Flexible Circuit Member Fault Tolerance in Wearable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable devices face challenges in preventing data loss due to component failure, particularly in data storage and transmission, which can be exacerbated by user motivation issues and system focus on specific athletic activities not aligning with individual interests.
Innovation Solution
A wrist-worn device with a flexible circuit member featuring a curvilinear solder mask edge and redundant traces to distribute stress and ensure fault tolerance, allowing alternative trace usage and data storage format changes when memory capacity is low.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible circuit member is used in a wearable device, then the device can be worn on the wrist and move with the user, but the circuit traces may break due to repeated flexing and stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple redundant traces before any failure occurs. The circuit is designed with alternative signal paths that are ready to be activated if the primary trace breaks, preventing device failure rather than reacting to it after the fact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by creating a fault-tolerant design where redundant traces act as a protective buffer against trace breakage. This ensures that even if the primary trace fails due to flexing stress, the device continues to function through the alternative trace paths.
2Quantity of substance
If data is stored in flash memory, then large amounts of data can be stored, but data loss occurs when the flash memory becomes inoperative due to component failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a monitoring system that proactively detects when flash memory is becoming inoperative and automatically initiates data transfer to alternative storage locations before complete failure occurs, preventing data loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses intermediary elements (redundant traces and alternative storage paths) that mediate between the primary flash memory and the controller. When the flash memory fails, these intermediaries enable seamless data transfer to backup storage without requiring external intervention.
3Ease of manufacture
If the solder mask edge is straight, then manufacturing is simpler, but stress from flexing concentrates at the edges causing trace breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spheroidality by replacing the straight solder mask edge with a curvilinear edge that follows a curved path around the flexible circuit member. This curvature distributes flexing stress more evenly along the edge, preventing stress concentration and trace breakage while remaining manufacturable.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for monitoring movements of a user using a flexible circuit member. The flexible circuit member is fault tolerant. The method may include using extra and/or redundant traces as well as storing data on RAM if the flash memory fails or if some or all trace connections between the processor and flash memory fail. Data may or may not be stored on the RAM containing less fidelity. Lower fidelity data may be used to alleviate issues arising if the RAM has less storage capacity than the flash memory.