Garment-Coupled Power Supply for Longer Headset Runtime
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Solution Overview
Problem
Head-mounted wearable devices (HMWDs) are limited by battery capacity and size, which restricts their operational duration due to user comfort considerations.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system that supplements HMWD batteries with a non-head-mounted power source, such as a battery pack, coupled via a conductive path in a garment and a neck-worn strap, allowing for wireless or wired energy transfer using mechanical, electrical, or magnetic coupling elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If battery capacity is increased to extend operational duration, then duration of action is improved, but weight and size increase which worsens user comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is divided into two separate components: a compact battery integrated into the HMWD for immediate power needs, and an external battery pack worn on the body for extended power supply. This segmentation allows the HMWD to remain lightweight while operational duration is extended through the external power source.
Solution Approach 2:
A conductive path integrated into the garment acts as an intermediary medium to transfer electrical energy from the external battery pack to the HMWD. This intermediary approach enables wireless-style power transfer without requiring direct physical connection between the battery pack and device, maintaining user comfort while extending operational duration.
2Duration of action of moving object
If battery capacity is increased to extend operational duration, then duration of action is improved, but size increases which worsens user comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is divided into two separate components: a compact battery integrated into the HMWD for immediate power needs, and an external battery pack worn on the body for extended power supply. This segmentation allows the HMWD to remain compact while operational duration is extended through the external power source.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply architecture transitions from a single-dimension (internal battery only) to a two-dimension system combining internal and external power sources. The external battery pack operates in a different spatial dimension (worn on body rather than integrated in device), allowing extended operational duration without increasing HMWD volume.
3Ease of operation
If wireless energy transfer is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to coupling mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces direct mechanical electrical connections with electromagnetic field-based energy transfer through conductive garment paths. This substitution improves ease of operation by eliminating physical plugging/unplugging while managing complexity through standardized conductive path integration in the garment design.
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
Extends the operational duration of HMWDs without increasing size or weight, providing flexible and efficient energy transfer through loosely or tightly coupled configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a source conductive path configured to couple to a load conductive path and to a power source
Implementation Method 2
The source conductive path and/or load conductive path may each include one or more coupling elements configured to couple energy from the source conductive path to the load conductive path
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 2~3
AI summary
An apparatus includes a source conductive path (108) to couple to a load conductive path (130) and to a power source (102). The source conductive path (108) is included in a garment and the load conductive path (130) is related to a head mounted wearable device (HMWD).