Reconfigurable device for monitoring health metrics

Abstract

An electronic device includes a housing forming an enclosed chamber. The housing has a top portion and a bottom portion. One or more sensors is provided within the chamber and configured to interface with a user to generate physiological data associated with the user. A set of electrodes is provided on the bottom portion of the housing. Each electrode in the set of electrodes is a single member having a corresponding inner electrode portion within the chamber and an outer electrode portion outside the housing. A set of magnets is provided on the bottom portion of the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing forming an enclosed chamber, the housing having a top portion and a bottom portion;   one or more sensors provided within the chamber and configured to interface with a user to generate physiological data associated with the user;   a set of electrodes provided on the bottom portion of the housing, wherein each electrode in the set of electrodes is a single member having a corresponding inner electrode portion within the chamber and an outer electrode portion outside the housing; and   a set of magnets provided on the bottom portion of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the set of electrodes includes four snap connectors. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the snap connectors include a male snap connector, a female snap connector, or both. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the set of electrodes and the set of magnets are arranged in a circular configuration such that each magnet in the set of magnets is separated by a corresponding electrode in the set of electrodes. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the interior bottom portion of the housing includes a housing window, the housing window having a circular shape and being concentric with the circular arrangement of the set of electrodes and the set of magnets. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more sensors interface with the user via the housing window. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a set of bioimpedance electrodes.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first printed circuit board (PCB) provided within the chamber, the first PCB located proximate to the top portion of the housing;   a second PCB provided within the chamber, the second PCB being separate and distinct from the first PCB and located proximally below the first PCB; and   a battery provided within the chamber, wherein the battery is sandwiched between the first PCB and the second PCB.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a near field communications (NFC) module provided on the first PCB, the second PCB, or both.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the first PCB includes a first near field communications (NFC) module and a first antenna of the first NFC module located proximate to the first PCB. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein a second antenna of the first NFC module is located proximate to the second PCB. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the second PCB includes a second NFC module, the second NFC module being separate and distinct from the first NFC module, and wherein the first NFC module is configured for data communication and the second NFC module is configured for power transmission. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion of the housing includes a housing window, and wherein the one or more sensors include one or more proximity sensors, the one or more proximity sensors being configured to use the housing window to measure a distance between the housing and a surface of an object outside the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the physiological data is generated when the measured distance is below a threshold. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a screen provided on the top portion of the housing and configured to display a user interface based at least in part on (i) a button included in the electronic device being activated, or (ii) a status of at least one magnet in the set of magnets;   wherein the user interface displayed is a watch user interface or a patch user interface.   
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the patch user interface is displayed when the button is activated, and wherein the watch user interface is displayed when the button is not activated. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the patch user interface is displayed when the status of the at least one magnet indicates that the at least one magnet is proximate to a patch assembly, and wherein the watch user interface is displayed when the status of the at least one magnet indicates the at least one magnet is at least a predetermined distance from the patch assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are further configured to generate environmental data associated with an environment of the user. 
     
     
         19 . A patch housing for receiving an electronic device, comprising:
 a flat substrate having a first surface and a second surface with adhesive on at least one of the first or second surfaces, the substrate further including an opening;   a set of electrodes included in the substrate; and   a set of connectors provided on the first surface of the substrate, each connector in the set of connectors being configured to mechanically couple the electronic device to the substrate.   
     
     
         20 . The patch housing of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a set of magnets provided on the first surface of the substrate.   
     
     
         21 . The patch housing of  claim 20 , wherein the set of magnets and the set of connectors are configured to hold the electronic device in place when received at the patch housing. 
     
     
         22 . The patch housing of  claim 20 , wherein the set of magnets and the set of connectors are arranged around a perimeter of the opening of the substrate, such that a magnet in the set of magnets separates two connectors in the set of connectors in the arrangement. 
     
     
         23 . The patch housing of  claim 22 , wherein the set of electrodes include first types of electrodes and second types of electrodes, the first types of electrodes being longer conductive members compared to the second types of electrodes, wherein the first types of electrodes are positioned on a first axis of symmetry of the substrate and the second types of electrodes are positioned a distance away from the first axis of symmetry of the substrate, and wherein the second types of electrodes are positioned on a second axis of symmetry of the substrate and the first types of electrodes are positioned a distance away from the second axis of symmetry of the substrate. 
     
