IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,347,189
Granted Patent B1
US 11,347,189 · App. 16/368,613 · Granted May 31, 2022

Watch having a camera

Inventors: Antonio F. Herrera (Palo Alto, CA); Tyler S. Bushnell (Mountain View, CA)
Assignee: APPLE INC.
G04G21/025G06F3/0362H04N5/2253H04N5/2254H04N5/2256H04N5/2257H04N5/232411
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,347,189
App. No.
16/368,613
Filed
Mar 28, 2019
Granted
May 31, 2022
Kind
B1
Art Unit
2852
USPC
368/10
Abstract

A watch having a camera is disclosed. The watch can include a housing having a front side, a back side, and an attachment interface configured to couple to a watch band. A camera can be mounted to the housing and configured to capture a picture of a scene through the back side of the housing. A display can be visible through the front side of the housing and configured to display the picture.

Claims (47)

1. A watch comprising:

a housing having a front side, a back side opposite the front side, and an attachment interface configured to couple to a watch band;

a camera mounted to the housing and configured to capture a picture of a scene through the back side of the housing; and

a display visible through the front side of the housing and configured to display the picture.

2. The watch of claim 1 , further comprising:

a light emitter configured to illuminate the scene when the housing is removed from a wrist and illuminate the wrist for physiological sensing when the housing is worn on the wrist.

3. The watch of claim 2 , wherein the light emitter is configured to illuminate the scene with a first spectral band of light in connection with the capture of the picture and illuminate the wrist with a second spectral band of light different from the first spectral band in connection with the physiological sensing.

4. The watch of claim 1 , further comprising:

a light emitter configured to illuminate a wrist when the housing is worn on the wrist;

wherein the camera comprises an image sensor and a lens configured to focus an image of the scene onto the image sensor when the housing is removed from the wrist; and

wherein the image sensor is configured to detect reflected light from the wrist for physiological sensing when the housing is worn on the wrist.

5. The watch of claim 4 , wherein the image sensor is configured to operate in a first power mode to capture the picture and operate in a second power mode having lower power consumption than the first power mode to detect the reflected light for physiological sensing.

6. The watch of claim 1 , wherein:

the housing comprises a front cover disposed on the front side and a back cover disposed on the back side;

the display is configured to display the picture through the front cover; and

the camera is configured capture the picture through the back cover.

7. The watch of claim 6 , further comprising:

a physiological sensor disposed in an area beside the camera;

wherein the physiological sensor is configured to obtain a measurement of a wrist when the back cover is coupled to the wrist; and

wherein the camera is configured to capture the picture when the back cover is removed from the wrist.

8. The watch of claim 7 , wherein the physiological sensor includes an optical device configured to emit and detect light through the back cover.

9. An assembly for a watch, the assembly comprising:

an image sensor; and

a dial rotatable with respect to the image sensor,

wherein the image sensor is configured to capture an image of a scene outside of the watch through an aperture of the dial and configured to detect a rotation of the dial with respect to the image sensor.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the image sensor is disposed on a first side of the dial and the image sensor is configured to view a scene on a second side of the dial opposite to the first side.

11. The watch of claim 9 , wherein the image sensor is configured to operate in a first power mode to capture the image and operate in a second power mode having lower power consumption than the first power mode to detect the rotation.

12. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein:

the dial includes a marking; and

the image sensor is configured to detect a rotation of the marking.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein:

the dial includes an outer region disposed around the aperture;

the marking is disposed in the outer region; and

the image sensor is configured to detect the rotation of the dial by optically sensing movement of the marking and capture the image through the dial by optically sensing a scene through the aperture.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a lens disposed in the aperture.

15. The assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:

a housing, wherein the image sensor is fixed relative to the housing and the dial is mounted rotatably with respect to the housing.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein:

the housing has a front side, a back side opposite to the front side, and a sidewall adjoining the front side and the back side;

the dial is disposed on the sidewall; and

the assembly includes an electronic display configured to present a graphic through the front side and modify the graphic in response to the rotation detected by the image sensor.

17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the electronic display is further configured to present the image captured by the image sensor.

18. A watch comprising:

a housing having an attachment interface, comprising a channel for releasably receiving an end of a watch band, wherein a portion of the channel is formed by a window; and

an image sensor disposed within the housing and configured to capture an image through the window.

19. The watch of claim 18 , wherein the window includes an integrated lens.

20. The watch of claim 18 , wherein the window comprises a solid transparent material forming a seal against a sidewall of the housing.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2019
From: HERRERA, ANTONIO F.; BUSHNELL, TYLER S.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 048987/0593 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62733012 · Sep 18, 2018
Cited By (14)
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