Wearable Power Housing Sealing and EMF Feedback Charging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable electronic devices face challenges in sealing electrical connectors while maintaining a robust moisture barrier, as traditional gaskets cannot effectively seal openings perpendicular to the housing perimeter, and existing wireless power transmission systems struggle to adjust power levels based on coil alignment and distance, leading to inconsistent power delivery.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dual-gasket sealing system with one gasket compressing between housing halves and another gasket sealing the electrical connector, and using an EMF sensor to dynamically adjust power transmission based on coil alignment and distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional single gasket sealing is used, then device structure is simple, but sealing effectiveness at connector openings is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into two distinct gaskets: a first gasket that seals between housing portions and a second gasket that seals at the connector opening. This segmentation allows each gasket to be optimized for its specific sealing location and function, ensuring effective sealing at both the housing joint and the connector opening while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The second gasket acts as an intermediary sealing element specifically at the connector opening, which is perpendicular to the housing perimeter. This intermediary gasket provides the additional sealing layer needed at this critical location without requiring complete redesign of the entire sealing system, thus improving reliability with controlled complexity increase
2Reliability
If fixed power transmission is used, then system control is simple, but power delivery consistency varies with coil alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The power transmission system transitions from fixed power delivery to dynamic power adjustment based on real-time coil alignment detection. The system continuously monitors alignment and distance between coils, then dynamically adjusts transmission power to maintain consistent delivery, ensuring reliable operation despite positional variations
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by detecting coil alignment and distance, then using this information to adjust power transmission levels. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures power delivery consistency by compensating for alignment variations in real-time, improving reliability while adding controlled system complexity through the feedback control architecture
3Ease of operation
If wireless power transmission is added, then charging convenience is improved, but moisture sealing at connector openings becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into two functional gaskets: the first gasket handles sealing between housing portions, while the second gasket specifically addresses sealing at the connector opening. This segmentation allows the wireless power connector to be sealed effectively without compromising the overall moisture barrier, maintaining reliability while enabling charging convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The second gasket provides localized sealing quality specifically at the connector opening where moisture ingress risk is highest. This local quality enhancement ensures that the wireless power transmission feature does not compromise the overall moisture barrier effectiveness, allowing charging convenience to be added without sacrificing reliability
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
Ensures effective sealing of wearable devices against moisture ingress and maintains consistent power delivery by adjusting electromagnetic field strength in real-time, allowing for reliable operation over extended periods.
Implementation Method 1
causing an electrical current source to output a current to an antenna coil to generate an electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 2
receive signals from an electromagnetic field sensor indicating a sensed strength of the electromagnetic field
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~4
AI summary
One example device includes a first housing portion defining a first coupling surface; a second housing portion defining a second coupling surface, the first housing portion coupled to the second housing portion to form a housing, the first housing portion and the second housing portion defining an opening, the opening intersecting the first coupling surface and the second coupling surface; a first gasket positioned between the first coupling surface and the second coupling surface, the first gasket providing a first seal between the first housing portion and the second housing portion, a printed circuit board ("PCB") disposed within the housing and coupled to at least one of the first or second housing portions; an electrical connector electrically coupled to the printed circuit board and positioned within the opening; and a second gasket positioned between the electrical connector and the housing, the second gasket providing a second seal between the electrical connector and the housing, wherein the first gasket is positioned to abut the second gasket and wherein compression of the first gasket between the first and second housing portions provides a third seal between the first gasket and the second gasket. Another example device includes a wireless field driver comprising a first antenna coil and an electrical current source electrically coupled to the first antenna coil; an electromagnetic field ("EMF") sensor comprising a second antenna coil, wherein the EMF sensor is configured to generate a sensor signal indicative of a signal strength from the first antenna coil; a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and a processor in communication with the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the processor configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to: cause the electrical current source to output a current to the first antenna coil to generate a first EMF; estimate the signal strength of the first EMF based on the sensor signal; and adjust the current to the first antenna coil based on an estimated signal strength of the first EMF to maintain a power characteristic and generate a second EMF at the first antenna coil.