Wearable Device Groove Sensor Integration for Biometric Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wearable devices lack efficient methods for detecting biometric information and user interactions, such as gestures, while being worn on the body, limiting their functionality and user experience.

Innovation Solution

A wearable device with a housing design featuring a first and second surface, a groove, and integrated sensors, including a light emitter and receiver, touch sensors, and motion detectors, to detect biometric information and user gestures, enabling communication with external devices based on these inputs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sensors are integrated into the wearable device housing, then the device's functionality for detecting biometric information and gestures is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensors (light emitter, light receiver, touch sensor, motion sensor) into a single wearable device housing, integrating diverse sensing functions into one unified device to improve versatility while managing complexity through systematic integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The wearable device is designed to perform multiple functions including biometric detection, gesture recognition, and touch sensing using a single integrated housing structure, making the device universally applicable for various sensing tasks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If a groove is added to the housing to accommodate additional sensors, then the measurement capability for detecting body parts is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented with a groove that divides the structure to accommodate different sensors at specific positions, allowing precise detection of body parts while maintaining manufacturability through structured segmentation rather than complex custom shaping

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If sensors are positioned to detect multiple body parts, then the versatility of gesture detection is improved, but the alignment precision required during assembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture detection capabilityVSAvoidsensor alignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The groove structure is pre-formed in the housing during manufacturing, establishing predetermined positions for sensors before final assembly. This preliminary structural preparation ensures proper sensor alignment without requiring high-precision manual adjustment during assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The groove acts as an intermediary structural element that mediates between the housing and sensors, providing a standardized interface that simplifies alignment and positioning of multiple sensors relative to each other and to the body parts being detected

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 accurate detection of biometric information and user gestures, allowing the wearable device to perform functions corresponding to predefined gestures, enhancing user interaction and device control.

Implementation Method 1

a light receiver spaced apart from the light emitter and configured to receive reflected light that is at least a portion of the light emitted by the light emitter and reflected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a touch sensor, disposed in the housing, configured to detect a touch on a portion of the groove

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Implementation Method 3

identifying a motion of the user through a motion sensor of the wearable device, based on identifying the second body part positioned in the groove

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAccelerometer sensing: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP4730072A1Wearable device for sensing biometric information of user
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4730072A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4730072A1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4730072A1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A wearable device according to an embodiment may comprise a housing which includes a first surface configured to come into contact with a user's first body part in a state where the wearable device is worn on the first body part, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a groove recessed from the second surface toward the first surface. The wearable device may comprise a first sensor in the housing, the first sensor being arranged to face the groove. The first sensor may be configured to sense the user's second body part which is distinct from the user's first body part and located within the groove.