Soft Smart Ring Structure for Wearable Wireless Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart rings face challenges such as the need for removal for charging, poor fit, limited interactivity, and restricted functionality.
Innovation Solution
A smart ring design featuring a flexible body with removably connected parts, incorporating a battery, charging unit, processor, and sensors, and utilizing magnetic break-away portions for easy attachment and detachment, along with energy harvesting and gesture recognition for enhanced functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a smart ring is designed with a battery and charging unit for wireless charging, then charging convenience is improved, but the ring cannot be charged while worn due to lack of power transmission through the body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based charging system with a magnetic field-based wireless charging system. The charging unit generates a magnetic field that can penetrate the user's body to induce current in the battery, eliminating the need for physical contact or removal of the ring during charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the user's body as an intermediary medium that allows magnetic field penetration. The magnetic field from the charging unit passes through the body to reach the battery, using the body itself as the transmission medium rather than requiring direct contact between charger and battery.
2Ease of operation
If a smart ring uses a flexible material body for comfort and fit, then wearability is improved, but structural integrity and component protection are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the smart ring into multiple segments: a flexible outer body for comfort and a separate housing structure for component protection. The housing is coupled to the flexible body, creating a composite structure that combines the advantages of both flexible material and rigid protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining flexible material (silicone or rubber) for the body with a rigid housing (plastic or metal) for component containment. This composite design allows the ring to maintain flexibility and comfort while providing structural integrity and protection for internal components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a smart ring includes multiple functional components (sensors, processor, communication unit), then functionality is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through the processor executing instructions at specific intervals and the sensor unit activating only when needed. The communication unit transmits data periodically rather than continuously, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining full functionality when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs energy harvesting components that automatically generate electricity from the user's body movements and environmental sources. This self-service energy generation supplements the battery power, allowing multiple functional components to operate with reduced net energy consumption from the main battery.
4Ease of manufacture
If a smart ring uses a fixed size and shape for manufacturing, then production simplicity is improved, but fit and comfort for different users are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the ring size dynamic and adjustable through the resizable band mechanism. The band can be extended or contracted to fit different finger sizes, transforming a static fixed-size product into a dynamic adaptive product that maintains comfort across various users while using standardized manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the ring band by incorporating expansion and contraction mechanisms. The band's length and circumference can be adjusted within a range, allowing the same manufactured component to adapt to different finger dimensions without requiring custom manufacturing for each user.
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
Enables wireless charging without removal, improves fit and interactivity, and increases functionality while maintaining low energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
providing a pair of magnetic break-away portions separate from the first part and the second part and coupling the pair of magnetic break-away portions to one or more of the first body part and the second body part, such that the pair of magnetic break-away portions couple the second part of the body to the first part of the body
Data Source
AI summary
A smart ring includes a body. The body can include a first part of the body. The body also can include a second part of the body. The body further can include one or more of an output unit or a sensor unit disposed in or on one or more of the first part of the body or the second part of the body. The body further can include a pair of removable portions separate from the first part of the body and the second part of the body. The pair of removable portions can include a first removable portion. The pair of removable portions also can include a second removable portion. One or more of the first removable portion or the second removable portion can removably couple together the first part of the body and the second part of the body. Other embodiments are disclosed.