Watch Band with Adjustable Fit

The present description relates generally to watch bands, and, more particularly, to watch bands with adjustable fit for a user's wrist.

Some electronic devices may be removably attached to a user. For example, a wristwatch or fitness/health tracking device can be attached to a user's wrist by joining free ends of a watch band together.

In many cases, watch bands may have limited fit adjustment increments available. For example, some bands have an incrementally user-adjustable size (e.g., a buckling clasp, pin and eyelet, etc.) whereas other bands have a substantially fixed size, adjustable only with specialized tools and/or expertise (e.g., folding clasp, deployment clasp, snap-fit clasp, etc.). Still other bands may be elasticated expansion-type bands that stretch to fit around a user's wrist.

In many cases, conventional watch bands may catch, pinch, or pull a user's hair or skin during use if the band is overly tight. In other cases, watch bands may slide along a user's wrist, turn about a user's wrist, or may be otherwise uncomfortable or bothersome to a user if the band is overly loose. These problems can be exacerbated during periods of heightened activity, such as while running or playing sports. Furthermore, adjusting the size or fit of conventional watch bands often requires multiple steps, specialized tools, and/or technical expertise. In other cases, sizing options available to a user may be insufficient to obtain a proper fit. In still further examples, the fit may be different and/or may be perceived to be different given certain environmental (e.g. temperature, humidity) or biological conditions (e.g., sweat, inflammation). As a result, users of conventional wristwatches and/or fitness/health tracking devices may select a tolerable (although not optimally comfortable) fit, reserving tight bands for fitness/health tracking devices and loose bands for conventional wristwatches.

However, some wearable electronic devices (such as smart watches) may be multi-purpose devices, providing in one example both fitness/health tracking and timekeeping functionality. Accordingly, a user may prefer the fit of a smart watch to vary with use. For example, a user may prefer a looser fit in a timekeeping mode and a tighter fit in a fitness/health tracking mode.

Accordingly, there may be a present need for systems and methods for dynamic adjustment of the fit of wearable electronic devices.

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology may be practiced. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the subject technology. However, it will be clear and apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject technology is not limited to the specific details set forth herein and may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the subject technology.

Embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods for dynamic adjustment of the fit of wearable electronic devices. It should be appreciated that the various embodiments described herein, as well as functionality, operation, components, and capabilities thereof may be combined with other elements, embodiments, structures and the like, and so any physical, functional, or operational discussion of any element or feature is not intended to be limited solely to a particular embodiment to the exclusion of others.

As noted above, many portable electronic devices may be removably attached to a user. In some examples, a heart rate sensor may be attached to a user's chest by a strap. In another example, a smart watch or a fitness device can be attached to a user's wrist by donning the watch with a watch band and/or joining free ends of a conventional watch band together. In other examples, a clasp or an elasticated band may optionally be used to secure the watch. In another example, a portable audio player may be secured to a user's arm by inserting the player into an armband case.

Although many embodiments are described herein with reference to wrist bands for attaching a wrist-worn electronic device to a user, one may appreciate that other form factors may be favored in other embodiments. In other words, the methods, systems, and techniques described herein with illustrative reference to wrist-worn devices may be equally applied to non-wrist worn devices. For example, in other embodiments, devices may be configured to attach to other limbs or body portions (e.g., necklaces, arm bands, waistbands, car hooks, finger rings, anklets, toc rings, chest wraps, head bands, etc.). Furthermore, other embodiments described herein may be applied to dynamically adjust the fit of an electronic device to a non-user object such as a charging stand or station. In other embodiments, an electronic device can be fit to another biological subject such as an animal (e.g., pet collar).

As noted above, many conventional watch bands may be uncomfortable, painful, or bothersome if improperly fit to a user. For example, a user's skin and/or hair may be pinched or pulled if a conventional watch band is improperly fit. In another example, a user may be irritated by a watch that slides up and down a user's wrist and/or rotates about the user's wrist during use.

