IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,781,984
Granted Patent B2
US 9,781,984 · App. 14/691,217 · Granted Oct 10, 2017

Dynamic fit adjustment for wearable electronic devices

Inventors: Andrzej T. Baranski (Cupertino, CA); Serhan O. Isikman (Cupertino, CA); Tyler S. Bushnell (Cupertino, CA); Steven J. Martisauskas (Cupertino, CA); David I. Nazzaro (Groveland, MA)
Assignee: APPLE INC.
A44C5/2071A44C5/0069A44C5/20A44C5/0053A44C5/08A45F2005/008A61B5/681
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,781,984
App. No.
14/691,217
Filed
Apr 20, 2015
Granted
Oct 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3782
USPC
224/175
Abstract

Systems and methods for dynamically adjusting the fit of a wearable electronic device are disclosed. In many embodiments, a tensioner associated with a wearable electronic device can control one or more actuators that are mechanically coupled to either the housing or to a band attached to the wearable electronic device. In one example, in response to a signal to increase the tightness of the band, the tensioner can cause the actuator(s) to increase the tension within the band.

Claims (48)

1. A method of adjusting a fit of a watch band of a watch, the method comprising:

receiving, with a processor of the watch, an electronic instruction to obtain biometric data;

in response to the receiving, electronically actuating a tensioner coupled to the watch band to increase a tightness of the watch band on a wrist of a user; and

after the actuating and with a biometric sensor of the watch, obtaining the biometric data from the wrist of the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: after obtaining the biometric data, deactivating the tensioner.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a user input from an input mechanism; and

in response to receiving the user input, generating the electronic instruction.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing a user setting; and

in response to accessing the user setting, generating the electronic instruction.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the biometric data comprises receiving an output from the biometric sensor.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein electronically actuating the tensioner comprises electronically actuating the tensioner to adjust a dimension of the watch band.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein electronically actuating the tensioner comprises adjusting a coupling between the watch band and a wearable electronic device connected to the watch band.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein electronically actuating the tensioner comprises adjusting, by operation of the tensioner, a coupling between a first portion and a second portion of the watch band.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the biometric data comprises optically interacting between the biometric sensor and skin of a user.

10. A watch comprising:

a housing;

a processor within the housing;

a strap coupled to the housing, the strap configured to hold the housing against a wrist of a user;

a tensioner operably coupled to the processor and configured to, in response to an electronic signal from the processor, adjust a tightness of the strap; and

a biometric sensor operably coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured, in response to receiving an instruction to obtain biometric data, to send a signal to the tensioner to tighten the strap prior to obtaining the biometric data from the biometric sensor.

11. The watch of claim 10 , wherein the biometric sensor obtains the biometric data via optical interaction with skin of the user.

12. The watch of claim 10 , wherein the strap comprises a material configured to change shape in response to an electronic signal; and

wherein the tensioner is configured to provide an electronic signal to the material in order to adjust the tightness of the strap.

13. The watch of claim 10 , wherein the tensioner is configured to extend a first portion of the housing outward from a second portion of the housing and toward the user.

14. The watch of claim 10 , wherein the tensioner is configured to retract a first portion of the housing into a second portion of the housing.

15. The watch of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to receive an instruction to adjust a tightness of the strap from a portable electronic device in communication with the watch.

16. The watch of claim 10 , further comprising a sensor coupled to the processor and configured to detect motion of the watch; and

wherein the processor is configured to send a signal to the tensioner to tighten the strap upon receiving an indication of motion from the sensor.

17. The watch of claim 10 , wherein the biometric sensor comprises a temperature sensor, an electrodermal sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a heart rate sensor, a respiration rate sensor, an oxygen saturation sensor, a plethysmographic sensor, a blood glucose sensor, a body weight sensor, a body fat sensor, a blood alcohol sensor, or a dietary sensor.

18. A watch comprising:

a housing;

a watch band connected to the housing and configured to hold the housing against a wrist of a user;

a biometric sensor;

a tensioner coupled to the watch band; and

a processor programmed to:

receive an electronic instruction to obtain biometric data;

in response to the electronic instruction and prior to obtaining the biometric data, send a first signal to the tensioner to adjust a tightness of the watch band; and

send a second signal to the biometric sensor to obtain the biometric data.

19. The watch of claim 18 , wherein watch band comprises a material configured to change shape in response to an electronic signal; and

wherein the tensioner is configured to provide an electronic signal to the material in order to adjust the tightness of the watch band.

20. The watch of claim 18 , further comprising a housing, wherein the tensioner is configured to extend a first portion of the housing outward away from a second portion of the housing.

21. The watch of claim 18 , further comprising a housing, wherein the tensioner is configured to retract a first portion of the housing into a second portion of the housing.

22. The watch of claim 18 , further comprising a motion sensor coupled to the processor and configured to detect motion of the watch; and

wherein the processor is configured to send a signal to the tensioner to adjust the tightness of the watch band upon receiving an indication of motion from the motion sensor.

23. The watch of claim 18 , wherein the biometric sensor comprises a temperature sensor, an electrodermal sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a heart rate sensor, a respiration rate sensor, an oxygen saturation sensor, a plethysmographic sensor, a blood glucose sensor, a body weight sensor, a body fat sensor, a blood alcohol sensor, or a dietary sensor.

24. The watch of claim 18 , wherein the biometric sensor obtains the biometric data via optical interaction with skin of a user.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2015
From: BARANSKI, ANDRZEJ T.; ISIKMAN, SERHAN O.; BUSHNELL, TYLER S.; MARTISAUSKAS, STEVEN J.; NAZZARO, DAVID I.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 035451/0505 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62129950 · Mar 8, 2015
Related Publication 20160255944A1 · Sep 8, 2016