Dynamic fit adjustment for wearable electronic devices

• US 9,781,984 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• 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:
  US14/691,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20160255944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 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 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.