Finger-Worn Wearable Ring Layout for Accurate Low-Profile Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wearable electronics are bulky and intrusive, making them uncomfortable for extended wear and often inaccurate due to inconsistent contact with the body.
Innovation Solution
A wearable computing device in the form of a ring with flexible printed circuit boards and transparent windows for data transmission, battery recharge, and status indication, featuring components like LEDs and photovoltaic cells for prolonged use and accurate monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional wearable electronics are designed with larger size to accommodate components, then functionality and power capacity are improved, but comfort and wearability deteriorate due to bulkiness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible printed circuit boards (FPC) as the substrate for mounting electronic components, replacing traditional rigid PCBs. This allows the device to be bent and conform to the finger curvature, significantly reducing the device volume while maintaining electrical connectivity and component functionality. The flexible nature of FPC enables thin-film construction that accommodates battery, sensor, and communication components in a compact form factor suitable for wearable applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates multiple functional components in a nested arrangement on the FPC, including battery, sensor arrays, communication modules, and processing units layered or positioned in space-efficient configurations. This nesting approach maximizes component density within the limited finger-mounted space, allowing adequate battery capacity and functionality without increasing overall device volume.
2Volume of moving object
If wearable devices are made smaller for comfort, then wearability is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to inconsistent body contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions specific sensor types at optimized locations on the FPC to match anatomical features of the finger. For example, photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensors are placed to contact specific skin regions for accurate blood flow detection, while temperature sensors are positioned near blood vessels. This local optimization ensures that each sensor achieves maximum measurement accuracy despite the small overall device size, as each component is strategically located rather than uniformly distributed.
Solution Approach 2:
The FPC is designed with a curved configuration that conforms to the cylindrical shape of the finger. This curvature ensures consistent contact between sensors and skin surface across the entire finger circumference, eliminating gaps and improving signal quality. The curved design maintains stable mechanical coupling between the small device and the finger, ensuring reliable measurement accuracy throughout the wear period.
3Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring is implemented for accurate health tracking, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sampling of physiological parameters rather than truly continuous monitoring. Sensors take measurements at optimized intervals based on activity detection, allowing the device to enter low-power states between measurements. This periodic action maintains measurement precision by capturing physiological changes at appropriate time points while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous high-frequency sampling.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates feedback mechanisms where initial sensor readings trigger adaptive sampling rates. For example, when motion is detected or physiological parameters exceed thresholds, the device increases sampling frequency to capture critical events. During stable conditions, sampling rate decreases to conserve battery power. This feedback-driven adaptive monitoring maintains measurement accuracy during important events while minimizing energy consumption during normal states.
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 prolonged, accurate fitness and health monitoring with consistent skin contact, improving comfort and functionality by allowing constant data transmission and power replenishment.
Implementation Method 1
at least one concentrated photovoltaic cell configured to receive concentrated light
Implementation Method 2
concentrated photovoltaic cell configured to receive concentrated light through the transparent external potting
Implementation Method 3
at least one LED configured to emit at least one of visible light, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet radiation through the external potting
Data Source
AI summary
A finger-worn wearable ring device may include a ring-shaped housing, a printed circuit board, and a sensor module that includes one or more light-emitting components and one or more light-receiving components. The wearable ring device may further include a communication module configured to wirelessly communicate with an application executable on a user device.