Dynamic fit adjustment for wearable electronic devices

• US 10,398,200 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2018
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• 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 M
• Application Number:
  US16/197,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20190082800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 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 containing a processor;

a first band portion extending from the housing;

a second band portion extending from the housing; and

a coupling for connecting the first band portion to the second band portion to form a loop for holding the housing against a wrist of a user, wherein the coupling is configured to, in response to a signal from the processor, adjust an amount of overlap between the first band portion and the second band portion.

2. The watch of claim 1, wherein:

the first band portion comprises a first actuator; and

the second band portion comprises multiple second actuators, wherein the first actuator and one of the second actuators form the coupling.

3. The watch of claim 1, wherein:

the first band portion comprises a permanent magnet; and

the second band portion comprises multiple electromagnetic coils, wherein the permanent magnet and one of the electromagnetic coils form the coupling.

4. The watch of claim 1, wherein:

the first band portion comprises an actuator, wherein the actuator is moveable along a longitudinal length of the first band portion; and

the second band portion comprises multiple attachment mechanisms, wherein the actuator and one of the attachment mechanisms form the coupling.

5. The watch of claim 1, wherein the coupling comprises a gear that engages the first band portion and the second band portion, wherein rotation of the gear adjusts the amount of overlap between the first band portion and the second band portion.

6. A watch comprising:

a housing containing a processor;

a band positioned partially within the housing and extending away from the housing; and

an actuator configured to, in response to a signal from the processor, adjust an amount of the band that is within the housing.

7. The watch of claim 6, wherein the band is connected to the housing via the actuator.

8. The watch of claim 6, wherein the actuator is formed in a serpentine pattern and is configured to contract in response to the signal from the processor.

9. The watch of claim 6, wherein the housing forms a channel receiving the amount of the band.

10. The watch of claim 6, wherein the actuator is of a shape memory wire.

11. The watch of claim 6, wherein the band comprises a first band portion and a second band portion configured to be coupled together to form a loop.

12. The watch of claim 11, wherein:

the actuator is a first actuator between the first band portion and the housing; and

the band comprises a second actuator between the first band portion and the housing and configured to, in response to the signal from the processor, adjust an amount of the second band portion that is within the housing.

13. The watch of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises:

a first channel receiving the amount of the first band portion; and

a second channel receiving the amount of the second band portion.

14. A watch comprising:

a housing containing a processor;

a band extending from opposing sides of the housing to form a loop for extending about a wrist of a user; and

an actuator configured to, in response to a signal from the processor, adjust a length of the band such that a tightness of the loop about the wrist is adjusted, wherein the actuator is formed in a serpentine pattern and is configured to contract in response to the signal from the processor.

15. The watch of claim 14, wherein the band forming the loop comprises a first band portion and a second band portion.

16. The watch of claim 15, wherein the actuator is a first actuator within the first band portion and the band comprises a second actuator within the second band portion.

17. The watch of claim 14, wherein the actuator is disposed around a perimeter of the band.

18. The watch of claim 14, wherein the actuator is of a shape memory wire.

19. The watch of claim 14, 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 signal to the actuator to adjust the length of the band prior to obtaining the biometric data from the biometric sensor.