     
         24 . The patch housing of  claim 22 , wherein the set of electrodes include first types of electrodes and second types of electrodes, the first types of electrodes being longer conductive members compared to the second types of electrodes, wherein the first types of electrodes are positioned on a first axis of symmetry of the substrate and the second types of electrodes are positioned a distance away from the first axis of symmetry of the substrate, and wherein both the first types of electrodes and the second types of electrodes do not intersect a second axis of symmetry of the substrate. 
     
     
         25 . The patch housing of  claim 19 , wherein at least one connector in the set of connectors is electrically and mechanically coupled to at least one electrode in the set of electrodes, the at least one connector further configured to electrically and mechanically couple the electronic device to the at least one electrode. 
     
     
         26 . The patch housing of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a case body, wherein the adhesive on the first surface of the substrate is configured to mechanically seal the case body, forming a cavity for the electronic device when received by the patch housing.   
     
     
         27 . The patch housing of  claim 26 , wherein the case body includes a removable lid positioned parallel to the substrate when the adhesive seals the case body. 
     
     
         28 . The patch housing of  claim 26 , wherein the case body includes a sidetrack window for visual and touch interfacing with the electronic device within the formed cavity. 
     
     
         29 . A latching mechanism for connecting a first object to a second object, the latching mechanism comprising:
 a groove provided along a surface of the first object, the groove including a notch, wherein the groove is configured to receive a connective end of the second object and the notch is configured to lock the connective end of the second object in place.   
     
     
         30 . The latching mechanism of  claim 29 , wherein the connective end of the second object includes a tab that is secured in the notch when the connective end of the second object is locked in place. 
     
     
         31 . The latching mechanism of  claim 30 , wherein the tab is mechanically biased such that the tab can disengage from the notch. 
     
     
         32 . The latching mechanism of  claim 30 , wherein the tab is a semi-rigid tab that is compressed when the connective end of the second object is not locked in place. 
     
     
         33 . The latching mechanism of  claim 29 , wherein a length associated with the notch is about 60 to 70 percent of a length associated with the groove. 
     
     
         34 . The latching mechanism of  claim 29 , wherein the first object is a watch and the second object is a watch strap. 
     
     
         35 . A method for installing a strap in an electronic device, comprising:
 engaging a connective end of the strap to a groove provided on a sidewall of the housing of the electronic device;   laterally sliding the connective end of the strap along the groove to center the connective end within the groove; and   pivoting the strap at the connective end such that a tab provided on the strap engages a notch provided within the groove, wherein engaging the tab to the notch locks the strap within the groove, preventing the strap from laterally sliding along the groove.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the strap is installed in the electronic device to convert the electronic device from a patch configuration to a watch configuration, the patch configuration being fashioned for attaching the electronic device to a patch housing and the watch configuration being fashioned for securing the electronic device to a wrist of a user using the strap. 
     
     
         37 . A system, comprising:
 an electronic device configurable in one of a first configuration or a second configuration, the electronic device including:
 one or more sensors provided within a housing and configured to interface with a user to generate physiological data associated with the user; 
 a set of electrodes provided on an outer surface of the housing; and 
 a set of magnets provided on the outer surface of the housing; 
   wherein the first configuration includes the electronic device being coupled to a patch housing, the patch housing including:
 a flat substrate having a first surface and are second surface, with adhesive on the first and second surfaces, the substrate further including an opening; 
 a set of patch electrodes included in the substrate configured to mechanically couple to the set of electrodes of the electronic device when in the first configuration; 
 a set of connectors provided on the first surface of the substrate, each connector in the set of connectors being configured to mechanically couple the electronic device to the substrate when in the first configuration; and 
 a case body, wherein the adhesive on the first surface of the substrate is configured to mechanically seal the case body, forming a cavity for the electronic device when received by the patch housing; and 
   wherein the second configuration includes the electronic device being coupled to a strap using a latching mechanism, the latching mechanism including:
 a groove provided along the outer surface of the electronic device, the groove including a notch, wherein the groove is configured to receive a connective end of the strap and the notch is configured to lock the connective end of the strap in place.