In other cases, the fit of a conventional watch band may be different and/or may be perceived to be different given different situations. For example, in humid conditions, the fit of a band may be perceived to be tighter. In another example, a user who is sweating may perceive the fit of a band to be looser. In many cases, these problems can be exacerbated during periods of heightened activity, such as while running or playing sports.

Despite the prevalence of issues associated with improperly fit bands, adjusting the size or fit of conventional watch bands often requires multiple steps, specialized tools, and/or technical expertise. For example, a metal link band may require specialized tools to remove one or more links of the band to resize the band. In other cases, a leather band with a deployment clasp may need to be physically cut to size in order to resize the band.

In other cases, watch bands may have limited fit adjustment increments available. For example, a conventional watch band may space sizing eyelets approximately 8 mm apart. In some cases, a user may prefer a fit corresponding to a location between two eyelets. In some examples, especially for users having relatively small wrists, an error of +4 mm (e.g., example of error halfway between “too tight” and “too loose”) can correspond to an error upwards of +5% of the circumference of that user's wrist, which, for many users, may be intolerable.

As a result, users of conventional wristwatches and/or fitness/health tracking devices may select a tolerable (although not optimally comfortable) fit, reserving tighter bands for fitness/health tracking devices and looser bands for conventional wristwatches.

However, as noted above, some wearable electronic devices, such as smart watches, may be multi-purpose devices. For example, many smart watches provide both fitness/health tracking and timekeeping functionality. Thus, many users may wear a smart watch exclusively, instead of periodically switching between wearing a traditional wristwatch and a separate fitness/health tracking device. In these examples, a user may prefer the fit of a smart watch to vary with use. For example, a user may prefer a looser fit in a timekeeping mode and a tighter fit in a fitness/health tracking mode.

As may be appreciated, the inconvenience associated with repeated resizing and reattachment of a conventional watch band may contribute to diminishing use of a wearable electronic device, which may, in turn, precipitate a customer retention problem for the manufacturer thereof. In other examples, such as for wearable electronic devices configured to collect health-related information (e.g., pulse rate, blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure, insulin levels, etc.) or to provide health-related notifications (e.g., prescription timing reminders, medical alerts, medical identification numbers, etc.), discontinued use of the wearable electronic device may lead to more serious consequences such as health problems, medical emergencies, and/or incomplete or inconsistent medial data collection. An ability to adjust a band dynamically may improve the accuracy of health measurements. For example, an adjustment to a band can provide contracting to improve engagement with the wearer for improvements to, for example, heart rate measurement accuracy. By further example, an ability to adjust a band dynamically may be employed to provide a notification or other feedback to the user, for example by performing a squeeze or other force onto the user.

Accordingly, many embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods for dynamic adjustment of the fit of the wearable electronic devices.

For example, certain embodiments described herein take the form of methods for adjusting the fit of a wearable electronic device secured by a band to a user. Features of a band can provide a capability to automatically adjust a tightness of a band without active user input. For example, a shape-memory alloy can be provided with a capability to alter the fit of a band in response to heat emitted by a user wearing the band.

By further example, the watch can generate a signal with an instruction to adjust the fit of the band, selecting an operational mode (e.g., tightening mode, loosening mode, flexibility mode, rigid mode, etc.) of a tension controller coupled to electronic device, and actuating the shape-memory alloy based on the instruction.

The term “tensioner” and related phrases and terminology is used herein to generally refer to structural component of a band that changes at least one feature thereof to adjust a fit of the band on a wrist or other portion of a user. The term “tension controller” and related phrases and terminology is used herein to generally refer to a circuit, apparatus, controller, or program code executed by a processor, that is configured to cause, either directly or indirectly, tension in a band or strap coupled to an electronic device housing to increase or decrease. For example, a tension controller can apply a stimulus to a tensioner comprising a shape-memory alloy.

In some examples, a tensioner comprising a shape-memory alloy and associated with and/or coupled to the watch can also be coupled to a portion of the band that is configured to compress in response to heat conditions. For example, a shape-memory alloy can be formed in a longitudinal (e.g., serpentine) pattern within one or more portions of a band. Body heat of a user and/or heat generated by the watch can be applied to the shape-memory alloy to alter its length and thereby increase or decrease the tightness of the band.

In other examples, a tensioner comprising a shape-memory alloy and associated with and/or coupled to the watch can also be coupled to a portion of the band that is configured to change an overall shape in response to heat conditions. For example, a shape-memory alloy can be formed along one or more portions of a band. Body heat of a user and/or heat generated by the watch can be applied to the shape-memory alloy to change its shape and thereby increase or decrease the tightness of the band.

In other examples, a tensioner comprising a shape-memory alloy and associated with and/or coupled to the watch can also be coupled to a portion of the band that is configured to change an overall shape in response to heat conditions. For example, a shape-memory alloy can be formed within a thickness of at least a portion of the watch band. Body heat of a user and/or heat generated by the watch can be applied to the shape-memory alloy to change its thickness and thereby increase or decrease the tightness of the band.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

depicts a perspective view of a watch attached by a band to a user. In the illustrated embodiment, watchis implemented as a portable electronic device that is worn on the wrist of a user. Other embodiments can implement the watch differently. For example, the watch can be a smart phone, a gaming device, a digital music player, a sports accessory device, a medical device, navigation assistant, accessibility device, a device that provides time and/or weather information, a health assistant, and other types of electronic device suitable for attaching to a user.

Watchincludes a housingand a display. Housingcan form an outer surface or partial outer surface and protective case for one or more internal components of watch. In the illustrated embodiment, housingis formed into a substantially rectangular shape, although this configuration is not required and other shapes are possible in other embodiments.

In some examples, displaymay incorporate an input device configured to receive user input. Optionally, a user can provide input to displayto indicate the user's intention to increase the tightness of the fit of the wearable device. In other examples, the user can provide a force input to display, the magnitude of which can correspond to the magnitude of tightness increase in the fit the user desires to be implemented by watch.

Displaycan be implemented with any suitable technology, including, but not limited to, a multi-touch sensing touchscreen that uses liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, light emitting diode (LED) technology, organic light-emitting display (OLED) technology, organic electroluminescence (OEL) technology, or another type of display technology. In many embodiments, displaycan be disposed below a protective cover glass formed from a rigid and scratch resistant material such as ion-implanted glass, laminated glass, or sapphire.

As noted above, displaycan incorporate or be disposed proximate to an input sensor. For example, in some embodiments, displaycan also include one or more contact sensors to determine the position of one or more contact locations on a top surface of display. In some embodiments, displaycan also include one or more force-sensitive elements (not shown) to detect a magnitude of force applied to the top surface of display.

Watchcan include within housinga processor, a memory, a power supply and/or battery, network communications, sensors, display screens, acoustic elements, input/output ports, haptic elements, digital and/or analog circuitry for performing and/or coordinating tasks of watch, and so on. In some examples, watchcan communicate with a separate electronic device via one or more proprietary and/or standardized wired and/or wireless interfaces. For simplicity of illustration, watchis depicted inwithout many of these elements, each of which may be included, partially, optionally, or entirely, within housing.

Watchcan be coupled to uservia a bandthat loops around the user's wrist. Bandcan be formed from a compliant material, or into a compliant structure, that is configured to easily contour to a user's wrist, while retaining stiffness sufficient to maintain the position and orientation of the watch on the user's wrist. The material selected for bandmay vary from embodiment to embodiment. For example, in certain cases, bandcan be formed from metal, such as a band formed into a metal mesh. In other embodiments, bandcan be formed from an organic material such as leather. In further examples, bandcan be formed from an inorganic material such as nylon. In still further embodiments, materials such as plastic, rubber, or other fibrous, organic, polymeric, or synthetic materials may be used.

As can be appreciated, the relative stiffness of a band can impact the tightness with which the band may be fit to a user's wrist. For example, the more flexible the band, the tighter bandshould be secured to prevent watchfrom sliding, rotating, or otherwise displacing on the user's wrist.

