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EP-4738647-A1 - WEARABLE DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR CHARGING SAME

EP4738647A1EP 4738647 A1EP4738647 A1EP 4738647A1EP-4738647-A1

Abstract

An electronic device for charging a wearable device, according to an embodiment, may comprise: a housing including a first region for mounting a wearable device and a second region surrounding the first region; a support structure on the first region, the support structure being configured to supply power to the wearable device and including a first supporting part movable with respect to the housing and a second supporting part opposite to the first supporting part; and a control structure coupled to the support structure. In order to fix the wearable device onto the first region through the first supporting part and the second supporting part, the control structure may be configured to adjust the spacing between the first supporting part and the second supporting part by moving the first supporting part with respect to the housing.

Inventors

  • KIM, HONGKI

Assignees

  • Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240503

Claims (15)

  1. An electronic device (300) for charging a wearable device (200), the electronic device (300) comprising: a housing (310) including a first region (310a) for mounting the wearable device (200), and a second region (310b) surrounding the first region (310a); a support structure (320) disposed on the first region (310a) and configured to supply power to the wearable device (200), wherein the support structure (320) includes a first supporting part (321) movable with respect to the housing (310) and a second supporting part (322) facing the first supporting part (321); and a control structure (330) coupled with the support structure (320), wherein the control structure (330) is configured to adjust a distance (d) between the first supporting part (321) and the second supporting part (322) by moving the first supporting part (321) with respect to the housing (310), to fasten the wearable device (200) on the first region (310a) through the first supporting part (321) and the second supporting part (322).
  2. The electronic device (300) of claim 1, wherein the first supporting part (321) includes an antenna (340) configured to wirelessly charge the wearable device (200), and wherein the electronic device (300) further comprises: a printed circuit board (410) in the housing (310); and a flexible printed circuit board (420) printed circuit board (410) connecting the antenna (340) and the printed circuit board (410) by extending from the antenna (340) to the printed circuit board (410).
  3. The electronic device (300) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first supporting part (321) includes a first curved surface (321a) facing the wearable device (200) placed on the first region (310a), and wherein the second supporting part (322) includes: a second curved surface (322a) facing the wearable device (200) placed on the first region (310a); and at least one groove (325) recessed from the second curved surface (322a) toward the first supporting part (321).
  4. The electronic device (300) of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second supporting part (322) is movably coupled with the housing (310) by the control structure (330), wherein the control structure (330) includes: a first moving member (430), coupled with the first supporting part (321), including a first gear portion (432); a second moving member (440), coupled with the second supporting part (322), including a second gear portion (442); and a gear (450), disposed in the housing (310), engaged with the first gear portion (432) and the second gear portion (442), and wherein the first supporting part (321) and the second supporting part (322) are configured to slide with respect to the housing (310) through movement of the first moving member (430) and the second moving member (440) by rotation of the gear (450).
  5. The electronic device (300) of claim 4, wherein the first moving member (430) is configured to: move the first supporting part (321) in a first direction (301) by the first gear portion (432) as the gear (450) rotates in a first rotation direction (401), and move the first supporting part (321) in a first direction (302) opposite to the first direction (301) by the first gear portion (432) as the gear (450) rotates in a second rotation direction (402) opposite to the first rotation direction (401), and wherein the second moving member (440) is configured to: move the second supporting part (322) in the first direction (302) by the second gear portion (442) as the gear (450) rotates in the first rotation direction (401), and move the second supporting part (322) in the first direction (301) by the second gear portion (442) as the gear (450) rotates in the second rotation direction (402).
  6. The electronic device (300) of claims 4, wherein the control structure (330) further includes: a guide structure (331) disposed on the second region (310b); and a shaft (460) coupled with the gear (450) by extending from the guide structure (331) into the housing (310) and configured to provide a rotation axis (R) to the gear (450).
  7. The electronic device (300) of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control structure (330) includes a wheel (470) coupled on the second region (310b) so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing (310), and wherein the first supporting part (321) is configured to move relative to the housing (310) by a rotation of the wheel (470).
  8. The electronic device (300) of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a color (c1) of the support structure (320) is different from a color (c2) of the housing (310).
  9. The electronic device (300) of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first region (310a) includes a seating groove (315) surrounding the support structure (320) to accommodate the wearable device (200).
  10. The electronic device (300) of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second supporting part (322) is coupled to the housing (310), and wherein the first supporting part (321) is coupled with the housing (310) movable in a first direction (301) and a first direction (302) opposite to the first direction (301) with respect to the second supporting part (322).
  11. A wearable device (200) comprising: a frame (210) including a first surface (210a) configured to face a part (20) of body of a user while the wearable device (200) is worn by the user and a second surface (210b) opposite to the first surface (210a); a sensor (250) including a light emitter (251) facing the first surface (210a) and a light receiver (252) configured to receive at least a portion of light emitted from the light emitter (251); and at least one processor (201); and memory (203), comprising one or more storage mediums, storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor (201) individually or collectively, cause the wearable device (200) to: obtain information related to an external environment through the at least a portion of the light emitted from the light emitter (251) and received by the light receiver (252); identify whether the wearable device (200) is placed on an electronic device (300) configured to charge the wearable device (200), based on at least a portion of the information; and based on identifying that the wearable device (200) is mounted on the electronic device (300), perform a charging mode of the wearable device (200).
  12. The wearable device (200) of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor (201) individually or collectively, further cause the wearable device (200) to: identify a light quantity (L) of the at least portion of the light through the at least portion of the light received by the light receiver (252); based on identifying the light quantity (L) within a first reference range (r1), identify the wearable device (200) placed on the electronic device (300); and based on identifying the light quantity (L) within a second reference range (r2) that is different from the first reference range (r1), identify the wearable device (200) worn on the part (20) of body of the user.
  13. The wearable device (200) of claim 11 or 12, further comprising a power management circuit (205), wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor (201) individually or collectively, further cause the wearable device (200) to, based on identifying the wearable device (200) mounted on the electronic device (300), bypass power supply to the sensor (250) through the power management circuit (205).
  14. The wearable device (200) of any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising a power management circuit (205), wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor (201) individually or collectively, further cause the wearable device (200) to: before identifying that the wearable device (200) is placed on the electronic device (300), control the power management circuit (205) to execute a functionality of the wearable device (200) in a first power mode; and after identifying that the wearable device (200) is placed on the electronic device (300), control the power management circuit (205) to execute the functionality of the wearable device (200) in a second power mode that consumes less power than the first power mode.
  15. The wearable device (200) of any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor (201) individually or collectively, further cause the wearable device (200) to: emit light toward the part (20) of body of the user on which the wearable device (200) is worn, using the light emitter (251) of the sensor (250); and obtain biometric information about the user by receiving at least a portion of the light reflected by the part (20) of body of the user using the light receiver (252).

