The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 35 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover a possible future Apple Watch band with smart links that could be used to add batteries, a camera and various sensors and haptics. Apple was also granted a patent for a long standing project with Apple's Israeli company relating to in-air gaming gesturing and gesturing to control other applications such as Apple TV. The technology is proven technology as it was first used in Microsoft's Kinect. We wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple today.

Granted Patent: Apple Watch Smart Band Links

Apple's newly granted patent 9,553,625 covers their invention relating to a possible future Apple Watch Band that is constructed with smart links that carry new functionality for the watch.

Apple's Patent FIG. 1 noted above is an isometric view of an example system including a wearable device and a band including multiple links; FIG. 3C illustrates the mechanics inside the links.

Apple notes in their patent application that "The electronic components included in the modular functional band links may be any kind of electronic component associated with any kind of functionality. Such electronic components may include adding one or more batteries, input devices, output devices, haptic devices, displays, sensors, actuators, processors, electricity generators, photovoltaic cells, cameras, photo sensors, indicators, accelerometers, speedometers, compasses, gyroscopes, global positioning systems, thermometers, hygrometers, blood pressure sensors, sweat sensors, magnetic field sensors, antennas (such as a WiFi antenna, a Bluetooth antenna, a cellular antenna, a near field communication antenna, and so on), vibrators, speakers, track wheels, track balls, touch sensors, buttons, sliders, force sensors, and/or any other electronic component."

Patently Apple first covered this invention as a patent application last April which you could review here for more details.

Granted Patent: Optical Pattern Projection

Apple's newly granted patent 9,554,122 covers their invention relating to optical systems and designs, and specifically to methods and system for optical pattern projection. Today's granted patent covers 3D projection for many types of possible future applications including an in-air gaming user interface.

Apple' patent FIG. 1 is a schematic, pictorial illustration of a system for optical 3D mapping, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a projection assembly.

Patently Apple reported on this invention as a granted patent one year ago which you could review here for more details. Apple has updated and added their patent claims to cover their invention.

Apple Granted Design Patent for Apple Watch with Woven Nylon Band

Apple was granted design patent D777,163 for Apple Watch with Woven Nylon band. Yesterday Patently Apple posted a report covering Apple being granted three design patents covering the same thing in Hong Kong which you could review here.

The Remaining Patents granted to Apple Today

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Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of granted patents with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each Granted Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any Granted Patent should be read in its entirety for full details. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.