Wearable device assembly having antenna

• US 9,166,282 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Lowe, Edward Stephen, Buxton, Bert
• Primary Examiner(s): Aychillhum, Andargie M
• Application Number:
  US13/745,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20130187789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 361/749, 340/870.02, 343/718
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/029 Humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0507 using microwaves or terahertz waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6829 Foot or ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6897 Computer input devices, e.g. mice or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 : Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 : using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 : Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 : Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 : Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/16 : in which transmission is by pulses
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 : Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/30 : using a wired architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 : using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 : where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 : Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0281 : Reinforcement details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 : characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10098 : Components for radio transmission, e.g. radio frequency identification [RFID] tag, printed or non-printed antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 : Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/06 : on insulating boards , e.g. wiring harnesses for printed circuits H05K1/18, H05K3/30

Abstract

A wrist-worn device monitors movements of a user. A sensor assembly of the wrist-worn device is configured to detect movement of the user and generate sensor data based on the movement detected. A controller connected to the sensor assembly obtains movement data based on the sensor data. An antenna connected to the controller is configured to operate at a desired frequency when a wrist of the user is received by the device such that the movement data is wirelessly transmittable from the wrist-worn device to an electronic device. The antenna may exhibit a different design and configuration depending on the size of the wrist-worn device.

Claims

1. A wrist-worn device that monitors movements of a user comprising:

a sensor assembly configured to detect movement of the user and generate sensor data based on the movement detected;

a controller connected to the sensor assembly that obtains movement data based, at least in part, on the sensor data; and

an antenna connected to the controller that is configured to operate at a desired frequency when a wrist of the user is received by the device such that the movement data is wirelessly transmittable from the wrist-worn device to an electronic device;

wherein the desired frequency is a peak resonant frequency, the antenna is tuned such that the antenna operates at an off-peak resonant frequency relative the peak resonant frequency when the wrist is not received by the wrist-worn device, and the antenna produces a radiation pattern having relatively high gain areas that are directed away from a body of the user when wirelessly transmitting the movement data;

wherein a body of the wrist-worn device includes a plurality of flex areas and the wrist-worn device further comprises

an internal spine member extending through the body of the wrist-worn device, and

a flexible circuit member wrapped around and connected to the spine member, the flexible circuit member interconnects the controller and one or more sensors of the sensor assembly; and

wherein the antenna is connected to the flexible circuit member and at least a portion of the antenna is located in one of the flex areas of the body of the wrist-worn device.

2. The wrist-worn device claim 1 wherein substantially all of the antenna is located in one of the flex areas of the body of the wrist-worn device.

3. The wrist-worn device of claim 1 wherein the antenna is embedded in the flexible circuit member.

4. The wrist-worn device of claim 3 wherein the antenna includes:

a rounded end;

a pointed end disposed opposite the rounded end; and

a first lateral edge extending between the rounded end and the pointed end, the first lateral edge having a first substantially straight edge portion that extends between the rounded end and the pointed end.

5. The wrist-worn device of claim 4 wherein the antenna further includes:

a second lateral edge disposed opposite the first lateral edge and extending between the rounded end and the pointed end, the second lateral edge having a second substantially straight edge portion proximate to the rounded end and a sloped edge portion proximate to the second substantially straight edge portion that slopes away from the second substantially straight edge portion toward the pointed end.

6. The wrist-worn device of claim 5 wherein the antenna has a maximum length of approximately 19-20 millimeters and a maximum width of approximately 3-4 millimeters.

7. The wrist-worn device of claim 6 wherein a circumference of the wrist-worn device is approximately 200-210 millimeters.

8. The wrist-worn device of claim 4 wherein the antenna further includes:

a second lateral edge disposed opposite the first lateral edge and extending between the rounded end and the pointed end, the second lateral edge having a second substantially straight edge portion proximate to the rounded end, a curved edge portion connecting the second substantially straight edge portion to a third substantially straight edge portion, and a sloped edge portion proximate to the pointed end that slopes away from the third substantially straight edge portion toward the pointed end.

