Wearable Band Identification Using Existing Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional wearable electronic devices lack the ability to interact with or identify bands, which limits their functionality and requires additional power sources and complex communication links, increasing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The integration of existing sensors, communication elements, and detectors within the electronic device to identify bands without adding dedicated components, allowing for bidirectional communication and power management, enabling the device to respond to band selection without user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional wearable electronic devices are designed without band identification capability, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but functionality and user experience are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling existing sensors (optical, acoustic, tactile) to serve dual purposes: their original functions plus band identification. For example, an optical sensor originally designed for display backlight detection is repurposed to detect optical identification elements on bands, eliminating the need for dedicated band detection hardware and achieving both goals with existing components
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs band identification automatically using its existing sensor suite without requiring external assistance or additional specialized components. The system self-configures by detecting the band's identification element through already-present sensors and autonomously applies the corresponding functionality, making the device self-sufficient in adapting to different bands
2Measurement precision
If dedicated band identification components are added to the device, then band identification accuracy is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent demonstrates that existing multi-functional sensors can accurately identify bands without dedicated components. The optical sensor detects optical identification elements, acoustic sensors detect acoustic markers, and tactile sensors detect physical features on bands, achieving precise identification through repurposing existing hardware rather than adding specialized identification components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary software layer that processes sensor data to extract band identification information. This software mediator translates raw sensor signals into meaningful band characteristics, enabling accurate identification through existing hardware while maintaining system simplicity by avoiding dedicated identification components
3Adaptability or versatility
If bidirectional communication between device and band is implemented, then communication capability is improved, but power consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional communication model by having the device communicate unidirectionally to the band (sending commands) rather than implementing bidirectional communication. The band responds through passive identification elements detected by the device's sensors, eliminating the need for the band to have active communication capabilities and reducing overall power consumption while maintaining functional communication
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable device can include an electronic device and a band for securing the electronic device to the user. The electronic device can detect an identification of the band, which can serve as an input to initiate actions performed by the electronic device. For example, a type, model, color, size, or other characteristic of a band can be determined and used to select a corresponding action performed by the electronic device. Identification of the band can be performed by components of the electronic device that also serve other purposes. Existing sensors, communication elements, and/or detectors can be used to detect and identity a band provided to the electronic device. The electronic device can respond to the identification of a particular band by performing particular functions, such as changing an aspect of a user interface or altering settings of the electronic device.