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Apple Watch Bands With Self-Tightening, Skin Texture Authentication, and LED Progress Bar Detailed in Patents
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today granted Apple several patents for smart Apple Watch bands with features such as biometric authentication, self-tightening, and an LED progress indicator, as noted by Patently Apple.
Apple Watch with biometric sensor
The first patent describes an Apple Watch band with a sensor that can authenticate the wearer based on patterns in their wrist's skin texture:
The second patent describes a self-tightening Apple Watch band. If the wearer is running or working out, for example, the band could automatically tighten in order to ensure it has a snug fit on the wrist while exercising. Upon completion of the physical activity, the band would then automatically loosen.
Apple Watch users would be able to set locations where the band automatically tightens upon arrival, such as a gym.
In other examples, the band could automatically tighten to notify a user of an upcoming turn while walking, driving, or swimming; to help the wearer count repetitions while weight lifting; or to notify the wearer that they have reached certain distance intervals while running, such as every mile.
A self-tightening Apple Watch band
The self-tightening band could also be part of a two-factor authentication system on the Apple Watch, as described in the patent:
Apple Watch bands with various LED indicators
Apple is hosting a special event at Steve Jobs Theater next Tuesday, where it is widely expected to unveil new iPhone and Apple Watch models. While a seasonal band refresh is expected, there have been no rumors or leaks about smart bands.
Keep in mind that Apple is granted dozens of patents every week, and many of the inventions do not see the light of day. Patents are also very detailed, encompassing many possible ideas, even ones that Apple might not have any plans to advance. So, whether any of these bands come to fruition remains to be seen.
The first patent describes an Apple Watch band with a sensor that can authenticate the wearer based on patterns in their wrist's skin texture:
More particularly, skin texture cracks are generally warmer than the surrounding skin, and hair is cooler than the surrounding skin. By using an IR thermal image sensor as the wrist biometric sensor, hair can be distinguished, thermally, from skin texture cracks by temperature.This feature would eliminate the need to enter a passcode on the Apple Watch or a paired iPhone to unlock the watch.
The second patent describes a self-tightening Apple Watch band. If the wearer is running or working out, for example, the band could automatically tighten in order to ensure it has a snug fit on the wrist while exercising. Upon completion of the physical activity, the band would then automatically loosen.
Apple Watch users would be able to set locations where the band automatically tightens upon arrival, such as a gym.
In other examples, the band could automatically tighten to notify a user of an upcoming turn while walking, driving, or swimming; to help the wearer count repetitions while weight lifting; or to notify the wearer that they have reached certain distance intervals while running, such as every mile.
The self-tightening band could also be part of a two-factor authentication system on the Apple Watch, as described in the patent:
For example, if a user wishes to access financial details hosted on a banking website, the banking website may require both the user's credentials and a verification of a number of tightening-loosening patterns sent to a wearable electronic device previously authenticated by the banking website…The third patent describes an Apple Watch band with an LED indicator that would visualize the progress of an activity or task, such as completion of Walk, Stand, and Exercise rings. The indicator could also serve as an easy way to check an Apple Watch's remaining battery life at a glance.
In one example, a tactile pattern may be a series of five squeezes of the user's wrist (e.g., tighten and loosen in sequence). The user may thereafter enter "5" to gain access to the banking website.
Apple is hosting a special event at Steve Jobs Theater next Tuesday, where it is widely expected to unveil new iPhone and Apple Watch models. While a seasonal band refresh is expected, there have been no rumors or leaks about smart bands.
Keep in mind that Apple is granted dozens of patents every week, and many of the inventions do not see the light of day. Patents are also very detailed, encompassing many possible ideas, even ones that Apple might not have any plans to advance. So, whether any of these bands come to fruition remains to be seen.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 6
Tag: patent
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Top Rated Comments
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3 weeks ago
So this is like the "Back To The Future" self lacing shoes of Apple Watches huh?
3 weeks ago
A patent for using an LED as a status indicator... what a joke the patent system is
3 weeks ago
I would like a band with a battery in it that lets the watch run for a week without recharge.
3 weeks ago
Self tightening bands: because we believe our customers are too stupid to put on a watch correctly. - Apple.
3 weeks ago
Self tightening bands: because we believe our customers are too stupid to put on a watch correctly. - Apple.
Google Maps: because we believe our customers are too stupid to use folding maps correctly.
-Nobody. Ever.
3 weeks ago
Skin ID sounds kinda neat, but it seems like they are running low on ideas. When are we going to actually see any of these smart bands that have been patented over the years? Hopefully next week.
3 weeks ago
I'm getting tired of waiting for Apple's patents to see daylight. There are so many of them which are very cool and it's been years but Apple still hasn't shown us anything.
We don't even have the most basic feature of a smart watch. User created faces.
3 weeks ago
Self tightening bands: because we believe our customers are too stupid to put on a watch correctly. - Apple.
I think it’s a great idea actually. I like to wear my watch somewhat loose. I’m sure I’m not alone. But I quickly discovered that my heart rate data during runs was missing or inconsistent. So now whenever I run I always tighten the band by one hole. Every now and then though I forget to tighten the band before my run. It’s annoying when I get home from a run and check my data to find out I have no heart rate data because I forgot to tighten the band. So this would be great. It’s a small user experience detail but those small details are what makes Apple stand out.
3 weeks ago
It's a bit trivial and people will no doubt be going "just tighten it yourself!!!", but if I'm already paying hundreds (or thousands) of dollars just for a watch, and one which is basically an appendix to a potentially thousand-dollar phone, I'd think this idea would be complimentary to the product
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