# US 2024/0201031 A1 · Modular wearable interface devices

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- Number: US 2024/0201031 A1
- Document ID: US20240201031A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/573,990
- Filed: 2022-06-22
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2021-06-22
- Applicants: Cornell University
- Inventors: Hsin-Liu Kao; Pin-Sung Ku
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201031A1

## CPC

- A61B 5/6833: {Adhesive patches}
- G01L 1/142: {using capacitors}
- A43D 1/02: Foot-measuring devices (measuring the shape, pattern or size of the body for diagnostic purposes A61B5/103, e.g. measuring physical dimensions A61B5/107)
- A61B 5/681: {Wristwatch-type devices}
- G01L 1/20: by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids (of piezo-resistive materials G01L1/18); by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress
- G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt}
- G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user}
- H05K 1/0283: {Stretchable printed circuits}
- H05K 1/189: characterised by the use of flexible or folded printed circuits
- H05K 2201/10151: Sensor
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)
- A43D: MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT OR METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING OR REPAIRING FOOTWEAR
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

## Abstract

This technology is directed to modular wearable devices comprising interchangeable functional modules. The modular wearable device is re-configurable, reusable, and extensible comprising skin-conformable base substrates, reusable functional modules, and reusable wire modules. The functional modules are attachable and removable in a plug-and-play type construction. The functional modules may be preprogrammed and connected in unique sequences to achieve customized functions. The functional modules include power, sensor, modifier, and actuator modules that are interchangeable to customize the functionality of the modular wearable device. The functional modules are affixed to a wire module assembly, the wire module assembly providing the infrastructure for power and communications. The sensor module receives an input signal and transmits an output signal to the actuator module to initiate a response function. In certain embodiments, a modifier module may alter the output signal and transmit the altered output signal to the actuator

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wearable device, comprising:
a plurality of conductive modules that when mutually affixed by one or more coupling devices form a circuit;
a power module configured to be affixed to one or more of the plurality of conductive modules;
at least one sensor module configured to be affixed to one or more of the plurality of conductive modules; and
at least one actuator module configured to be affixed to one or more of the plurality of conductive modules,
wherein the circuit is configured to receive an input from the at least one sensor module affixed to one or more of the plurality of conductive modules and to output a signal to the at least one actuator module affixed to one or more of the plurality of conductive modules to initiate a response function.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive modules, is configured to connect two or more functional modules selected from a power module, a sensor module, and an actuator module, and, optionally, a modifier module; and wherein each of the conductive modules and each of the functional modules are configured to be interchangeable, reusable, reconfigurable, detachable, and re-attachable.

### Claim 3

(canceled)

### Claim 4

(canceled)

### Claim 5

(canceled)

### Claim 6

(canceled)

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the two or more coupling devices comprise:
one or more first coupling devices affixed to a first side of one of the conductive modules; and
one or more second coupling devices affixed to a second side of another one of the conductive modules; and
wherein the two or more coupling devices comprising one or more of a fastener, a snap, a hook and loop, a magnet, or slits for tessellation.

### Claim 8

(canceled)

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The wearable device of claim 1, each conductive module of the plurality of conductive modules comprises:
a conformable substrate;
a first conductor affixed to the flexible substrate to provide power to the circuit;
a second conductor affixed to the flexible substrate to provide ground to the circuit; and
a third conductor affixed to the flexible substrate to transmit the signal from the at least one interchangeable sensor module to the at least one interchangeable actuator module.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The wearable device of claim 9, the conformable substrate comprising:
a first silicone material layer;
a first adhesive layer;
a textile stabilizer material layer;
a second adhesive layer; and
a second silicone material layer, wherein the first silicone material layer is affixed to the textile stabilizer material layer by the first adhesive layer and the textile stabilizer material layer is affixed to the second silicone material layer by the second adhesive layer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The wearable device of claim 9, the first conductor, the second conductor, and the third conductor comprise a flexible conductive material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The wearable device of claim 1, the at least one sensor module comprises:
a flexible printed circuit board;
a sensor affixed to the flexible printed circuit board;
a first microcontroller affixed to the flexible printed circuit board; and
one or more third coupling devices configured to couple with the one or more coupling devices such that the at least one sensor module is affixed to one or more of the plurality of conductive modules.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The wearable device of claim 12, the first microcontroller configured to:
receive the input from the sensor; and
output the signal to the at least one actuator module to initiate the response function.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The wearable device of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor, a resistive sensor, a strain sensor, a pressure sensor, a biosensor, a light sensor, an ultraviolet (“UV”) light sensor, a proximity sensor, or an environmental gas sensor; and wherein the sensor is extendable relative to the flexible printed circuit board.

