Biometric sensor integrated with electronic display of a wearable device
A wearable computing device includes an outer covering defining an outer-most top surface and an outer perimeter and an internal volume defined, at least in part, by an inner surface of the outer covering. The wearable computing device also includes an electronic display and an electronic display module connector arranged within the internal volume. Further, the wearable computing device includes at least one biometric sensor electrode positioned on the outer-most top surface of the outer covering and wrapping around one or more side edges of the outer covering to the internal volume. Moreover, the wearable computing device includes a printed circuit board arranged within the internal volume. In addition, the wearable computing device includes a conductive component electrically connecting the biometric sensor electrode(s) to the printed circuit board through the electronic display module connector.
1 . A wearable computing device, comprising:
an outer covering defining an outer-most top surface and an outer perimeter;
an internal volume defined, at least in part, by an inner surface of the outer covering;
an electronic display and an electronic display module connector arranged within the internal volume;
at least one biometric sensor electrode positioned on the outer-most top surface of the outer covering and wrapping around one or more side edges of the outer covering to the internal volume;
a printed circuit board arranged within the internal volume;
a conductive component electrically connecting the at least one biometric sensor electrode to the printed circuit board through the electronic display module connector; and
a contact pad arranged between the conductive component and a top surface of the electronic display,
wherein the at least one biometric sensor electrode wraps around the one or more side edges of the outer covering to the internal volume such that a first end of the conductive component is secured to an end of the at least one biometric sensor electrode and an opposing end of the conductive component is secured directly to one of the printed circuit board or a conductive component in direct contact with the printed circuit board.
2 . The wearable computing device of claim 1 , further comprising a seal arranged along the outer perimeter of the outer covering, the internal volume being defined by the inner surface of the outer covering and an inner edge of the seal, the at least one biometric sensor electrode wrapping around the one or more side edges of the outer covering and the inner edge of the seal to the internal volume.
3 . The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive component comprises at least one of double-side conductive tape, double-side conductive foam, single-side conductive tape, single-side conductive foam, conductive adhesive, anisotropic conductive film, or combinations thereof.
4 . The wearable computing device of claim 3 , wherein the conductive component between the at least one biometric sensor electrode and the printed circuit board comprises the double-side conductive tape or the double-side conductive foam, the double-side conductive tape or the double-side conductive foam being sandwiched between a bottom surface of the outer covering and the top surface of the electronic display.
5 . The wearable computing device of claim 3 , wherein the conductive component between the at least one biometric sensor electrode and the printed circuit board comprises the double-side conductive tape or the double-side conductive foam, the double-side conductive tape or the double-side conductive foam being on a top surface of the printed circuit board.
6 . The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the contact pad comprises a thin metal film.
7 . The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the printed circuit board is electrically coupled to an edge of the contact pad.
8 . The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the printed circuit board is arranged adjacent to the contact pad and is electrically connected to a bottom surface of the contact pad.
9 . The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one biometric sensor electrode comprises, at least, a first biometric sensor electrode and a second biometric sensor electrode, the first and second biometric sensor electrodes being spaced apart by a gap.
10 . The wearable computing device of claim 9 , wherein the first and second biometric sensor electrodes are arranged on the same side of the printed circuit board.
11 . The wearable computing device of claim 9 , wherein the first and second biometric sensor electrodes are arranged on opposite sides of the printed circuit board.
12 . The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one biometric sensor electrode comprises a physical vapor deposition (PVD) sensor pad.
13 . The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the outer covering is constructed of at least one of glass, polycarbonate, or acrylic.
14 . The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one biometric sensor electrode comprises at least one of an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor or an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor.
15 . A method of assembling a wearable computing device, the method comprising:
providing an outer covering defining an outer-most top surface and an outer perimeter, an inner surface of the outer covering defining an internal volume;
positioning a first portion of at least one biometric sensor electrode on the outer-most top surface of the outer covering and wrapping a second portion of the at least one biometric sensor electrode around one or more side edges of the outer covering such that the second portion is within the internal volume;
placing an electronic display and an electronic display module connector within the internal volume;
arranging a printed circuit board within the internal volume adjacent to the electronic display; and
electrically connecting the at least one biometric sensor electrode to the printed circuit board through the electronic display module connector via at least one conductive component,
wherein, when the at least one biometric sensor electrode is wrapped around the one or more side edges of the outer covering to the internal volume, electrically connecting the at least one biometric sensor electrode to the printed circuit board through the electronic display module connector via at least one conductive component further comprises securing a first end of the conductive component to an end of the at least one biometric sensor electrode and securing an opposing end of the conductive component directly to one of the printed circuit board or a conductive component in direct contact with the printed circuit board, and
laminating the outer covering, the at least one conductive component, and the at least one biometric sensor electrode together.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein electrically connecting the at least one biometric sensor electrode to the electronic display module connector through the printed circuit board further comprises placing the at least one conductive component between a bottom surface of the outer covering and a top surface of the electronic display or on a top surface of the printed circuit board, the at least one conductive component comprising at least one of double-side conductive tape, double-side conductive foam, single-side conductive tape, single-side conductive foam, conductive adhesive, anisotropic conductive film, or combinations thereof.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising placing a contact pad adjacent the double-side conductive tape or the double-side conductive foam.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising electrically connecting the printed circuit board to an edge of the contact pad.