Elastic Electrical Cable for Wearable Adaptive Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable electronic devices face challenges in accommodating variations in user form, leading to inconsistent performance and user experience due to the need for customized designs or fixed fitments, which is impractical for widespread use.
Innovation Solution
An annular wearable electronic device with elastic electrical cables acting as adaptive couplers, providing both electrically conductive and physical coupling between pod structures, allowing for a variable circumference that can adjust to fit different user forms by using elastomer bands with semi-rigidly set changes in direction, enabling uniform expansion and contraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size wearable electronic device is used, then manufacturing and design are simplified, but the device cannot accommodate variations in user form, leading to inconsistent performance
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable electronic device employs an elastic cable with a tortuous path configuration that dynamically adjusts its length and shape based on user movement and form variations. The cable transitions from a fixed configuration to a dynamic one that adapts to different wrist sizes and movement states, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and design complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic cable utilizes material parameter changes through elastomeric properties, allowing the cable to elongate and contract in response to user movement. This parameter change enables the device to accommodate various user forms without requiring multiple fixed-size designs, thus improving adaptability while maintaining manageable design complexity.
2Reliability
If sensors are spaced uniformly on a fixed device, then manufacturing is easier, but performance becomes inconsistent when worn by users of different sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic cable's dynamic elongation and contraction maintains uniform angular spacing between sensors relative to the user's wrist circumference. As the cable stretches or compresses, the sensors automatically reposition themselves to maintain consistent spacing, ensuring reliable sensor performance across different user sizes without complex positioning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable's elastomeric properties enable parameter changes in length and shape that automatically adjust sensor positioning. When the cable elongates to fit a larger wrist, sensors spread out uniformly; when compressed for a smaller wrist, sensors come closer together uniformly. This parameter-driven positioning ensures consistent sensor performance while simplifying manufacturing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If rigid electrical cables are used in wearable devices, then electrical connectivity is reliable, but the device cannot accommodate user movement and form variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid electrical cables with an elastic cable constructed from elastomeric materials. This flexible cable maintains reliable electrical connectivity through its conductive elements while simultaneously accommodating user movement and form variations. The elastomeric structure allows the cable to stretch, bend, and conform to the user's wrist without compromising electrical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic cable employs composite construction combining elastomeric materials with electrical conductors. This composite structure integrates the flexibility and elasticity of elastomers with the electrical conductivity of conductive elements, achieving both adaptability to user movement and reliable electrical connectivity that rigid cables cannot provide alone.
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
The solution enables a 'one size fits all' design for wearable electronic devices, ensuring consistent performance and user experience across various user forms by maintaining uniform angular spacing between sensors and accommodating user movement, while providing reliable electrical connectivity.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastomer band that is physically coupled to both the first pod structure and the second pod structure
Implementation Method 2
a length of the first elastomer band that couples in between the first pod structure and the second pod structure is greater than the first distance and includes at least one semi-rigidly set change in direction
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, articles, and methods for elastic electrical cables are described. An elastic electrical cable includes a molded band of elastomer with a length that follows a tortuous path including a number of semi-rigidly set changes in direction. The elastomer band is formed by an overmolding process to enclose or at least partially contain a flexible printed circuit board, with various access points provided to electrically couple to/from the flexible printed circuit board. An annular wearable electric device employing at least one such elastic electrical cable as an adaptive coupler that simultaneously provides both electrically conductive coupling and adaptive physical coupling is described. Methods of preparing/manufacturing such elastic electrical cables are also described.