Robust Wearable Notification Device

Submitted 8 years ago

Missing calls, emails, or texts, due to week notification? Problem Solved!

The Problem
Smartphone notification devices (watches, bracelets, rings, earrings...), whether their sole function is to notify, or they are bundled with fitness or medical monitoring features, have one function in common, to NOTIFY. In fact, their singular most important function is to NOTIFY. And yet, many of these devices fail to do so effectively or reliably.

Notification devices are typically paired with smartphones and perform the notification function by setting themselves into VIBRATION. Too often however the vibrations are too feeble to be detected, rendering notification a failure. The vibrations are feeble because the devices are very light (small mass), and contain small/weak batteries. Vibrating the whole device consumes significant energy. Furthermore, the vibrating energy is transferred to the skin over a relatively spread out contact area, thus the impact to the skin is diluted, and hardly detectable.

The Solution
Instead of setting the whole device vibrating, conserve energy by setting only small element(s) in motion; like a few little pulsating pistons in contact with the skin (like jack hammers or wood peckers). Transferring the energy through small pistons, requires less energy, yet, because the contact area between the skin and the pistons is small, it results in a concentrated impact, and thus much more effective, resulting in a much more powerful notification, and yet at a significantly reduced consumption of battery energy, leading to longer battery life. - It's a win - win.

Fig 2 illustrates an implementation with six little pistons. It is possible to differentiate between different notifications (phone, email text, etc.) by activating different pistons, arrays, combinations or rhythm patterns. It is also possible to make the device waterproof by having a flexible membrane (like rubber) encase the piston area(s)

Alternative Embodiment
An additional means of amplifying the notification is to use battery energy only to trigger the release of a more powerful pre-loaded mechanical energy. The device could be similar to a spring loaded egg timer. In preparation, it is wound up by hand to store the mechanical energy. A notification results when the battery triggers the release of the wound up mechanical energy, which in turn drives the notification mechanism. The release of this powerful mechanical spring will yield sufficient energy to create a very robust notification.

Patent Pending
Contact: Elliot [email protected]

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