Apple has been granted a patent (number US 12064791 B2) for an armband with a tactile vibrator.
About the patent
The patent relates generally to electronic devices adapted for placement against the user’s skin (directly or indirectly) and configured to provide tactile feedback to the user. Such an armband could gently vibrate to alert a wearer of an upcoming event, a phone call, and more. Apparently, Apple plans for such a device to work in tandem with an iPhone and perhaps an Apple Watch.
This isn’t Apple’s first patent regarding an armband. In 2022 the tech giant filed for a a patent (number 20220151560) for “wearing dependent operation of a wearable device.” It involves an armband that would perform different functions depending on whether it’s being worn or not.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “Examples of portable electronic devices including a piezo actuated vibrator for providing tactile feedback to the user are described. Portable electronic devices according to the present disclosure may include tactile feedback devices, which may be driven by a piezoelectric actuator/vibrator that is operatively coupled to or embedded into the housing of a portable electronic device.
“In some examples, the housing of the electronic device itself can be made of piezoelectric ceramic material. The piezoelectric element may be coupled to the housing of the product to cause the housing to deflect and/or vibrate. In some examples, the housing of the portable electronic device, which may be a portable media player device, may be configured for placement directly or indirectly in contact with the user’s skin such that vibrations of the housing may be felt directly (without audible feedback) by the user.”
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