.

20. The ring of any one of claims 1-4, 6-12, 14, 15, and 18, wherein the housing (101) comprises: an outer housing (1018) comprising the sound pickup hole (1013) formed thereon; and an inner housing (1019) arranged radially inward of the outer housing (1018) and sealingly coupled to the outer housing (101) to form the chamber.

21. The ring of claim 20, wherein the inner housing (101) is formed by a potting curing process.

22. The ring (100) of any one of claims 1-4, 6-12, 14, 15, 18, and 21, wherein the functional assembly (102) is arranged on the flexible printed circuit board such that the functional assembly (102) is arranged along a ring-shaped chamber of the ring (100).

23. A ring comprising: a housing (201) configured to have a ring shape to be adapted to be worn on a finger of a user; a protrusion (202) protruding outwardly from a predetermined position of the housing (201) to form a speaker cavity at the predetermined position of the housing (201), the protrusion (202) having a sound outlet hole (2021); and a speaker assembly (203) arranged in the speaker cavity and comprising a sound emitting component (2031) and a sound cavity shell (2033) adapted to form a vibration cavity (2032), the sound emitting component (2031) being arranged in the sound cavity shell (2033) and in airflow communication with the vibration cavity (2032), the sound emitting component (2031) corresponding to a position of the sound outlet hole (2021) such that sound emitted by the sound emitting component (2031) can be transmitted out of the sound outlet hole (2021).

24. The ring of claim 23, wherein the housing (201) comprises: an outer shell (2011) comprising the protrusion (202); and an inner shell (2012) arranged radially inward of the outer shell (2011) to contact the finger and arranged to form the speaker cavity with the protrusion (202). ​ ​ ​ 25. The ring of claim 23, wherein the vibration cavity (2032) is arranged at a side of the sound generating component (2031) distal to the sound hole (2021).

26. The ring of any one of claims 23-25, wherein the sound cavity shell (2033) comprises: a top portion arranged at a side of the sound cavity shell (2033) adjacent to the sound hole (2021), and comprising a top opening (2034) aligned with the sound hole (2021), wherein the sound generating component (2031) is arranged inside the top portion; and a bottom portion (2035) arranged at a side of the sound cavity shell (2033) distal to the sound hole (2021), and configured to have an arc shape to follow the ring shape of the housing (201).

27. The ring of claim 26, wherein the sound cavity shell (2033) further comprises: a circumferential wall (2036) formed circumferentially between the top portion and the bottom portion (2035) to collectively form the vibration cavity (2032) with the top portion and the bottom portion (2035), wherein the circumferential wall (2036) comprises a pair of planar walls arranged opposite in the axial direction of the ring, and a pair of outward protruding walls located between ends of the pair of planar walls, the pair of outward protruding walls respectively have an outward convex shape.

28. The ring of claim 27, wherein the outward protruding walls have a shape comprising at least one of an arc shape or a bent shape.

29. The ring of claim 26, wherein the protruding portion (202) comprises: a platform portion (2022) arranged distal to the inner shell (2012), and comprising the sound hole (2021), wherein the sound cavity shell (2033) is arranged inside the platform portion (2022); and a connecting portion (2023) arranged to connect the platform portion (2022) to other portions of the outer shell (2011), the connecting portion (2023) extends in a tangential direction of the ring shape of the housing (201) at a portion between the axial end walls of the housing (201).

30. The ring of claim 29, wherein a first length (LI) of the platform portion (2022) in the tangential direction of the ring is in a range of 9mm-11mm, a first width (Wl) of the platform portion (2022) in the axial direction is in a range of 7mm-9mm, and a first height (HI) of the platform portion (2022) from an inner circumferential surface of the ring is in a range of 2.5mm-4mm.

31. The ring of claim 29, wherein a portion of the outward protruding walls adjacent to the connecting portion (2023) follows a shape of the connecting portion (2023).

32. The ring of claim 29, wherein the platform portion (2022) is connected to the connecting portion (2023) via a transition portion comprising at least one of a chamfer or a fillet.

33. The ring of any one of claims 23-25 and 27-32, wherein in a worn state, the protrusion (202) is located on an outer side of the ring from a dorsal side of the finger.

34. The ring of any one of claims 23-25 and 27-32, further comprising: a waterproof acoustic membrane (204) disposed in the speaker cavity and located between the sound hole (2021) and the sound producing component (2031).

35. The ring of claim 26, further comprising: a sealing ring disposed between the top opening (2034) and the sound producing component (2031).

36. The ring of claim 24, wherein the inner shell (2012) is formed by a glue pouring and curing process.

37. The ring of any one of claims 23-25, 27-32, 35 and 36, wherein the housing (201) further comprises: at least one functional chamber (2013), and the ring further comprises: a functional assembly disposed in the at least one functional chamber (2013) and comprising at least one of a microphone unit (2051), a communication unit, an indicator light unit (2052), a key unit (2053), a battery unit (2054), a vibrator unit, and a sensor unit.

38. The ring of claim 37, wherein the functional assembly comprises a communication unit configured to communicate with an external device and receive a voice played by a voice assistant sent by the external device, and the speaker assembly (203) is configured to play the voice played by the voice assistant.

39. The ring of any one of claims 23-25, 27-32, 35, and 36, wherein the volume of the vibration cavity (2032) is in the range of 0.2 mm 3 ~ 0.5 mm 3 .

40. The ring of any one of claims 23-25, 27-32, 35 and 36, wherein a second length (L2) of the sound producing component (2031) in a tangential direction of the ring is in a range of 8mm-10mm, a second width (W2) in an axial direction is in a range of 5mm-7mm, and a second height (H2) in a radial direction is in a range of 1mm-3mm.

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