IP Verse

Wearable Computing Device

Patent No. US12393229 (titled "Wearable Computing Device") was filed by Jpmorgan Chase Bank Na on Mar 14, 2025.

What is this patent about?

’229 is related to the field of wearable electronic devices, specifically those designed to be worn as rings. The background acknowledges the increasing popularity of wearable electronics for various applications like lifestyle improvement, technology access, and activity monitoring. However, existing devices are often bulky and intrusive, leading to discomfort during extended use. This patent aims to address these limitations by providing a more comfortable and less obtrusive wearable device.

The underlying idea behind ’229 is to create a compact, finger-worn ring device capable of performing various sensing and monitoring functions. This is achieved by integrating a curved battery, a flexible printed circuit board (PCB), various sensors (accelerometer, temperature sensor, LEDs, light sensors), and a processor within a small ring-shaped housing. The key insight is leveraging the ring form factor for continuous skin contact, enabling more reliable and extended data collection compared to traditional wearables.

The claims of ’229 focus on a wearable ring device with an external and internal housing enclosing a curved battery, a printed circuit board, one or more components, and one or more processors. The independent claims emphasize the integration of specific sensors, including an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, visible and infrared LEDs, and light sensors. Crucially, the claims specify that the processor is configured to analyze the absorbed light to determine the user's blood oxygenation level.

In practice, the device works by emitting visible and infrared light into the user's skin and then measuring the amount of light that is absorbed by the blood. The processor analyzes this data to calculate the blood oxygenation level. The accelerometer tracks physical activity, while the temperature sensor monitors skin temperature. The curved battery and flexible PCB allow for efficient use of space within the ring-shaped housing, enabling the integration of all these components into a small form factor.

The differentiation from prior approaches lies in the combination of the ring form factor with the specific sensor suite and processing capabilities. While other wearable devices may offer similar sensing functions, the ring's continuous skin contact and unobtrusive design provide a more comfortable and reliable monitoring experience. The use of a curved battery and flexible PCB is also crucial for achieving the desired compactness and ergonomic fit, distinguishing it from bulkier wearable devices.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the early 2010s when ’229 was filed, wearable computing devices were gaining traction, but at a time when form factors were often limited by battery size and processing power. At that time, integrating multiple sensors and communication capabilities into a small device such as a ring was non-trivial, when systems commonly relied on larger devices worn on the wrist or clipped to clothing.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner approved the patent because the prior art did not disclose or suggest a wearable ring device with the specifically claimed structural elements and electronic components. These components included LEDs for transmitting visible and infrared/near-infrared light, sensors for detecting the emitted light, and a processor for analyzing the received light to determine a blood oxygenation level. While an electronic ring device was known, it did not disclose the claimed structure or measure blood oxygenation levels.

Claims

This patent includes 20 claims, with independent claims 1 and 14 directed to a wearable ring device configured to be worn on a finger of a user. The independent claims generally focus on the structure of the ring, including an external and internal housing enclosing a curved battery, printed circuit board, components (accelerometer, temperature sensor, LEDs, light sensors), and processors for determining blood oxygenation levels. The dependent claims generally elaborate on specific features, materials, dimensions, and functionalities of the wearable ring device described in the independent claims.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Blood oxygenation level
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		“The present disclosure describes a wearable computing device (WCD) that enables a wearable fitness monitor(s)/computer(s) which is suitable for prolonged usage with accurate results. The WCD can be in the form of a ring that can be worn on the finger of a human (or animal) user.”A level determined by analyzing visible, infrared, or near-infrared light absorbed by blood of the user.
Curved battery
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		“The present disclosure describes a wearable computing device (WCD) that enables a wearable fitness monitor(s)/computer(s) which is suitable for prolonged usage with accurate results. The WCD can be in the form of a ring that can be worn on the finger of a human (or animal) user.”A battery with a size and shape configured to fit within the housing of the wearable ring device, extending along a portion of the curved perimeter of the external housing.
External housing
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		“The present disclosure describes a wearable computing device (WCD) that enables a wearable fitness monitor(s)/computer(s) which is suitable for prolonged usage with accurate results. The WCD can be in the form of a ring that can be worn on the finger of a human (or animal) user.”A housing comprising an exterior surface of the wearable ring device.
Internal housing
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		“The present disclosure describes a wearable computing device (WCD) that enables a wearable fitness monitor(s)/computer(s) which is suitable for prolonged usage with accurate results. The WCD can be in the form of a ring that can be worn on the finger of a human (or animal) user.”A housing comprising an interior surface of the wearable ring device, configured to contact the user when the wearable ring device is worn.
Printed circuit board
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		“The term “coupled” as used herein means connected directly to or connected through one or more intervening components or circuits.”A circuit board electrically coupled with the curved battery and extending along a portion of the curved perimeter of the external housing.

Litigation Cases New

US Latest litigation cases involving this patent.

Case NumberFiling DateTitle
2:25-cv-00928Sep 3, 2025Ouraring, Inc. v. Ultrahuman Healthcare LLC

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US12393229

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK NA
Application Number
US19080599
Filing Date
Mar 14, 2025
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Nov 28, 2034
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents