Conductive Watch Crown Cap for Low-Noise ECG Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watch crown assemblies that integrate conductive components for biological parameter detection face complexity in material selection, manufacturing, and finishing due to the need for a unitary component that forms both the exterior surface and shaft, leading to inefficiencies in production processes.
Innovation Solution
A conductive cap is mechanically and electrically coupled to a separate shaft within the crown assembly, allowing for the use of different materials for the cap and shaft based on their specific properties, with an isolating component to reduce signal noise and grounding issues, and electrodes positioned on various surfaces for easier user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a unitary component is used to form both the exterior surface and shaft of the crown assembly, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the complexity of material selection, manufacturing, and finishing processes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The crown assembly is divided into separate components: a crown body, a shaft, and a conductive cap. Each component can be manufactured from different materials optimized for its specific function, reducing overall complexity while maintaining structural integrity through designed connections between parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs different materials for different components of the crown assembly. The crown body may use one material while the shaft and conductive cap use different materials, allowing each part to be optimized for its specific requirements without requiring a single complex multi-functional material.
2Ease of manufacture
If a unitary component is used to form both the exterior surface and shaft, then manufacturing is simplified in terms of assembly, but material selection and finishing processes become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the crown assembly into separate components, each component can be manufactured and finished independently using materials and processes optimized for that specific part, thereby reducing the complexity of material selection and finishing while maintaining ease of assembly through standardized connections.
3Device complexity
If the crown assembly is designed as a single integrated component, then the number of parts is reduced, but the ability to optimize materials for specific functions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The crown assembly is segmented into functionally distinct components that can be optimized independently. The conductive cap, crown body, and shaft are separate parts that can each be manufactured from materials specifically selected for their functional requirements, thereby achieving material optimization without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the crown assembly have different functional requirements and are therefore made from different materials. The conductive cap uses materials optimized for electrical conductivity, while the crown body and shaft use materials optimized for their mechanical and structural requirements, allowing local optimization of material properties.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conductive components are integrated into the crown assembly, then biological parameter detection capability is enabled, but signal noise and grounding issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
An isolating component is introduced as an intermediary between the conductive cap and the crown body. This isolating component acts as a mediator that electrically connects the conductive cap to the shaft while preventing signal noise and grounding issues from affecting the biological parameter detection, thereby enabling detection capability while mitigating harmful electrical interference.
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
This design enables efficient detection of biological parameters like electrocardiograms by reducing signal noise and allowing for easier user interaction, while simplifying material selection and manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
The crown assembly includes a conductive cap that is mechanically and electrically coupled to a shaft... A processing unit of the electronic watch is coupled to the conductive cap by the shaft and is operable to determine a biological parameter of a user based on a voltage at the conductive cap
Implementation Method 2
an isolating component positioned between the conductive cap and the crown body
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device, such as a watch, has a crown assembly having a shaft and a user-rotatable crown. The user-rotatable crown may include a conductive cap that is mechanically and electrically coupled to the shaft and functions as an electrode. The conductive cap may be coupled to the shaft using solder or another conductive attachment mechanism. The shaft may electrically couple the conductive cap to a processing unit of the electronic device. One or more additional electrodes may be positioned on the exterior surface of the electronic device. The conductive cap is operable to be contacted by a finger of a user of the electronic device while another electrode is positioned against skin of the user. The processing unit of the electronic device is operable to determine a biological parameter, such as an electrocardiogram, of the user based on voltages at the electrodes.