Anelto Onyx – 2025

Onyx is Anelto’s newest product in their line of personal emergency response system (PERS) devices. We provided our engineering expertise to help Anelto fit their latest technology into their most compact package yet. The Onyx wearable is available as either a watch or a pendant, familiar objects that make the product a comfortable part of users’ everyday lives. Components are strategically shared between these two form factors, supporting many use modes with a single technology package. 

The charging system for Onyx is built around an easy drop-in magnetic dock, a low-friction solution for users with limited dexterity. 

Anelto had experienced issues with the previous product’s inductive coil-based charging and wanted to move away from the technology. Our primary task on this project was to engineer a new charging solution that is reliable, user-friendly, and economical. We redesigned the charging system to use pogo pins: spring-loaded pins that make direct contact with pads embedded in the rear housing of the device. We integrated these pins into a custom cable that’s permanently captured within the charging dock housing. This cable-based charging assembly provided substantial cost savings compared to using a traditional PCB-based subassembly. 

For true drop-in charging, the dock was designed with mechanical and magnetic features that compensate for misalignment and securely attach Onyx onto the charger, while redundant contact points make the connection orientation agnostic. 

Anelto had experienced issues with the previous product’s inductive coil-based charging and wanted to move away from the technology. Our primary task on this project was to engineer a new charging solution that is reliable, user-friendly, and economical. We redesigned the charging system to use pogo pins: spring-loaded pins that make direct contact with pads embedded in the rear housing of the device. We integrated these pins into a custom cable that’s permanently captured within the charging dock housing. This cable-based charging assembly provided substantial cost savings compared to using a traditional PCB-based subassembly. 

For true drop-in charging, the dock was designed with mechanical and magnetic features that compensate for misalignment and securely attach Onyx onto the charger, while redundant contact points make the connection orientation agnostic.