Apple invents a future Apple Watch Band with integrated multi-nodes to support multiple high-end sensors, added Batteries+
Today the U.S. Patent Office published a patent application of Apple's that relates to a possible future wearable that could be an Apple Watch with a more sophisticated multi-node band that could integrate multiple health sensors, batteries and more. Apple notes that the wearable device could also take on the form of a necklace, leg band and more.
Today's patent is part of an ongoing project theme at Apple since at least 2018. Here are some of the other patents on this subject: 01, 02, 03 and 04.
Multi-Node Electronic Device
Apple's invention is directed to wearable electronic devices that include a band and multiple enclosures coupled to the band. Each enclosure can contain a discrete electronic component of the wearable electronic device.
- A first enclosure can contain processing circuitry, which may be implemented as an integrated processing unit.
- A second enclosure can contain a battery.
- A third enclosure may contain memory
- A fourth enclosure may include communication circuitry (e.g., wireless communication circuitry), and,
- One or more additional enclosures may each include a different type of sensor (e.g., movement sensor, temperature sensor, other physiological sensors, and so on).
The band may include electrical connections that electrically couple the electronic components contained in each of the different enclosures. The band may be flexible allowing the wearable device to bend, flex or otherwise conform around a user. The enclosure segments may be more rigid than the band. Accordingly, the electronic device may include flexible band portions that extend between more rigid enclosure segments.
Each enclosure and respective electronic device may also be referred to as a node or a module of the wearable electronic device and a node (or module) can represent a discreate functional unit that is separated from but electrically coupled to other nodes which operate together to perform functions of the electronic device.
For example, nodes may be separated by flexible band segments thereby physically separating and allowing relative movement between different functional units of the electronic device.
The size and shape of each enclosure may be based on the electronic component that is contained within a respective enclosure. Accordingly, different enclosures may have different sizes and shapes. In some cases, a discrete number of different enclosure sizes and shapes may be defined, for example based on the smallest and largest electronic components, and each electronic component may be enclosed in one of the defined enclosures.
For example, a wearable electronic device can include four different enclosure profiles (i.e., size and shape) and each electronic component may be enclosed in one of the four different enclosure profiles.
As used herein the term “electronic component” refers to one or more discrete components that perform one or more dedicated functions. For example, an electronic component may be a processing circuit which controls operation of the electronic device. Another electronic component may be a power source (e.g., battery), which provides power to various other components of the electronic device; another electronic component may be memory; another electronic component may include communication circuitry such as wireless communication circuitry (e.g., near-field communications (NFC) circuit(s), Bluetooth communications circuit(s), Wi-Fi circuit(s), cellular communications circuit(s), and so on); other electronic components may include sensors such as one or more movement sensors (e.g., an inertial measurement unit (IMU); an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an altimeter, and so on), one or more physiological sensors (e.g., a temperature sensor, heart rate sensor, optical sensors such as photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor, galvanic skin sensor and so on); another electronic component can include one or more input or output units such as a display, touch-sensitive display, speaker, microphone, haptic output unit, and so on; and/or other suitable electronic units.
The band, the enclosures and the electronic components may be coupled together to form an integrated wearable electronic device.
Apple's patent FIG. 11D below illustrates an example of a wearable electronic device #1130 that includes multiple enclosures #1104 that are interlinked with connectors #1116. In some cases, the enclosures can be arranged in a pattern that resembles a link-type watch band. Enclosure #1104 may be coupled to one or more adjacent enclosures using electrical connectors #1116 that include electrical traces or other electrical connectors that electrically couple electronic components in adjacent enclosures.
A particular electronic component may include sensors that are configured to measure a user's heart rate. For example, the electronic component may include a vibration sensor (e.g., microphone) that measures blood flow through a user's blood vessels, a PPG sensor, an accelerometer that can detect heart rate pulses, and so on.
Apple notes that the wearable device could also be something other than a watch and band and include a device that can be worn around a user's neck (e.g., as a necklace), around a head (e.g., as a head band), around a torso region, around a lower limb, and/or worn in other locations on the user's body.
In other examples, the wearable electronic device may be integrated into clothing or other wearables. For example, the enclosures and band can be integrated into fabrics, which are used for pants, shirts and so on.
The components included in enclosures could take on multiple shapes and forms within the band.
Apple's invention was filed in June 2024 and published today by USPTO. Nine Apple engineers were listed on today's patent.
Note: Our cover graphic illustrates patent FIG. 2A that is a top view of an example wearable electronic device that can include a band and multiple enclosures that each contain one or more electronic components.