EP-4739195-A1 - C-RING FORM FACTOR FOR WEARABLE RING DEVICE WITH ADJUSTABLE SIZE

Abstract

A wearable device, such as a wearable ring device, configured to transition between multiple discrete ring sizes is disclosed. The wearable ring device may include a discontinuous ring-shaped housing that extends radially around at least a portion of a circumference of the wearable ring device, where a first end and a second end of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing are separated from one another by a radial distance and configured to move relative to one another. The wearable ring device may further include one or more sensors positioned at least partially within an inner circumferential surface of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing, and one or more mechanical components configured to transition the wearable ring device between the multiple discrete ring sizes.

Inventors

• MÄKINEN, JUKKA TAPANI
• UUSITALO, Marko
• SAIKKONEN, ANTTI PEKKA
• KELLONIEMI, Marko
• IHME, SAMI SAKARI
• HAVERINEN, TEEMU JUHANI
• LÄMSÄ, ANTTI KALEVI

Assignees

• Oura Health Oy

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240514

Claims (16)

1. 1 . A wearable ring device configured to transition between a plurality of discrete ring sizes, comprising: a discontinuous ring-shaped housing that extends radially around at least a portion of a circumference of the wearable ring device, wherein a first end and a second end of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing are separated from one another by a radial distance and configured to move relative to one another; one or more sensors positioned at least partially within an inner circumferential surface of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing, the one or more sensors configured to acquire physiological data from a user; and one or more mechanical components configured to transition the wearable ring device between the plurality of discrete ring sizes by mechanically connecting the first end and the second end of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing, wherein the one or more mechanical components are configured to transition the wearable ring device between the plurality' of discrete ring sizes by adjusting the radial distance between the first end and the second end of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing, adjusting a size of the circumference of the wearable ring device, or both.
2. 2. The wearable ring device of claim 1, wherein the discontinuous ring-shaped housing comprises one or more flexible regions, one or more hinges, or both, that enable the first end and the second end of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing to move relative to one another.
3. 3. The wearable ring device of claim 1, wherein the discontinuous ring-shaped housing comprises a silicon material, a flexible plastic material, a flexible metallic material, or any combination thereof.
4. 4. The wearable ring device of claim 1, further comprising: one or more processors communicatively coupled with the one or more sensors and the one or more mechanical components, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: identify that the wearable ring device comprises a discrete ring size of the plurality of discrete ring sizes; and selectively adjust one or more measurement parameters of the one or more sensors based at least in part on the discrete ring size.
5. 5. The wearable ring device of claim 1, further comprising: one or more processors communicatively coupled with the one or more sensors and the one or more mechanical components, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: identify a command to adjust a size of the wearable ring device from a first discrete ring size to a second discrete ring size; and transmit, to the one or more mechanical components, an instruction to selectively modify one or more parameters of the one or more mechanical components based at least in part on receiving the command to adjust the size of the wearable ring device.
6. 6. The wearable ring device of claim 5, wherein the command is received via a user device associated with the wearable ring device, via a user input component on an outer circumferential surface of the wearable ring device, or both.
7. 7. The wearable ring device of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to identify a gesture engaged in by the user based at least in part on the physiological data acquired from the user via the one or more sensors, wherein identifying the command to adjust the size of the wearable ring device is based at least in part on identifying the gesture.
8. 8. The wearable ring device of claim 7, wherein the gesture comprises a tap, a knock, a snap, a rotation of the wearable ring device, or any combination thereof.
9. 9. The wearable ring device of claim 1, wherein the one or more mechanical components comprise a latch disposed on the first end of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing.
10. 10. The wearable ring device of claim 9, wherein the latch is configured to engage a plurality of detents disposed on the second end of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing, wherein the plurality of detents correspond to the plurality of discrete ring sizes.
11. 11. The wearable ring device of claim 1, wherein the first end of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing comprises a first extension member including a set of tabs, and wherein the second end of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing comprises a second extension member including a set of detents, wherein the set of tabs are configured to engage the set of detents to adjust the wearable ring device between the plurality of discrete ring sizes, wherein the one or more mechanical components comprise the first extension member and second extension member, the set of tabs, and the set of detents.
12. 12. The wearable ring device of claim 1. wherein the one or more mechanical components comprise a plurality of size-adjustment inserts of varying lengths that are configured to mechanically connect the first end and the second end of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing, wherein the plurality' of size-adjustment inserts correspond to the plurality of discrete ring sizes.
13. 13. The wearable ring device of claim 12, wherein at least one sizeadjustment insert comprises one or more electrical components that are electrically coupled to the one or more sensors of the wearable ring device, wherein the one or more electrical components comprise a battery, a sensor module, a charger component, or any combination thereof.
14. 14. The wearable ring device of claim 13, wherein the at least one size-adjustment insert comprises a first electrical contact that is configured to interface with a second electrical contact on the first end of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing, the second end of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing, or both, to electrically couple the one or more electrical components of the at least one sizeadjustment insert with the one or more sensors of the wearable ring device.
15. 15. The wearable ring device of claim 1, wherein the one or more mechanical components comprise a hinge or a flexible region of the discontinuous ringshaped housing, wherein the hinge, the flexible region, or both, are configured to enable the first end and the second end of the discontinuous ring-shaped housing to move relative to one another.
16. 16. The wearable ring device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more mechanical components comprise a spring or a screw that are configured to transition the wearable ring device between the plurality of discrete ring sizes by adjusting the radial distance between the first end and the second end of the discontinuous ringshaped housing.

Description

C-RING FORM FACTOR FOR WEARABLE RING DEVICE WITH ADJUSTABLE SIZE CROSS REFERENCE [0001] The present Application for Patent claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 18/662,600 by Miikinen et al., entitled “C-RING FORM FACTOR FOR WEARABLE RING DEVICE WITH ADIUSTABLE SIZE,” filed May 13, 2024, and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/512,486 by Makinen et al., entitled ’ C-RING FORM FACTOR FOR WEARABLE RING DEVICE WITH ADJUSTABLE SIZE,” filed July 7, 2023, which is assigned to the assignee hereof and expressly incorporated by reference herein. FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY [0002] The following relates to wearable devices and data processing, including a C-ring form factor for a wearable ring device with adjustable size. BACKGROUND [0003] Some wearable devices may be configured to collect physiological data from users, including temperature data, heart rate data, and the like. However, poor contact between a user’s skin and one or more sensors of a wearable device may result in inaccurate measurements. As such, the anatomy of human users may result in ill-fitting wearable devices that do not achieve relatively constant skin contact and produce inaccurate measurements. For example, in the context of a wearable ring device, a variety of reasons may make it challenging for the wearable ring device to achieve a good fit, such as the anatomy of a human user’s finger. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0004] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system that supports a C-ring form factor for wearable ring devices with adjustable size in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [0005] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a system that supports a C-ring form factor for wearable ring devices with adjustable size in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [0006] FIG. 3 shows an example of a wearable device diagram that supports a C- ring form factor for wearable ring devices with adjustable size in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [0007] FIG. 4 shows an example of a wearable device diagram that supports a C- ring form factor for wearable ring devices with adjustable size in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [0008] FIG. 5 shows an example of a wearable device diagram that supports a C- ring form factor for wearable ring devices with adjustable size in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [0009] FIG. 6 shows an example of a wearable device diagram that supports a C- ring form factor for wearable ring devices with adjustable size in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0010] Some wearable devices may be configured to collect physiological data from users, such as light-based photoplethysmogram (PPG) data. For example, some wearable devices may be configured to acquire physiological data associated with a user including temperature data, heart rate data, and the like. To track the physiological data efficiently and accurately, a wearable device may be configured to collect data continuously while the user wears the device. However, a level or quality of skin contact between the wearable device and the user's tissue may affect a quality of PPG measurements. In particular, varying pressure between the wearable device and the user’s tissue may affect how light is transmitted into, through, and out of the user’s tissue, thereby affecting PPG measurements. As such, ill-fitting wearable devices that do not achieve relatively constant skin contact may result in poor PPG data. [0011] In some cases, the anatomy of human users may make it challenging for wearable devices to achieve a good fit. For example, if the wearable device is a ring (e.g., a wearable ring device), pressure on the ring may create an air gap between the opposite side of the ring and the skin of the user. More specifically, in the context of the wearable ring device, a user’s fingers may swell and contract (e.g., due to varying hydration levels, weight fluctuation, pregnancy, elevation, inflammation, etc.), which may affect the fit of the wearable device. Moreover, the joints and knuckles of a human’s fingers may make it challenging for the wearable ring devices to achieve a good fit. For instance, a ring that fits over the user’s knuckle may be relatively loose when it is being worn, but a ring that fits well around the base of the user’s finger may be difficult or uncomfortable to put on (or take off) over the user's knuckles. [0012] In some cases, an ill-fitting wearable ring device may lead to insufficient or inconsistent contact with one or more sensors of the wearable device (e.g., one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) and one or more respective photodetectors (PDs)), which may create new optical interfaces between the skin of the user and the sensors. The new optical interfaces may behave differently as compared to cases where there is good skin contact between the skin of the user and the sensors (e.g.. may change a critical angle due to