Adaptive rigid and conformable wearable ring device with adjustable circumference

Abstract

A wearable device, such as a wearable ring device, configured to transition between multiple discrete ring sizes is described. For example, the wearable ring device may have an adjustable inner circumference and a rigid outer housing. The inner circumference may be adjusted to transition between multiple discrete ring sizes. For example, a wearable ring device may include a ring housing that exhibits a constant outer circumference, where mechanical components of the ring are configured to adjust at least a portion of an inner circumferential surface to transition the ring between the discrete sizes. The ability of the wearable device to transition between multiple discrete sizes may enable the wearable device to achieve a better fit on a user, thereby improving contact between one or more sensors of the wearable device and the skin of the user, leading to more accurate physiological data readings.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wearable ring device configured to transition between a plurality of discrete ring sizes, comprising:
 a ring-shaped housing comprising an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, the ring-shaped housing configured to extend radially around a full circumference of the wearable ring device, wherein the outer circumferential surface of the ring-shaped housing is configured to remain constant as the wearable ring device transitions between the plurality of discrete ring sizes;   one or more sensors positioned at least partially within the inner circumferential surface of the ring-shaped housing, the one or more sensors configured to acquire physiological data from a user; and   one or more mechanical components configured to adjust at least a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the wearable ring device relative to the outer circumferential surface to transition the wearable ring device between the plurality of discrete ring sizes.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable ring device of  claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped housing comprises an inner shell component defining the inner circumferential surface, and an outer shell component defining the outer circumferential surface, and wherein the inner shell component is coupled to the outer shell component. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable ring device of  claim 2 , wherein the outer shell component comprises a non-deformable material, and wherein the inner shell component comprises a deformable or flexible material. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable ring device of  claim 2 , wherein the inner shell component is coupled to the outer shell component such that the inner shell component is movable relative to the outer shell component. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable ring device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a sealing material coupled to the inner shell component and the outer shell component, the sealing material configured to create a water-tight seal between the inner shell component and the outer shell component.   
     
     
         6 . The wearable ring device of  claim 5 , wherein the sealing material is configured to expand and contract to maintain the water-tight seal as the inner shell component moves relative to the outer shell component. 
     
     
         7 . 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. 
   
     
     
         8 . 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. 
   
     
     
         9 . The wearable ring device of  claim 8 , wherein the command is received via a user device associated with the wearable ring device, via a user input component on the outer circumferential surface of the wearable ring device, or both. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable ring device of  claim 8 , 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. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable ring device of  claim 10 , wherein the gesture comprises a tap, a knock, a snap, a rotation of the wearable ring device, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The wearable ring device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more mechanical components comprise an expandable component that is configured to expand and contract relative to a center of the wearable ring device to adjust at least the portion of the inner circumferential surface relative to the outer circumferential surface. 
     
     
         13 . The wearable ring device of  claim 12 , wherein the expandable component is disposed on a first portion of the inner circumferential surface, and wherein the one or more sensors are positioned within a second portion of the inner circumferential surface, wherein the expandable component is configured to expand and contract the first portion of the inner circumferential surface relative to the center of the wearable ring device as the second portion of the inner circumferential surface remains still relative to the outer circumferential surface. 
     
     
         14 . The wearable ring device of  claim 12 , wherein the ring-shaped housing comprises:
 an inner shell component comprising the inner circumferential surface, where the one or more sensors are positioned at least partially within the inner shell component; and   an outer shell component coupled to the inner shell component, the outer shell component comprising the outer circumferential surface, wherein the expandable component is positioned between the inner shell component and the outer shell component, and wherein the expandable component is configured to expand and contract to move the inner shell component relative to the outer shell component.   
     
     
         15 . The wearable ring device of  claim 12 , wherein the expandable component comprises an inflatable bladder component, a temperature-activated substance, and electrically-activated substance, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The wearable ring device of  claim 15 , wherein the temperature-activated substance is configured to expand or retract in response to body heat from the user, and wherein the temperature-activated substance, the electrically-activated substance, the inflatable bladder component, or any combination thereof, are configured to expand or retract in response to an electrical current generated by one or more electrical components of the wearable ring device. 
     
     
         17 . The wearable ring device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more mechanical components comprise one or more baffle structures configured to extend from the inner circumferential surface toward a center of the wearable ring device. 
     
     
         18 . The wearable ring device of  claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped housing comprises:
 an outer shell component comprising the outer circumferential surface; and   an inner shell component coupled with the outer shell component, the inner shell component comprising the inner circumferential surface, wherein the one or more mechanical components comprise a cable mechanism extending radially around the wearable ring device between the inner shell component and the outer shell component, wherein the cable mechanism is configured to contract and expand to move the inner shell component towards and away from a center of the wearable ring device, respectively.   
     
     
         19 . The wearable ring device of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a cable adjustment component disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the wearable ring device and coupled with the cable mechanism, and wherein rotation of the cable adjustment component in a first direction causes the cable mechanism to contract, and wherein rotation of the cable adjustment component in a second direction causes the cable mechanism to expand.   
     
     
         20 . The wearable ring device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mechanical size adjustment component disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the wearable ring device and coupled to the one or more mechanical components, wherein manipulation of the mechanical size adjustment component causes the one or more mechanical components to transition the wearable ring device between the plurality of discrete ring sizes.