In some embodiments, bandcan be formed, at least in part, from a polymer, such as a fluoroelastomeric polymer, having a Shore durometer selected for having flexibility suitable for easily contouring to a user's wrists while maintaining sufficient stiffness to maintain support of watchwhen attached to the wrist of user. For example, bands of certain embodiments may have a Shore A durometer ranging from 60 to 80 and/or a tensile strength greater than 12 MPa.

In some embodiments, a fluoroelastomeric polymer (or other suitable polymer) can be doped or treated with one or more other materials. For example, the polymer can be doped with an agent configured to provide the polymer with a selected color, odor, taste, hardness, elasticity, stiffness, reflectivity, refractive pattern, texture and so on. In other examples, the doping agent can confer other properties to the fluoroelastomeric polymer including, but not necessarily limited to, electrical conductivity and/or insulating properties, magnetic and/or diamagnetic properties, chemical resistance and/or reactivity properties, infrared and/or ultraviolet light absorption and/or reflectivity properties, visible light absorption and/or reflectivity properties, antimicrobial and/or antiviral properties, olcophobic and/or hydrophobic properties, thermal absorption properties, pest repellant properties, colorfast and/or anti-fade properties, deodorant properties, antistatic properties, medicinal properties, liquid exposure reactivity properties, low and/or high friction properties, hypoallergenic properties, and so on.

In some embodiments, one or more doping agents may be used. In further embodiments, the doping agents associated with one area of bandmay be different from the doping agents associated with another area of the bands. In one example, a band may have a low friction dopant added to the portion of a band that faces a user's wrist (e.g., bottom surface) while having a high reflectivity dopant added to the portion of the band that faces outwardly (e.g., top surface).

Other embodiments described herein include configurations in which bandis formed, at least in part, from a non-compliant material into a compliant structure. For example, a metallic mesh can be used to form band. In other embodiments, the band can be formed by joining a number of metal links. In other embodiments, the band can be formed by joining a number of glass or crystal links.

In other embodiments, bandcan be formed form a combination of compliant and non-compliant materials.

In some examples, bandcan be removably coupled to housing. For example, in certain embodiments, bandcan be at least partially looped around a watch pin that is configured to insert within lugs extending from the body of housing. In other examples, bandcan be configured to slide within and be retained by two or more channels within external sidewalls of housing. In other examples, bandcan be looped through and aperture in housing. In other cases, bandcan be riveted, screwed, or otherwise attached to housingvia one or more mechanical fasteners. In still further embodiments, additional removable couplings between bandand housingare possible.

In other examples, bandcan be permanently coupled to housing. For example, in some cases, bandmay be formed as an integral portion of housing. In other cases, bandcan be rigidly adhered to housingvia an adhesive. In still further embodiments, bandcan be welded, soldered, or chemically bonded to housing. In other embodiments, additional permanent couplings between bandand housingare possible.

As noted above, housingmay be rigid and can be configured to provide structural support and impact resistance for electronic or mechanical components contained therein. A rigid housing is not necessarily required for all embodiments and, in some examples, watchcan have a housing may be flexible. Furthermore, although watch housings are typically formed to take a rectangular shape, this is not required and other shapes are possible. For example, certain housings may take a circular shape.

In other embodiments, watchcan include one or more sensors (not shown) positioned on a bottom surface of housing. Sensors utilized by watchcan vary from embodiment to embodiment. Suitable sensors can include temperature sensors, electrodermal sensors, blood pressure sensors, heart rate sensors, respiration rate sensors, oxygen saturation sensors, plethysmographic sensors, activity sensors, pedometers, blood glucose sensors, body weight sensors, body fat sensors, blood alcohol sensors, dietary sensors, and so on.

In many cases, sensors such as biometric sensors can collect certain health-related information non-invasively. For example, watchcan include a sensor that is configured to measure changes in (or an amount of) light reflected from a measurement site (e.g., wrist) of user. In one embodiment, the biometric sensor such as a PPG sensor can include a light source for emitting light onto or into the wrist of userand an optical sensor to detect light exiting the wrist of user. Light from the light source may be scattered, absorbed, and/or reflected throughout the measurement sight as a function of various physiological parameters or characteristics of user. For example, the tissue of the wrist of usercan scatter, absorb, or reflect light emitted by the light source differently depending on various physiological characteristics of the surface and subsurface of the user's wrist.

