Wearable Device Flexible Hard Substrate Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices face challenges in acquiring continuous living body information due to motion-induced deflection and discomfort, leading to potential damage and separation from the skin, especially when exposed to sweat.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device design featuring a flexible substrate with an electronic component unit supported by a hard substrate and an adhesive unit with a waterproof and water-absorbing layer to maintain contact with the skin, reducing the risk of damage and discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the wearable device is made flexible to follow skin movement, then comfort and continuous contact are improved, but the device becomes susceptible to motion-induced deflection and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a flexible substrate layer and a separate hard substrate that houses electronic components. This segmentation allows the flexible portion to conform to skin movement while the protected electronic components maintain reliability and resistance to motion-induced damage.
2Reliability
If the adhesive unit provides strong bonding to skin, then continuous contact is maintained, but discomfort and skin irritation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive unit incorporates a waterproof layer and water-absorbing layer with different local properties. The waterproof layer provides strong bonding and contact stability, while the water-absorbing layer manages sweat to reduce skin irritation, creating locally optimized zones within the adhesive structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the device structure is simplified for easy manufacture, then production cost decreases, but protection against motion damage and sweat exposure is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a composite multi-layer structure including flexible substrate, hard substrate, waterproof layer, and water-absorbing layer. This composite construction provides comprehensive protection against motion damage and sweat exposure while maintaining manufacturability through standardized layer assembly processes.
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 device effectively acquires continuous living body information with improved durability and reduced risk of separation, maintaining reliable data acquisition for up to two weeks while minimizing discomfort and skin irritation.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive unit with a waterproof and water-absorbing layer
Implementation Method 2
an adhesive unit with a waterproof and water-absorbing layer
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable device according to an embodiment includes a detection unit, a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The detection unit detects the living body information. The first layer is flexible and disposed in a first direction relative to the detection unit and includes a conductor electrically connected to the detection unit. The second layer is disposed in the first direction relative to the first layer and is harder than the first layer. The third layer is disposed in the first direction relative to the second layer and includes an electronic component electrically connected to the conductor.