Systems, articles and methods for strain mitigation in wearable electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9408316-B2
Application number	US-201414335688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2014
Priority date	Jul 22, 2013
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

Wearable electronic devices that provide adaptive physical coupling between electrically coupled components are described. Adaptive physical coupling advantageously accommodates different user sizes, forms, and movements and enhances the overall ergonomics of a wearable electronic device. Adaptive physical coupling also introduces stresses and strains on electrical pathways between the electrically coupled components. Accordingly, the wearable electronic devices include strain mitigation systems that mitigate physical strains on the electrical pathways between electrically coupled components. An exemplary strain mitigation system includes a guide structure that is pivotally coupled to a first substantially rigid structure of the wearable electronic device and slideably coupled to a second substantially rigid structure of the wearable electronic device. The guide structure provides a surface/channel over/through which electrical pathways extend between electrically coupled components.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wearable electronic device comprising:
a first pod structure that includes electrical circuitry;
a second pod structure that includes electrical circuitry;
a first adaptive coupler that provides adaptive physical coupling between the first pod structure and the second pod structure;
a first set of electrically conductive pathways to in use provide electrical coupling between the electrical circuitry of the first pod structure and the electrical circuitry of the second pod structure; and
a first strain mitigation system to in use mitigate strain on the first set of electrically conductive pathways, the first strain mitigation system comprising a first guide structure that is physically coupled to the first pod structure and projects at least partially over the electrical circuitry of the second pod structure, wherein a respective first portion of each electrically conductive pathway in the first set of electrically conductive pathways extends across a length of the first guide structure wherein the first set of electrically conductive pathways includes a first flexible printed circuit board; and
wherein the first guide structure includes a first surface, an edge, and a second surface opposite the first surface, and wherein a first portion of the first flexible printed circuit board extends across a length of the first surface of the first guide structure, a second portion of the first flexible printed circuit board bends around the edge of the first guide structure, and a third portion of the first flexible printed circuit board extends across at least a portion of a length of the second surface of the first guide structure.

2. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first adaptive coupler includes an elastic material that is physically coupled to both the first pod structure and the second pod structure to, in use, provide elastic physical coupling between the first pod structure and the second pod structure.

3. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first strain mitigation system further includes at least one pivot structure, and wherein the first guide structure is pivotally coupled to the first pod structure through the at least one pivot structure.

4. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first guide structure includes a recessed channel that extends across a length of the first guide structure, and wherein the first flexible printed circuit board extends across a length of the first guide structure within the recessed channel in the first guide structure.

5. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first strain mitigation system is slideably coupled to the second pod structure.

6. The wearable electronic device of claim 5 wherein one of the first strain mitigation system and the second pod structure includes a receiving channel and the other of the first strain mitigation system and the second pod structure includes a protrusion that protrudes into the receiving channel, and wherein slideable coupling between the first strain mitigation system and the second pod structure is through the protrusion and the receiving channel.

7. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first pod structure and the second pod structure are each formed of substantially rigid material.

8. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second pod structure includes a housing having an inner volume, and wherein the first guide structure projects at least partially into the inner volume of the housing of the second pod structure.

9. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second pod structure is positioned adjacent the first pod structure, and further comprising:
a third pod structure that includes electrical circuitry, the third pod structure positioned adjacent the second pod structure;
an adaptive physical coupling between the second pod structure and the third pod structure;
a second set of electrically conductive pathways to in use provide electrical coupling between the electrical circuitry of the second pod structure and the electrical circuitry of the third pod structure; and
a second strain mitigation system to in use mitigate strain on the second set of electrically conductive pathways, the second strain mitigation system comprising a second guide structure that is physically coupled to the second pod structure and projects at least partially over the electrical circuitry of the third pod structure, wherein a respective first portion of each electrically conductive pathway in the second set of electrically conductive pathways extends across a length of the second guide structure.

10. The wearable electronic device of claim 9 wherein the adaptive physical coupling between the second pod structure and the third pod structure is through the first adaptive coupler.

11. The wearable electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a second adaptive coupler that provides the adaptive physical coupling between the second pod structure and the third pod structure.

12. The wearable electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising:
an adaptive physical coupling between the third pod structure and the first pod structure.

13. The wearable electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising:
at least one additional pod structure that includes electrical circuitry, each additional pod structure positioned adjacent at least one other pod structure;
a respective adaptive physical coupling between each additional pod structure and an adjacent at least one other pod structure;
a respective additional set of electrically conductive pathways corresponding to each additional pod structure, wherein each additional set of electrically conductive pathways in use provides electrical coupling between the electrical circuitry of a corresponding additional pod structure and the electrical circuitry of the adjacent at least one other pod structure; and
a respective additional strain mitigation system corresponding to each additional set of electrically conductive pathways, each additional strain mitigation system to in use mitigate strain on a corresponding additional set of electrically conductive pathways, wherein each additional strain mitigation system comprises a respective corresponding guide structure that is physically coupled to the adjacent at least one other pod structure and projects at least partially over the electrical circuitry of the corresponding additional pod structure, and wherein a respective first portion of each electrically conductive pathway in the corresponding additional set of electrically conductive pathways extends across a length of the respective corresponding guide structure.

14. The wearable electronic device of claim 13 wherein the first pod structure, the second pod structure, the third pod structure, and the at least one additional pod structure are collectively arranged in an annular configuration with each respective pod structure positioned adjacent two other pod structures.

15. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first pod structure and the second pod structure includes an electromyography sensor.

16. A wearable electronic device comprising:
a set of pod structures arranged in an annular configuration with each pod structure in the set of pod structures positioned adjacent two other pod structures in the set of pod structures, wherein each pod structure includes respective electrical circuitry;
an adaptive coupler that physically couples each pod structure in the set of pod structures to two adjacent pod structures in

Assignees

• Thalmic Labs Inc

Inventors

• Bailey Matthew
• Orzel Stephen E
• Hills Graham T

Classifications

• A61B5/681

  Wristwatch-type devices · CPC title

• H05K7/026

  Multiple connections subassemblies · CPC title

• A61B5/6831 Primary

  Straps, bands or harnesses · CPC title

• A61B5/0492

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• H05K5/0217 Primary

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title