Wearable Charging Interface Using Inductive Power Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices face challenges in efficient charging and communication due to issues like abrasions, chemicals, and dirt affecting galvanic charging, and the limitations of infrared communication, leading to increased manufacturing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing inductive charging with power modulation for communication between the wearable device and charger, allowing for reliable data transfer without the need for specific material colors or infrared sensors, and enabling flexible communication protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If galvanic charging is used, then charging function is provided, but charging efficacy is negatively impacted by abrasions, chemicals, and dirt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces galvanic (contact-based) charging with inductive (wireless) charging. This substitution eliminates the need for direct physical contact between charging surfaces, thereby removing the vulnerability to abrasions, chemicals, and dirt that plague galvanic charging interfaces. The inductive charging system uses electromagnetic fields to transfer energy without contact, solving the reliability issue caused by environmental contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication method using power modulation during inductive charging. Instead of relying on separate communication hardware that could be affected by environmental factors, the system uses the charging power itself as a carrier for data transmission. This intermediary approach allows communication without additional exposed components that could suffer from abrasions or contamination.
2Loss of information
If infrared communication is used, then data transfer is enabled, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the inductive charging system multi-functional by enabling it to perform both power transfer and data communication. During the inductive charging process, the system modulates the power delivery to encode communication messages. This eliminates the need for separate infrared communication hardware, reducing device complexity and manufacturing costs while maintaining data transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the communication function with the charging function. Instead of having separate systems for charging and communication, the invention combines them into a unified inductive charging interface that can simultaneously or alternatively perform power transfer and data exchange through power modulation, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
3Loss of information
If infrared communication is used, then data transfer between wearable and charger is achieved, but specific material colors or infrared sensors are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces infrared sensor-based communication with power modulation detection. This substitution removes the requirement for specific infrared-transparent materials or colored components in the charging interface. The system uses electromagnetic power transfer and modulation, which are not constrained by material optical properties, thereby significantly increasing design flexibility and adaptability.
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
Inductive charging with power modulation provides a cost-effective and reliable communication method that is less affected by the physical state of the wearable device, enhancing production efficiency and design flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
Implementing inductive charging with power modulation for communication between the wearable device and charger
Implementation Method 2
The wearable device communicates by modulating a power draw, which is detected by the charger, and the charger communicates by modulating the power output, which is detected by the wearable device
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for a wearable device are described. A wearable device (e.g., ring, watch) may charge via interacting with a charging device (e.g., charger). The wearable device may receive, via inductive charging components, a sequence of incrementally decreasing power output levels from the charging device, where the power output levels correspond to detected voltage levels at the wearable device. The wearable device may activate charging-based communication circuitry within the wearable device upon detecting a first power output level of the sequence of incrementally decreasing power output levels that falls below an overload protection threshold, and output a first message to the charging device. The wearable device may receive, from the charging device, a second message in response to the first message.