Deformable Wearable Ring for Custom Fit and Accurate Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wearable devices, such as rings, often have limited ring sizes due to manufacturing and cost constraints, leading to inaccurate fits, increased power consumption, and decreased comfort, which can result in inaccurate physiological data readings.
Innovation Solution
A conformable wearable device with a deformable shape that can be molded by the user to fit their body part, using a deformable material that transitions from a straight, flat piece to a non-planar configuration, allowing the device to adapt to the user's anatomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional wearable devices are manufactured with fixed ring sizes, then manufacturing costs are reduced and production is simplified, but the fit accuracy and user comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device employs a deformable material that allows the ring to dynamically change its shape and size. The ring can be stretched or compressed to adapt to different finger circumferences, transforming from a static fixed-size component to a dynamic adjustable structure. This resolves the contradiction by enabling a single manufactured size to achieve multiple fit accuracies through user-adjustable deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of the ring from fixed dimensions to variable dimensions. The deformable material allows the ring's circumference and cross-sectional shape to be modified after manufacturing, enabling the same manufactured component to achieve different fit parameters. This resolves the contradiction by decoupling manufacturing precision from fit accuracy, where manufacturing produces a base form that can be later adjusted to precise fit parameters.
2Measurement precision
If multiple ring sizes are manufactured to improve fit accuracy, then user comfort and measurement precision improve, but the number of stock keeping units and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device achieves multi-functionality by enabling a single ring design to serve multiple size requirements. The deformable material allows one universal ring to fit different finger sizes through user adjustment, eliminating the need for multiple specialized ring sizes. This resolves the contradiction by consolidating multiple size-specific products into one universal product that maintains measurement precision across different users.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring transitions from a static fixed-size component to a dynamic adjustable structure. Users can deform the ring to match their specific finger circumference, enabling a single manufactured size to achieve multiple fit accuracies. This resolves the contradiction by reducing device complexity (fewer SKUs) while maintaining measurement precision through user-adjustable deformation.
3Manufacturing precision
If the wearable device is made from rigid material for structural stability, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability to different body parts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces rigid structural materials with flexible deformable materials. The ring is constructed from elastomeric or polymeric materials that can bend, stretch, and conform to the contours of different body parts while maintaining sufficient structural integrity. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the device to achieve both manufacturing precision (through controlled material properties) and adaptability (through material flexibility).
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device may employ composite material structures combining different material properties. The deformable material provides flexibility and conformability, while embedded components or material layers maintain structural integrity and functional performance. This resolves the contradiction by integrating materials that simultaneously provide structural stability and adaptability to different body geometries.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and devices for a conformable wearable device are described. The wearable device may include a sensor module comprising one or more sensors configured to acquire physiological data from a user. In some cases, the wearable device may include a deformable material coupled with the sensor module and configured to transition between a planar orientation in an unworn state and a non-planar orientation in a worn state and a flexible material that at least partially encases the sensor module and the deformable material. The deformable material may be configured to at least partially conform to a body part of the user to bring the sensor module into contact with the body part of the user when the deformable material is in the worn state. In some cases, the deformable material is further configured to retain the non-planar orientation after being conformed to the body part of the user.