Apple has been granted a patent (quantity US 11652509 B1) for a “band identifier system” for the Apple Watch. It could a smartwatch/good band combo to robotically alter sure options.
Concerning the patent
Within the patent Apple notes that a wide range of wearable digital gadgets, together with good watches, have been developed that embrace parts to supply a wide range of capabilities. For instance, some wearable digital gadgets embrace a number of sensors to measure numerous traits of the consumer and/or the surroundings by which the machine operates.
Such gadgets could embrace a show to point the time, date, or different machine options. The gadgets may embrace accelerometers and a number of sensors that allow a consumer to trace health actions and health-related traits, resembling coronary heart charge, blood stress, and physique temperature, amongst different info.
The gadgets additionally usually embrace a chargeable battery that powers the electronics throughout the machine, and a mechanical strap or band for securing the machine to a consumer.
Apple’s concept is for future Apple Watch bands to be geared up with near-field communications (NFC) options that enable an Apple Watch to uniquely establish and/or get hold of different info from a band that’s coupled to a predominant physique of the machine with out requiring an influence supply to be offered within the band.
Upon identification of a specific band, some parts and options of the Apple Watch might change. For instance, the colour palette or theme of displayed content material could be modified, with out consumer enter, to match a number of colours of an recognized band.
In one other instance, upon identification of a health band, a health software or a health associated dwelling display screen could be displayed by the wearable digital machine. In one other instance, upon identification of or removing of a swim band, water safety options resembling water purging options of the machine could be activated.
The band identification methods and strategies described herein may facilitate identification of licensed and/or unauthorized bands for a wearable digital machine. For instance, Apple says that third celebration bands could also be unauthorized bands which can be marketed to be used with a specific wearable digital machine, however could not correctly safe to the machine, which might trigger a danger of harm to the machine.
Upon willpower {that a} band that’s coupled to the machine shouldn’t be a certified band, a warning could also be offered utilizing an output element of the machine, and/or a number of options of the machine could also be disabled or in any other case modified.
Abstract of the patent
Right here’s Apple’s summary of the patent: “Wearable digital gadgets, resembling good watches, could be supplied with a band for securing the machine to a wearer. The machine and the band can embrace near-field communications (NFC) parts that enable the machine to uniquely establish the band. System operations resembling the colour, theme, or content material displayed on the machine could be based mostly, partly, on the identification of a specific band. The band could embrace a miniature NFC tag in an attachment portion of the band that’s configured to be acquired in a recess in a housing of the machine.
“An NFC module for studying the NFC tag could be offered throughout the recess of the housing, in order that the attachment portion of the band and the recess within the machine housing place and align the NFC tag with the NFC module when the band is hooked up to the machine.”
