Wearable electronic stress and strain indicator

• US 9,659,478 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2014
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flex, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Multek Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Bergman, Mark, Glickman, Michael James
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Curtis
• Application Number:
  US14/572,610
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0041 by determining deflection or stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0083 by measuring variation of impedance, e.g. resistance, capacitance, induction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0201 Thermal arrangements, e.g. for cooling, heating or preventing overheating
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/115 Via connections; Lands around holes or via connections H05K1/112 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0302 Properties and characteristics in general
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/0338 Transferring metal or conductive material other than a circuit pattern, e.g. bump, solder, printed component
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/0723 Electroplating, e.g. finish plating
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/42 Plated through-holes or plated via connections

Abstract

A stress and/or strain indicator comprises a wearable body, one or more flexible sections, one or more rigid sections and one or more strain gauges. The one or more strain gauges detect a level of stress and/or strain applied to the wearable body in order to indicate when the product is in danger of failing. A warning is activated based upon the level of stress and/or strain applied to the wearable body. For example, the stress and/or strain indicator is able to display a visual and/or an audible warning that a high level of stress and/or strain has been applied to the wearable body and the product is in danger of failing. In some embodiments, the stress and/or strain incident is recorded and downloadable. Consequently, a user is better informed as to when the electronic product is in danger of failing because of damage or misuse.

Claims

1. A wearable electronic stress and strain indicator comprising:

a. a wearable body,

b. a strain gauge coupled to the wearable body; and

c. a warning indicator which indicates a warning based upon a level of stress and/or strain applied to the wearable body, and wherein the warning indicator indicates a warning that the electronic stress and strain indicator is in danger of failing.

2. The wearable stress and/or strain indicator of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a molded band.

3. The wearable stress and/or strain indicator of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a rigid section and a flexible section.

4. The wearable stress and/or strain indicator of claim 3, wherein the flexible section is located at a high stress and/or strain area of the wearable body.

5. The wearable stress and/or strain indicator of claim 3, wherein the strain gauge is located at the flexible section.

6. The wearable stress and/or strain indicator of claim 1, wherein the warning indicator displays a visual alert if the stress and/or strain to the wearable body is greater than a threshold amount.

7. The wearable stress and/or strain indicator of claim 1, wherein the warning indicator displays an audio alert if the stress and/or strain to the wearable body is greater than a threshold amount.

8. The wearable stress and/or strain indicator of claim 1 comprising a recorder for recording a stress and/or strain incident to the wearable body.

9. The wearable stress and/or strain indicator of claim 8, wherein the stress and/or strain incident is downloadable.

10. The wearable stress and/or strain indicator of claim 9, wherein the stress and/or strain incident is downloadable by a user of the wearable stress and/or strain indicator.

11. The wearable stress and/or strain indicator of claim 10, wherein the stress and/or strain incident is wirelessly sent to an electronic media device such as a smart phone, a tablet, and a computer.

12. The wearable stress and/or strain indicator of claim 9, wherein the stress and/or strain incident is downloadable by an original equipment manufacturer of the wearable stress and/or strain indicator.

13. An electronic system for detecting a level of stress and strain applied to a wearable product comprising:

a. a wearable body;

b. a strain gauge for detecting a stress and/or strain applied to the wearable body;

c. a warning indicator; and

d. a control device,

wherein the strain gauge sends a signal to the control device based upon a stress and/or strain applied to the wearable body and the control device operates the warning indicator based upon the signal from the strain gauge, and wherein the warning indicator indicates a warning that the product is in danger of failing.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the control device only operates the warning indicator if the stress and/or strain to the wearable body is greater than a threshold level.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the warning indicator displays a visual alert if the stress and/or strain to the wearable body is greater than the threshold level.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the warning indicator displays an audio alert if the stress and/or strain to the wearable body is greater than the threshold level.

17. The system of claim 13 comprising a recorder for recording the stress and/or strain incident to the wearable body.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the stress and/or strain incident is downloadable.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the stress and/or strain incident is downloadable by a user of the wearable body.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein the stress and/or strain incident is downloadable by an original equipment manufacturer of the electronic system.

21. A method of indicating a level of stress and strain applied to a wearable body, the method comprising:

a. sensing a level of stress and/or strain applied to the wearable body;

b. sending a signal to a control device based upon the level of stress and/or strain applied to the wearable body; and

c. activating a warning based upon the level of stress and/or strain applied to the wearable body, and wherein the warning indicator indicates a warning that the electronic stress and strain indicator is in danger of failing.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the warning is only activated if the stress and/or strain to the wearable body is greater than a threshold amount.

23. The method of claim 21 comprising recording the stress and/or strain incident.

24. The method of claim 23 comprising downloading the recorded stress and/or strain incident.