Dynamic fit adjustment for wearable electronic devices

• US 10,149,521 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2017
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Baranski, Andrzej T., Isikman, Serhan O., Bushnell, Tyler S., Martisauskas, Steven J., Nazzaro, David I.
• Primary Examiner(s): LARSON, JUSTIN MATTHEW
• Application Number:
  US15/728,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20180027931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 224221, 224176, 24 68 J, 24265 WS
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0053 Flexible straps
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0069 extensible
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/08 having separate links
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/20 for open straps , chains or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/2071 with the two ends of the strap or chain overlapping each other and fastened by an action perpendicularly to the main plane of these two ends A44C5/2009 - A44C5/2057 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/008 Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices

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

1. A watch comprising:

a housing;

a processor within the housing;

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

an extendable portion configured to, in response to an electronic signal from the processor, extend toward the wrist of the user adjust a tightness of the band on the wrist of the user, wherein the extendable portion comprises an element selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric material, a memory wire, an electroactive polymer, and an electromagnetic coil, wherein the electromagnetic coil is positioned proximate to a permanent magnet and is configured to respond to a current applied to the electromagnetic coil by increasing a force between the electromagnetic coil and the permanent magnet, wherein the extendable portion is within the band and configured to increase a thickness of the band by extending an inner side of the band away from an outer side of the band and toward the wrist of the user.

2. The watch of claim 1, further comprising 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 the electronic signal to the extendable portion to tighten the band prior to obtaining the biometric data from the biometric sensor.

3. The watch of claim 1, wherein the extendable portion is located on a side of the band that faces the wrist when worn by the user.

4. The watch of claim 1, wherein the band comprises:

a first band extending from a first side of the housing; and

a second band extending from a second side of the housing.

5. The watch of claim 4, further a buckle configured to join the first band to the second band, wherein the extendable portion is located on the buckle.

6. A watchband comprising:

a first band portion;

a second band portion;

a buckle configured to join the first band portion to the second band portion;

a coupling for connecting the first band portion or the second band portion to a housing of a watch to hold the housing against a wrist of a user; and

an extendable portion located on the buckle and configured to, in response to a signal from a processor within the housing, adjust a tightness of the watchband on the wrist of the user.

7. The watchband of claim 6, wherein the extendable portion defines an inner side of the buckle that faces the wrist when worn by the user.

8. A watch comprising:

a housing having an extendable portion, wherein the extendable portion comprises a lens of a biometric sensor;

a processor within the housing; and

an actuator configured to, in response to an electronic signal from the processor, extend the extendable portion toward a wrist of a user and adjust a fit of the watch on the wrist of the user.

9. The watch of claim 8, further comprising a band coupled to the housing, the band configured to hold the housing against the wrist of the user.

10. The watch of claim 8, wherein the extendable portion comprises a piezoelectric material, a memory wire, or an electroactive polymer.

11. The watch of claim 8, wherein the extendable portion comprises an electromagnetic coil positioned proximate to a permanent magnet, wherein the electromagnetic coil is configured to respond to a current applied to the electromagnetic coil by increasing a force between the electromagnetic coil and the permanent magnet.

12. The watch of claim 8, wherein the actuator comprises a motor, a linear actuator, or a pump configured to adjust a pressure and/or volume of a fluid.

13. The watch of claim 8, wherein the extendable portion comprises a biometric sensor, and the processor is configured, in response to receiving an instruction to obtain biometric data, to send the electronic signal to the actuator to extendable portion the extendable portion prior to obtaining the biometric data from the biometric sensor.

14. The watch of claim 8, wherein the biometric sensor is a photoplethysmographic sensor.

15. The watch of claim 8, wherein in an extended state the extendable portion contacts skin of the user, and in a non-extended state the extendable portion is withdrawn from contact with skin of the user.