Side-Mounted Optical Sensor Watch Against Sleeve Obstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart watches with optical sensors face issues in accurately measuring light exposure due to the sensor being obstructed by sleeves, necessitating an optimal placement to ensure reliable data collection.
Innovation Solution
A smart watch with an optical sensor positioned on the side part, equipped with a determining unit to ensure the sensor is directed outwardly towards the fingers, and a control unit to adjust the display and sensor position based on wear direction, preventing obstruction and ensuring accurate illuminance data acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the optical sensor is installed in the center area or below the display, then the device structure is simple, but the sensor is easily obstructed by sleeves and cannot accurately measure light exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the optical sensor from the traditional center or bottom position to the side surface of the watch body, utilizing a different spatial dimension. This side placement allows the sensor to face outward away from the wrist, preventing sleeve obstruction while maintaining measurement accuracy, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric placement of the optical sensor on the side surface rather than symmetric center or bottom positioning. The sensor is specifically oriented to face the fingers direction, creating an asymmetric configuration that optimizes light exposure measurement by avoiding sleeve coverage while maintaining a simple overall device structure
2Reliability
If the optical sensor is positioned to face outward toward fingers, then light exposure measurement accuracy is improved, but the device requires additional determining and control units to manage wear orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a determining unit that detects the wear orientation of the watch and a control unit that adjusts the optical sensor's facing direction based on this feedback. This feedback mechanism ensures the sensor consistently faces outward toward the fingers regardless of how the user wears the watch, thereby improving illuminance information reliability while managing the added control system complexity through automated orientation correction
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it receives orientation data from the determining unit, calculates the appropriate adjustment angle, and controls the optical sensor's orientation. This multi-functionality consolidates the control system, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliable outward-facing sensor positioning for accurate light exposure measurement
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 allows consistent and accurate light exposure measurement by preventing sensor obstruction, enabling reliable data collection regardless of hand placement and ensuring correct display orientation.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor unit including an optical sensor which is installed on a side surface of the body part and acquires illuminance information
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable device with an optical sensor equipped on a side part thereof is described. The wearable device includes a body part, a strap unit which fixes the body part to a wrist part of a user, an optical sensor unit including an optical sensor installed on a side surface of the body part to acquire illuminance information, a determining unit to determine whether the wearable device is worn such that the side surface on which the optical sensor is disposed is directed to fingers of the user, a display unit which is provided on the body part to display predetermined information, and a control unit to control an output direction of the predetermined information through the display unit based on an orientation of the side surface of the body part with respect to the fingers of the user.