Modular Wearable Monitor for Continuous Sensing During Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable devices, such as smartwatches, face the challenge of losing physiological monitoring capabilities while charging, as they are typically tethered to a charging source, preventing continuous user monitoring during the charging process.
Innovation Solution
A modular design is implemented with a base housing portion that includes sensors and a battery, and a removable housing portion with a display and its own battery, allowing the device to be charged separately while maintaining sensory communication with the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If the wearable device is tethered to a charging source, then the device can be charged, but the physiological monitoring capability is lost during charging
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device is divided into two independent housing portions: a base housing portion containing the physiological sensor and a removable housing portion containing the display and battery. This segmentation allows the base housing to remain on the user for continuous monitoring while the removable housing is detached for charging, resolving the contradiction between charging capability and monitoring continuity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device includes multiple functionalities (display, sensor, battery), then the device provides comprehensive features, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into modular housing portions that can be independently manufactured and assembled. The base housing contains the sensor while the removable housing contains the display and battery, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining comprehensive functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable housing portion serves multiple functions: it contains the display for user interaction, houses the battery for power supply, and can be detached for charging. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall device structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable device including at least one sensor configured to sense a physiological parameter of a user. The wearable device including a base housing and a removable housing attachable to the base housing. The base housing and the removable housing portions each including a battery and an electronic subsystem in communication with each other. The battery of the removable housing portion charges the battery of the base housing portion when the removable housing portion is attached to the base housing portion. A second embodiment includes two or more fitness trackers each having an enclosure. The enclosures of the two or more fitness trackers having complimentary shapes that form a unified enclosure when the enclosures are placed adjacently. In a third embodiment, a wearable device includes a first screen display and a second screen display. The second screen display is transparent in at least one operational mode of the wearable device.