9. The wrist-worn device of claim 8 wherein the antenna has a maximum length of approximately 22-23 millimeters and a maximum width of approximately 5-6 millimeters.

10. The wrist-worn device of claim 9 wherein a circumference of the wrist-worn device is between around 180-190 millimeters.

11. The wrist-worn device of claim 3 wherein the antenna includes a plurality of substantially linear antenna portions disposed at an angle relative to one another such that the antenna defines a jagged shape.

12. The wrist-worn device of claim 11 wherein the plurality of substantially linear antenna portions includes seven substantially linear antenna portions and wherein:

a first linear antenna portion and a second liner antenna portion define a first V-shaped section of the antenna such that the first V-shaped section points toward a first direction;

the second linear antenna portion and a third linear antenna portion define a second V-shaped section of the antenna such that the second V-shaped section points toward a second direction opposite the first direction;

the third linear antenna portion and a linear fourth antenna portion define a third V-shaped section of the antenna such that the third V-shaped section points toward the first direction;

the fourth linear antenna portion and a fifth linear antenna portion define a fourth V-shaped section of the antenna such that the fourth V-shaped section points toward the second direction;

the fifth linear antenna portion and a sixth linear antenna portion define a fifth V-shaped section of the antenna such that the fifth V-shaped section points toward the first direction; and

the sixth linear antenna portion and a seventh linear antenna portion define a sixth V-shaped section of the antenna such that the sixth V-shaped section points toward the second direction.

13. The wrist-worn device of claim 12 wherein the antenna has a maximum length of approximately 12-13 millimeters and a maximum width of approximately 3-4 millimeters.

14. The wrist-worn device of claim 13 wherein a circumference of the wrist-worn device is between around 150-160 millimeters.

15. An antenna for a wrist-worn device that monitors movements of a user comprising:

an antenna configuration that causes the antenna to operate at a desired frequency when a wrist of the user is received by the device such that movement data collected by the wrist-worn device is wirelessly transmittable to an electronic device;

wherein the antenna configuration causes the antenna to produce a radiation pattern having relatively high gain areas that are directed away from a body of the user when wirelessly transmitting the movement data; and

wherein the antenna is configured to be embedded in a flexible circuit member of the wrist-worn device when installed in the wrist-worn device such that at least a portion of the antenna is positioned in a flex area of the wrist-worn device when embedded in the flexible circuit member.

16. The antenna of claim 15 wherein the antenna is configured to be installed in a wrist-worn device having a circumference of approximately 200-210 millimeters, and wherein the antenna configuration includes:

a rounded end;

a pointed end disposed opposite the rounded end;

a first lateral edge extending between the rounded end and the pointed end, the first lateral edge having a first substantially straight edge portion that extends between the rounded end and the pointed end; and

a second lateral edge disposed opposite the first lateral edge and extending between the rounded end and the pointed end, the second lateral edge having a second substantially straight edge portion proximate to the rounded end and a sloped edge portion proximate to the second substantially straight edge portion that slopes away from the second substantially straight edge portion toward the pointed end.

17. The antenna of claim 15 wherein the antenna is configured to be installed in a wrist-worn device having a circumference of approximately 180-190 millimeters, and wherein the antenna configuration includes:

a rounded end;

a pointed end disposed opposite the rounded end;

a first lateral edge extending between the rounded end and the pointed end, the first lateral edge having a first substantially straight edge portion that extends between the rounded end and the pointed end; and

a second lateral edge disposed opposite the first lateral edge and extending between the rounded end and the pointed end, the second lateral edge having a second substantially straight edge portion proximate to the rounded end and a sloped edge portion proximate to the second substantially straight edge portion that slopes away from the second substantially straight edge portion toward the pointed end.

18. The antenna of claim 15 wherein the antenna is configured to be installed in a wrist-worn device having a circumference of approximately 150-160 millimeters, and wherein the antenna configuration includes:

a plurality of substantially linear antenna portions disposed at an angle relative to one another such that the antenna defines a jagged shape.