Rotatable Annular Member Spacer for Wearable Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable electronic devices with rotatable annular members face issues such as reduced rotation sense due to friction and abrasion over time, leading to decreased functionality and user experience.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a spacer between the annular member and the housing to reduce friction, combined with a sensor module and magnetic elements to detect rotation parameters and provide a click sense, ensuring high operation reliability and user feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the annular member is directly contacted with the housing, then the structure is simple, but friction and abrasion occur leading to reduced rotation sense and reliability over time
Solution Approach 1:
A spacer is introduced as an intermediary component between the annular member and the housing. This spacer prevents direct contact between the rotating annular member and the stationary housing, thereby eliminating friction and abrasion that would otherwise degrade rotation sense and reliability over time.
2Ease of operation
If the annular member rotates freely without resistance, then the operation is smooth, but no click sense is provided to the user
Solution Approach 1:
A click mechanism is implemented that provides periodic tactile feedback (click sense) to the user during rotation. This mechanism operates periodically as the annular member rotates, creating distinct tactile sensations at regular intervals while maintaining overall rotational smoothness through the spacer.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the annular member is used for long time, then more functions can be performed, but dust accumulates due to abrasion and rotation sense is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer acts as a protective intermediary that prevents direct contact between the annular member and housing, thereby eliminating the source of dust-generating abrasion. This allows the device to be used for extended periods without dust accumulation that would degrade rotation sense.
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 enhances the durability and usability of wearable devices by maintaining a smooth rotation mechanism and providing a clear click sense, even after prolonged use, thereby improving user interaction and device reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic element arranged on a first surface of the annular member facing in a first direction; a sensor module comprising at least one sensor, the sensor module being disposed in the opening of the housing and configured to detect a magnetic force of the magnetic element
Data Source
AI summary
Various example embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic device including: a housing including a substantially circular opening and a first surface facing in a first direction; a wearing structure configured to enable the electronic device to be removably worn on a part of a human body and connected to the housing; a display disposed in the opening; an annulus installed on the first surface and configured to be rotatable along a periphery of the opining, the annulus including a second surface facing a second direction opposite the first direction; at least one spacer interposed between a part of the first surface and the second surface of the annulus; and a circuit configured to detect a rotation of the annular member and to change the display at least in part based on the rotation.