Rotatable Ring and Band Sensor Wearable Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wearable electronic devices face challenges in integrating advanced functionality and user interaction within a compact, wearable form factor, particularly in efficiently housing components like displays, sensors, and batteries while maintaining user interface effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a circular display with a rotatable outer ring that serves as both a user interface and a mechanical encoder, allowing for haptic feedback and position sensing, along with a band that can house additional components like optical sensors, to enhance functionality and interaction without increasing the device's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the device integrates more components (display, sensors, battery) into a compact form factor, then the device becomes more wearable and portable, but the device complexity and difficulty of integration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the display is positioned within the band, and additional components such as optical sensors are integrated into the band structure. This nesting approach allows multiple components to occupy overlapping or adjacent spatial volumes, reducing the overall device volume while managing integration complexity through hierarchical organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The band serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural support element, houses the display, contains optical sensors, and provides a mounting structure for other components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate structural elements, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining compact dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device integrates advanced functionality (augmented reality, multiple sensors), then the device capability increases, but the device complexity and component count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The band is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate various functional components including displays, optical sensors for augmented reality, and other sensors. This modular approach allows the device to achieve high adaptability and versatility while managing complexity through a unified structural framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the third dimension by positioning components at different depths and orientations within the band structure. For example, the display is positioned on one surface while optical sensors are integrated on opposite or adjacent surfaces, allowing advanced functionality to be achieved without increasing the device's footprint or apparent complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the device uses a rotatable outer ring for user interaction, then the user interface effectiveness improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable outer ring combines multiple functions: it serves as a mechanical encoder for input, provides structural support for the display, and acts as a decorative element. This merging of functions reduces the overall component count and simplifies manufacturing compared to having separate elements for each function, while maintaining effective user interaction capabilities.
4Volume of moving object
If the device houses components within a compact band structure, then the device portability improves, but the available space for energy storage and component placement decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs nested positioning where the display and other components are arranged within the band's cross-sectional area and along its length. The battery and other components are positioned in available spaces between and around the display and structural elements, maximizing the use of available volume within the compact band structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes three-dimensional space efficiently by positioning components at different depths within the band and on opposite surfaces. This approach maximizes the available space for energy storage and component placement while maintaining a compact portable form factor.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a wearable device includes a device body including a touch-sensitive display and a circular mechanical ring rotatable around the touch-sensitive display, a band coupled to the device body, processors, and a memory coupled to the processors including instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to present on the touch-sensitive display a first screen corresponding to a device currently paired with the wearable device, the first screen including an indication of an operational status of the currently paired device and, based on determining a type of the operational status and in response to a first transition event at the first screen, present a second screen with its content being determined based on the type of the operational status and whether an input associated with the first transition event is on the circular mechanical ring or at the touch-sensitive display.