### Claim 15

(canceled)

### Claim 16

(canceled)

### Claim 17

(canceled)

### Claim 18

(canceled)

### Claim 19

(canceled)

### Claim 20

(canceled)

### Claim 21

(canceled)

### Claim 22

(canceled)

### Claim 23

(canceled)

### Claim 24

(canceled)

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The wearable device of claim 1, the at least one actuator module comprises:
a flexible printed circuit board;
an actuator affixed to the flexible printed circuit board, wherein the actuator is extendable
relative to the flexible printed circuit board;
a second microcontroller affixed to the flexible printed circuit board; and
one or more fourth coupling devices configured to couple with the one or more coupling devices such that the at least one actuator module is affixed to one or more of the plurality of conductive modules.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The wearable device of claim 25, wherein the second microcontroller is configured to:
receive the signal from the at least one sensor module; and
output a second signal to the actuator to initiate the response function.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The wearable device of claim 25, wherein the actuator comprises a haptic feedback component, a stiffness component, a thermochromic display, an audio device, a light emitting diode (“LED”), a light emitting diode (“LED”) array, an organic light emitting diode (“OLED”), a photochromic display, a buzzer, or any combinations thereof.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The wearable device of claim 25, wherein the actuator comprises a haptic feedback component and the haptic feedback component comprises a shape-memory alloy actuator configured to apply a force, a vibration, a thermal sensation, or a motion as the response function.

### Claim 29

(canceled)

### Claim 30 (depends on 25)

The wearable system of claim 25, wherein the actuator comprises a stiffness component and the stiffness component comprising a shape memory alloy configured to enable variable-stiffness as the response function.

### Claim 31

(canceled)

### Claim 32

(canceled)

### Claim 33

(canceled)

### Claim 34

(canceled)

### Claim 35

(canceled)

### Claim 36

(canceled)

### Claim 37

(canceled)

### Claim 38

(canceled)

### Claim 39 (depends on 1)

The wearable device of claim 1, the power module comprising one or more batteries to provide power to the wearable device; and wherein the one or more batteries comprising one or more of a lithium polymer battery, a lithium ceramic battery, or a triboelectric nanogenerator.

### Claim 40

(canceled)

### Claim 41 (depends on 1)

The wearable device of claim 1, further comprising at least one modifier module configured to be affixed to one or more of the plurality of conductive modules, wherein the at least one modifier module comprising:
a flexible printed circuit board;
a modifying device affixed to the flexible printed circuit board;
a third microcontroller affixed to the flexible printed circuit board; and
one or more fifth coupling devices configured to couple with the one or more coupling
devices such that the at least one modifier module is affixed to one or more of the plurality
of conductive modules.

### Claim 42

(canceled)

### Claim 43 (depends on 41)

The wearable device of claim 41, the third microcontroller configured to:
receive the signal from the at least one sensor module;
transform the signal to initiate an altered response function; and
output the transformed signal to the at least one actuator module to initiate the altered response function.

### Claim 44 (depends on 42)

The wearable device of claim 42, wherein the modifying device comprises an inverter and a signal modifier, wherein the signal modifier alters an amplitude associated with a response function comprising light, volume, vibration, or heat.

### Claim 45

(canceled)

### Claim 46 (depends on 2)

The wearable device of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of conductive modules are substantially identical in size and shape; and wherein the two or more functional modules are substantially identical in size and shape.

### Claim 47 (depends on 2)

The wearable device of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of conductive modules, and/or each of the two or more functional modules further comprises a multi-layer conformable substrate conforms and adheres to skin.