Attaching a decorative element to a smart ring

Abstract

Smart rings and methods of manufacturing smart rings are provided. A foundation component of a smart ring, in accordance with one implementations, includes a band having at least an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface of the band includes features configured to support electronic components. The foundation component also includes a decorative element having a bottom surface substantially corresponding to a shape of a portion of the outer surface of the band. Furthermore, the decorative element is attached to the outer surface of the band. The action of attaching the decorative element may occur after a band polishing process and before electronic components are attached to the smart ring.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foundation component of a smart ring, the foundation component comprising:
 a band having at least an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface including features configured to support electronic components; and   a decorative element having a bottom surface substantially corresponding to a shape of a portion of the outer surface of the band;   wherein the decorative element is attached to the outer surface of the band.   
     
     
         2 . The foundation component of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative element is attached to the outer surface of the band by a laser welding technique. 
     
     
         3 . The foundation component of  claim 2 , wherein the laser welding technique includes spot welding in a mosaic pattern on the inner surface of the band. 
     
     
         4 . The foundation component of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the band experiences a pre-treatment process before the decorative element is attached thereto. 
     
     
         5 . The foundation component of  claim 4 , wherein the pre-treatment process includes at least a polishing step. 
     
     
         6 . The foundation component of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the portion of the outer surface of the band is a substantially cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         7 . The foundation component of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the band includes a locating feature configured to allow the decorative element to be positioned at a specific location on the outer surface of the band. 
     
     
         8 . The foundation component of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative element is a logo. 
     
     
         9 . The foundation component of  claim 1 , wherein the band and the decorative element include the same material. 
     
     
         10 . The foundation component of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the band and decorative element are machined using a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technique and/or a Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) technique. 
     
     
         11 . A smart ring comprising the foundation component of  claim 1 , the smart ring further comprising electronic components supported on the inner surface of the band. 
     
     
         12 . The smart ring of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic components include at least a low-profile battery and a low-profile Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) configured for wireless communication with a secondary device. 
     
     
         13 . The smart ring of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the low-profile battery is arranged at a position on the inner surface of the band near a location of the decorative element and at least a portion of the low-profile FPC is arranged at an opposite end of the band. 
     
     
         14 . The smart ring of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic components further include a Near Field Communication (NFC) device for charging the low-profile battery. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a smart ring, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming a band with at least an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface including features configured to support electronic components;   forming a decorative element having a bottom surface substantially corresponding to a shape of a portion of the outer surface of the band;   attaching the decorative element to the outer surface of the band.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of attaching the decorative element to the outer surface of the band in a step of laser welding whereby a mosaic pattern is spot welded on the inner surface of the band. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of pre-treating the outer surface of the band prior to the step attaching the decorative element to the outer surface, the pre-treating step including at least polishing the outer surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of applying tape and/or glue to the inner surface of the band to connect at least a battery and a Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of applying epoxy over at least the battery and FPC. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the steps of forming the band and decorative element further include the steps of machining material using a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technique and/or a Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) technique.