Wearable Ring PCB Locking Grooves for Static Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable devices experience issues with PCB displacement, damage, and static buildup due to user movement, affecting data acquisition efficiency and accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A locking mechanism with grooves in the wearable device housing secures the PCB in a defined position, maintaining a gap to prevent displacement and static buildup, using insulating materials for protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the PCB is secured tightly to the housing, then displacement is prevented, but static buildup and wear increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePCB position stabilityVSAvoidstatic electricity buildup

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer (insulating material or gap) between the PCB and housing that prevents direct contact. This mediator reduces friction and static electricity buildup while maintaining PCB position stability through the locking groove mechanism, resolving the contradiction between secure positioning and static prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the interface between PCB and housing by introducing a controlled gap or insulating material layer. This parameter change reduces the coefficient of friction and static charge transfer while maintaining positional stability through the locking groove geometry, thereby resolving the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the PCB is allowed to move freely, then static buildup is reduced, but displacement and damage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestatic electricity reductionVSAvoidPCB position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the housing into locking grooves that independently constrain the PCB at specific points rather than continuous contact. This segmentation allows the PCB to maintain stable positioning while reducing overall friction and static buildup compared to full-surface contact, resolving the contradiction between stability and static reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If conventional securing techniques are used, then PCB is held in place, but vibration and static buildup occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePCB securingVSAvoidvibration and static electricity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The locking groove structure acts as an intermediary mechanism that secures the PCB through geometric constraint rather than friction-based adhesion. This mediator eliminates vibration by preventing relative motion while reducing static buildup by minimizing contact surface area, resolving both harmful effects simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12419578B2Locking mechanism for wearable device components

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 OURA HEALTH OY

AI summary

An apparatus for a wearable device including a locking mechanism for components of the wearable device is described. A wearable ring device may include a ring-shaped housing configured to house one or more sensors configured to acquire physiological data from a user, and a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) including electrical circuitry for the one or more sensors. The wearable ring device may include one or more locking grooves disposed within an interior surface of the ring-shaped housing, the one or more locking grooves configured to receive the flexible PCB and maintain a gap between an inner circumferential surface of the ring-shaped housing and a first surface of the flexible PCB.