Future Apple Watches might use heart rate sensor to identify owner, feature wrist gesture control
A pair of Apple inventions published on Thursday reveal work on a next-generation Apple Watch model capable of identifying a user with its heart rate sensor, and detecting wrist movements as a basis of user input.
As published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Apple's patent application for a "User identification system based on plethysmography" details a method by which a pulse oximeter is used to determine and identify biometric characteristics of a user's vasculature. Similar to Touch ID on iPhone and iPad, the resulting data might then be used to verify a user's identity, thereby allowing access to a previously locked device.
In some embodiments, the pulse oximeter is described in simple terms as two light emitter and light sensor pairs co-located on a mobile device. The system works by emitting light toward a user's skin, blood and other body parts, then measuring how much of that light is absorbed and reflected back to the device. The amount of light collected at each sensor can be calculated to determine the amount of blood present in a user's skin, a benefit for pulse readings.
Light gathered by the two photosensors is measured and in some cases applied to generate a scatterplot. This data is either stored or compared against previously saved information to positively identify the user.
As with Touch ID, identifying users via vascular biometrics can be an automated process. In some embodiments, the device monitors onboard motion sensors like accelerometers, gyroscopes and GPS radios to determine user motion. Certain gestures, for example raising the device from waist height to head height, trigger the authentication process.
Once identified, users have full access to device functions. In theory, the system might be applied in place of Touch ID for initial authentication and Apple Pay payments, further reducing Apple Watch's reliance on iPhone.
Apple Watch already uses a two-emitter setup -- for accuracy, each of the two sensor setups are tuned to emit and pickup different wavelengths of light -- based on plethysmography technology, meaning today's patent could theoretically be applied to existing hardware. Whether vascular variances at the wrist are diverse enough to create a secure biometric system is unclear, though veins in fingers have been used in such applications for years.
Apple's vascular identification patent application was first filed for in May 2016 and credits Daniel J. Culbert as its inventor.
In addition to the above, Apple also applied for a patent covering "Wristband device input using wrist movement." As can be gleaned from its title, the document details a method by which wrist articulations are detected and interpreted to control a wrist-worn device or a separate host device.
In some embodiments, the invention calls for a wristband that incorporates one or more sensors capable of detecting changes in the position of a user's wrist. For example, force sensors might be deployed to perceive deformation of the wristband created by forces or pressure applied as a user moves their wrist or hand.
Signals generated at the band are sent off for analysis to identify a specific wrist gesture, which is subsequently compared against a library of stored gestures mapped to certain system commands.
In practice, the wristband might measure specific levels of flexion and extension that denote a user is articulating their hand to make a "telephone" gesture, that is a hand signal with thumb and pinky finger extended. If so programmed, this particular gesture could trigger a command to answer a phone call or open a phone app on a host device. Additional gestures might control music playback volume, track selection, UI navigation, return to home and other system processes. Alternatively, gestures can be used to remotely control a wirelessly connected device, like a host iPhone.
The document goes on to detail suitable wristband materials, gesture examples, ideal sensor arrangements and other minutiae.
It is unknown whether Apple intends to build a gesture-based control system into Apple Watch, though the company is rumored to be working on active band accessories that connect to the device through its diagnostics port. Previous patent filings provide evidence of ongoing development into such solutions, including modular designs with GPS receivers and extended battery packs to full-wrist displays.
Apple's wrist gesture patent application was first filed for in April 2016 and credits Anton M. Davydov as its inventor.
As published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Apple's patent application for a "User identification system based on plethysmography" details a method by which a pulse oximeter is used to determine and identify biometric characteristics of a user's vasculature. Similar to Touch ID on iPhone and iPad, the resulting data might then be used to verify a user's identity, thereby allowing access to a previously locked device.
In some embodiments, the pulse oximeter is described in simple terms as two light emitter and light sensor pairs co-located on a mobile device. The system works by emitting light toward a user's skin, blood and other body parts, then measuring how much of that light is absorbed and reflected back to the device. The amount of light collected at each sensor can be calculated to determine the amount of blood present in a user's skin, a benefit for pulse readings.
Light gathered by the two photosensors is measured and in some cases applied to generate a scatterplot. This data is either stored or compared against previously saved information to positively identify the user.
As with Touch ID, identifying users via vascular biometrics can be an automated process. In some embodiments, the device monitors onboard motion sensors like accelerometers, gyroscopes and GPS radios to determine user motion. Certain gestures, for example raising the device from waist height to head height, trigger the authentication process.
Once identified, users have full access to device functions. In theory, the system might be applied in place of Touch ID for initial authentication and Apple Pay payments, further reducing Apple Watch's reliance on iPhone.
Apple Watch already uses a two-emitter setup -- for accuracy, each of the two sensor setups are tuned to emit and pickup different wavelengths of light -- based on plethysmography technology, meaning today's patent could theoretically be applied to existing hardware. Whether vascular variances at the wrist are diverse enough to create a secure biometric system is unclear, though veins in fingers have been used in such applications for years.
Apple's vascular identification patent application was first filed for in May 2016 and credits Daniel J. Culbert as its inventor.
In addition to the above, Apple also applied for a patent covering "Wristband device input using wrist movement." As can be gleaned from its title, the document details a method by which wrist articulations are detected and interpreted to control a wrist-worn device or a separate host device.
In some embodiments, the invention calls for a wristband that incorporates one or more sensors capable of detecting changes in the position of a user's wrist. For example, force sensors might be deployed to perceive deformation of the wristband created by forces or pressure applied as a user moves their wrist or hand.
Signals generated at the band are sent off for analysis to identify a specific wrist gesture, which is subsequently compared against a library of stored gestures mapped to certain system commands.
In practice, the wristband might measure specific levels of flexion and extension that denote a user is articulating their hand to make a "telephone" gesture, that is a hand signal with thumb and pinky finger extended. If so programmed, this particular gesture could trigger a command to answer a phone call or open a phone app on a host device. Additional gestures might control music playback volume, track selection, UI navigation, return to home and other system processes. Alternatively, gestures can be used to remotely control a wirelessly connected device, like a host iPhone.
The document goes on to detail suitable wristband materials, gesture examples, ideal sensor arrangements and other minutiae.
It is unknown whether Apple intends to build a gesture-based control system into Apple Watch, though the company is rumored to be working on active band accessories that connect to the device through its diagnostics port. Previous patent filings provide evidence of ongoing development into such solutions, including modular designs with GPS receivers and extended battery packs to full-wrist displays.
Apple's wrist gesture patent application was first filed for in April 2016 and credits Anton M. Davydov as its inventor.
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