Description

[Technical Field] The disclosure relates to a wearable device and an electronic device for charging the wearable device. [Background Art] Wearable devices(for example, a smart ring) may be used in a state worn on a part of a user's body. Wearable devices may be provided with various types of products. For example, a wearable device may include a ring-shaped apparatus for being worn on a part of the user's body. The wearable device may be provided to the user in various sizes to meet the user's needs. In an electronic device (e.g., a charger) for charging the wearable device, a structure for charging the wearable device provided in various sizes may be required. The above information may be presented as related arts only to assist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the aforementioned might be applicable as a prior art with regard to the disclosure. [Disclosure] [Technical Solution] According to an embodiment, an electronic device for charging a wearable device may include a housing including a first region for mounting the wearable device, and a second region surrounding the first region. The electronic device may include a support structure disposed on the first region and configured to supply power to the wearable device, wherein the support structure includes a first supporting part movable with respect to the housing and a second supporting part facing the first supporting part. The electronic device may include a control structure coupled with the support structure. The control structure may be configured to adjust a distance between the first supporting part and the second supporting part by moving the first supporting part with respect to the housing to fasten the wearable device on the first region through the first supporting part and the second supporting part. According to an embodiment, a wearable device may include a frame including a first surface configured to face a part of a user's body while the wearable device is worn by the user and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The wearable device may include a sensor including a light emitter facing the first surface and a light receiver configured to receive at least a portion of light emitted from the light emitter, and at least one processor. The wearable device may include memory, comprising one or more storage mediums, storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, may cause the wearable device to obtain information related to an external environment through the at least a portion of the light emitted from the light emitter and received by the light receiver. The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, may cause the wearable device to identify whether the wearable device is mounted on an electronic device configured to charge the wearable device, based on at least a portion of the information. The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, may cause the wearable device to perform a charging mode of the wearable device, based on identifying that the wearable device is mounted on the electronic device. According to an embodiment, an electronic device for charging a wearable device may include a housing including a first region for mounting the wearable device and a second region surrounding the first region. The electronic device may include a support structure disposed on the first region and configured to supply power to the wearable device, wherein the support structure including a first supporting part and a second supporting part facing the first supporting part and including at least one groove recessed toward the first supporting part. The first supporting part may be movable with respect to the housing, for fastening the wearable device onto the first region. The color of the support structure may be different from the color of the housing. [Description of Drawings] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device in a network environment according to an embodiment.FIG. 2A illustrates an example wearable device.FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of an example wearable device.FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrates an example electronic device for charging an example wearable device.FIG. 3C illustrates a part of an example electronic device on which a wearable device is mounted.FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate an electronic device for charging an example wearable device.FIG. 5A illustrates an example wearable device mounted on an electronic device.FIG. 5B illustrates an example wearable device worn by a user.FIG. 6 is a graph indicating the light quantity measured by a sensor of an example wearable device according to a state of the wearable device.FIGS. 7A and 7B are a flowchart of operations of a processor of an example wearable device.FIG. 8 is a flowchart of operations of a processor of an exam