Arc-Shaped Ferrous Contacts for Wearable Charging Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional watch charging methods, whether using physical pins or wireless charging, face limitations such as exact alignment requirements, slow charging times, and heat generation, which hinder practicality and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A wearable electronic device with a caseback featuring multiple arc-shaped ferrous metal contacts that establish both physical and magnetic couplings with an external charger, allowing for 360-degree rotation and efficient charging by combining mechanical and magnetic alignment to ensure proper contact without the need for precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If physical pins or contact pads are used to connect the watch to the charger cable, then charging speed is improved, but alignment precision and dexterity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical pin-based connection system with a magnetic field-based inductive charging system. The charger uses electromagnetic induction to transfer power wirelessly to the watch, eliminating the need for physical contact between charging components. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining fast charging speeds through efficient electromagnetic energy transfer while completely removing alignment precision requirements, as the magnetic field can couple with the watch without requiring exact positional matching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electromagnetic fields as an intermediary medium between the charger and the watch. Instead of direct mechanical contact between pins and contact pads, the charger generates an electromagnetic field that induces current in the watch's receiving coil. This intermediary field-based approach enables power transfer without physical connection, thereby achieving fast charging without the need for precise mechanical alignment of charging components.
2Ease of operation
If wireless charging method is used to inductively charge the watch, then ease of operation is improved, but charging time increases and heat generation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic adjustment of magnetic field strength and charging parameters based on real-time detection of the watch's position and power needs. The charger dynamically optimizes the inductive coupling efficiency by adjusting electromagnetic field characteristics, enabling faster charging speeds while maintaining ease of operation. This dynamic control allows the system to achieve both user-friendly wireless operation and reduced charging time, partially mitigating the time loss issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the electromagnetic field characteristics, such as frequency modulation and power level adjustment, to optimize charging efficiency. By dynamically changing these parameters based on coupling conditions, the system can achieve faster power transfer rates without requiring complex mechanical alignment, thus reducing charging time while maintaining ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If wireless charging method is used to inductively charge the watch, then ease of operation is improved, but temperature increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor temperature, power transfer efficiency, and coupling conditions during wireless charging. Based on this feedback, the charger dynamically adjusts electromagnetic field parameters to optimize charging while preventing excessive heat generation. This feedback control enables the system to maintain ease of operation while actively managing temperature, thus resolving the contradiction between user-friendly wireless charging and heat control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables fast and efficient battery charging to 100% in under an hour while maintaining a safe external temperature, eliminating the need for precise alignment and reducing charging time compared to wireless methods.
Implementation Method 1
establish a magnetic coupling between the wearable electronic device and multiple magnets in the external electrical charger to hold the metal contacts of the wearable electronic device and the charging prongs of the external electrical charger in place
Implementation Method 2
a wireless charging method is used to inductively charge a watch
Data Source
AI summary
A caseback has multiple, arc-shaped, ferrous, metal contacts that serve a dual purpose. The metal contacts i) establish an input connection between a battery for the wearable electronic device and charging prongs of a charger and ii) establish a magnetic coupling between the wearable electronic device and multiple magnets in the charger to hold the metal contacts of the wearable electronic device and the charging prongs of the charger in place during a charging of the battery. A male extension extends from a surface of the caseback to couple into a female receptor of the charger. i) The ferrous metal contacts' relationship with a positioning of the magnetics in the charger in combination with ii) the male extension coupling into the female receptor use magnetic and mechanical coupling to establish and control an alignment of the metal contacts with the charging prongs in three dimensions, a Z-axis, an X-axis, and a Y-axis.