Wearable Patch Bone Conduction Alarm

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wake-up alarms often disturb other individuals nearby, as they typically produce audible sounds that are not selective enough to wake only the intended person without disrupting others.

Innovation Solution

A wearable patch with a micro-transducer and RFID circuitry that generates a controlled sound or vibration output, adjustable in intensity and pattern, to wake the user without disturbing nearby individuals, allowing for attachment to various body parts like the arm or earlobe.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional audible alarm is used to wake the user, then the user is effectively awakened, but other sleeping persons nearby are disturbed by the sound

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewake-up effectivenessVSAvoiddisturbance to others

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm function is segmented into individual wearable patches, each capable of independent operation. The alarm signal is delivered locally to the user's body rather than through ambient air, segmenting the alarm effect from the surrounding environment and preventing disturbance to others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using bone conduction transducers that transmit alarm signals through the user's skull bones directly to the inner ear, bypassing the air medium. This intermediary bone conduction path delivers the alarm effectively to the user while preventing sound wave propagation that would disturb others nearby.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the alarm sound intensity is increased to ensure the user wakes up, then wake-up reliability improves, but the disturbance to other sleeping persons increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealarm effectivenessVSAvoidnoise disturbance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm effect is localized to the user's body through direct bone conduction contact points. The transducer applies mechanical vibration locally at the skull contact area, creating a concentrated alarm effect that does not radiate outward as sound waves would, thus maintaining high alarm effectiveness without generating ambient noise disturbance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the acoustic mechanical system (sound waves traveling through air) with a direct mechanical coupling system (bone conduction transducers contacting the skull). This substitution eliminates the need for high-intensity sound waves while achieving effective alarm delivery through direct mechanical vibration transmission to the inner ear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If a non-invasive patch is used for wake-up alarm, then comfort and discreetness are improved, but the alert intensity may be insufficient compared to conventional alarms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewearability comfortVSAvoidalert effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm function is implemented with periodic pulsing patterns that can be adjusted in frequency and duration. The transducer delivers periodic vibration pulses through the bone conduction path, which can effectively stimulate the user to wake up while maintaining comfortable wearability, as the periodic nature allows for gradual intensity building and user adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Effectively wakes the user with a targeted alert that is not loud enough to disturb others, providing a non-invasive and discreet wake-up solution.

Implementation Method 1

The drive signal and the alert element can be configured to generate a vibration output

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

a receiver circuit in communication with the alert component and configured to receive the alarm control signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10603463B2Individual wake-up alarm patch

Publication Date: 2020.03.31 LIFE PATCH INT

AI summary

Individual wake-up alarm patch. In some embodiments, a wearable patch can include a patch substrate configured to support a plurality of components, and to allow the patch to be attached to a skin of a user. The wearable patch can further include an alert component implemented at least partially within the patch substrate and configured to alert the user based on an alarm control signal. The wearable patch can further include a receiver circuit in communication with the alert component and configured to receive the alarm control signal and induce the alerting of the user by the alert component.