Today Apple won 75 patents covering Smart Bands that detect Touch, Biometrics & Hand Gestures + Ring & Projection device patents
Today, the last patent day for 2024, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 75 newly granted utility patents for Apple Inc. In this particular report we cover two key granted patents covering an Apple Ring and Apple Watch with smart-bands that have embedded micro-machined ultrasonic transducers to detect touch, biometrics, hand-gestures and more. We also point to granted patents for a smart ring and projection system. And as always, we wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple this week.
Apple Watch Smart-Bands with Embedded Micro-Machined Ultrasonic Transducers to Detect Touch, Biometrics, Hand-Gestures and more
Apple's granted patent covers possible future Apple Watch Bands, fitness bands, VR glove bands or even fashion bands including embedded micro-machined ultrasonic transducers (MUTs) to detect touch, gestures, physiological health signals, and transfer data between devices, such as an Apple Watch to another Apple Watch or to a Mac, iPad or iPhone. The band would also be able to detect a user's fingerprint (Touch ID). And lastly, the new bands could also assist with virtual reality and mixed reality experiences.
Apple's patent Abstract states that the invention relates to micro-machined ultrasonic transducers (MUTs) which can be embedded into a flexible Apple Watch band to detect touch, gestures, physiological signals, and transfer data.
Apple's patent FIGS. 1A-D below illustrate example devices in which transducers can be woven into a flexible band to detect touch, gestures, physiological signals, and to transmit data; FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an example computing system #238 that illustrates one implementation of touch, gesture, and physiological signal capture and processing. The computing system can include one or more transducer arrays #230 (e.g., ultrasonic transducer arrays) to measure touch, recognize gestures, and monitor physiological signals from a person contacting a flexible band of the computing system.
Apple's patent FIG. 7 above illustrates an Apple Watch comprising micro-machined transducers in the watch band (#714);
In Apple's patent FIG. 8B, the ultrasonic waves #816 can (in part) continue propagating and/or be absorbed by the user's finger (#850) while some ultrasonic energy propagates back towards MUT array #830, thus creating one or more reflected waves #818. The received, reflected waves can be further processed and/or analyzed to generate an image of the topography of the finger.
Apple's patent FIG. 9 above illustrates an example device configured to detect touch. In some examples, the touch detection can be performed for a plurality of fingers in rapid sequence and/or simultaneously which could be a user applying swiping gestures, sequences of taps, spatial relationships between one or more objects using a single finger, multiple finger, and/or some combination thereof can be detected. As important is the fact that a fingerprint in contact with the flexible band can be detected (= Touch ID).
Apple's FIG. 10 below is an interesting feature wherein the transducer array in the band could detect user Hand Gestures. In some examples, the transmission, reception, and processing of ultrasonic waves can be repeated over time to detect changes in position of the hand. For example, the velocity (i.e., both speed and direction) of the hand can be detected. Additionally or alternatively, three or more transducer arrays (e.g., 1030A-C) can be configured to detect a three-dimensional map of the finger.
The use of the transducer array in the band for detecting hand gestures can extend to VR Gloves to enhance XR experiences.
Apple's patent FIG. 11 above illustrates an example device configured to generate tactile sensations; and FIG. 14 illustrates signals transmitted between the two or more devices can be configured to carry data. For example, one or more files can be sent between the devices, provided a suitable encoding scheme is selected for data transmission.
For full details, review Apple’s granted patent 12183115.
Secondly, Apple has won a second patent for a particular Ring invention that uses NFC to act as a Vision Pro controller with in-air gestures – but also work with future Macs, iPhone or iPad.
For details, review our first granted patent report or today's granted patent 12182652 with 20 new patent claims. Unlike other commercial smart rings, Apple's ring points to health sensors but also to working with Vision Pro, Macs and controlling other devices like a television.
Thirdly, Apple has won a second patent for a Projection System for Macs, a lamp, a TV and more to project and capture 3D images and allow for 3D hand and finger gestures to control applications. This could be great for artists and gamers for starters.
Apple's patent FIG. 1 below is a schematic diagram of an illustrative system; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device with a projector.
Apple's patent FIG. 3 above is a side view of an illustrative electronic device with one or more optical position sensors; FIG. 4 is a side view of an illustrative electronic device with one or more position sensors based on image sensor components.
For more details, you could review our first granted patent report here or review today's granted patent 12182321.
Granted Design Patents
Some of Today's other Granted Patents