In many cases a PPG sensor can be used to detect a user's heart rate and blood oxygenation. For example, during each complete heartbeat, a user's subcutaneous tissue can distend and contract, alternatingly increasing and decreasing the light absorption capacity of the measurement site. In these embodiments, the optical sensor of the PPG can collect light exiting the measurement site and generate electrical signals corresponding to the collected light. Thereafter, the electrical signals can be conveyed as raw data to watch, which in turn can process the raw data into health data. The raw data can be based on information about the collected light, such as the chromaticity and/or luminance of the light. In some cases, the health datacan be shown on displayas biometric feedback to user.

However, certain sensors such as PPG sensors may be susceptible to noise associated with ambient light, surface conditions of the measurement site (e.g., cleanliness, hair, perspiration, etc.), proximity of the optical sensor and/or light source to the measurement site, and motion artifacts caused by the relative motion between watchand user. As a result, if watchis not snugly fit to user(at least while the PPG sensor is obtaining a measurement), the health dataobtained from the sensor may be sub-optimal (e.g., insufficient or insignificant magnitude) as a direct result of the improper fit. Alternatively, if watchis snugly fit to user, the health dataobtained from the sensor may be of substantially improved quality, magnitude, and clarity.

It will be understood that in certain embodiments, watchmay dynamically resize bandand/or the fit of watchfor reasons unrelated to sensor data quality. For example, as mentioned above, a shape-memory alloy (not shown) can be coupled to watch. In some examples, the shape-memory alloy can be included within housing. In other examples, the shape-memory alloy can be included within band. In still further examples, a portion of the shape-memory alloy can be included within housingand a portion of the shape-memory alloy can be included within band. In some examples, the shape-memory alloy can be coupled to bandand to housing. For example, the shape-memory alloy can take the form of a coupling and/or a lug by which bandcouples to housing.

depict side views of a watchwith a bandfor attaching to a user. Watchcan include one or more of the features discussed herein with respect to watch. For example, as with the embodiment depicted in, watchcan include a housingand a display that may incorporate an input device configured to receive touch input, force input, or other input from a user. Housingmay also include one or more buttons or input ports (not shown). Housingcan be permanently or removably attached to a band.

As with the embodiment depicted in, bandcan be formed from a compliant material or into a compliant structure that is configured to easily contour to a user's wrist, while retaining stiffness sufficient to maintain the position and orientation of watchon the user's wrist. Bandis illustrated as a single, continuous structure extending from opposing ends of housing. Additionally or alternatively, bandcan include overlapped components to form a closed loop around a user's wrist. In these examples, the separate components can be affixed together with a traditional or conventional attachment mechanism. For example, in some embodiments, a buckling clasp can be used. In other examples a pin and eyelet attachment mechanism can be used. In some embodiments, bandincludes multiple (e.g., two) band portions, wherein one end of each band portion can attach to housing, and the other ends of the separate band portions can attach to each other, for example with a clasp, lock, latch, or other engagement mechanism, to form a loop. One or more band portions can include one or more tension control mechanisms as further described herein, such that the length or other dimension of each band portion can be controllably adjusted.

Watchcan include a tension controller (not illustrated) in order to provide dynamic adjustment of the fit of watch. As with other embodiments described herein, the tension controller may alter the fit of watchin a number of ways. For example, the tension controller can adjust one or more dimensions of bandcoupled to housingof watch. In another example, the tension controller can adjust a coupling between bandand housingof watch. In another example the tension controller can adjust the position of housingof watchrelative to band. In still other embodiments, other adjustments are possible.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the length of bandcan be increased or decreased in order to adjust the fit of watch. This type of adjustment can be referred to as a “fastening force.” In these embodiments, the shorter the length of band, the tighter the fit of watchmay be. Similarly, the longer the length of band, the looser the fit of watchmay be. Length adjustments to bandare shown inwith bi-directional arrows. As shown, the length need not change along every portion of band.