Apple wants the Apple Watch to be able to better communicate underwater as evidenced by a newly granted patent for “Underwater Communications Using Sensing System.”
About the patent
In the patent Apple notes that wearable electronic devices (e.g., watches, trackers, etc.) typically aren’t designed for communication in underwater environments. For example, typical wearable electronic devices either can’t produce sound underwater or are limited in their production of sound underwater. Some wearable electronic devices also can’t communicate at all while underwater.
Apple’s patent involves underwater communication on an Apple Watch that addresses the above deficiencies or at least offers an alternative to current systems and devices. For example, the smartwatch could produce sound underwater, such as frequencies suited for underwater communication between devices.
The sonar application of the speaker could be used to transmit information to other underwater users, to equipment (e.g., a dive tank), to boats (e.g., a dive boat), and/or to locate objects at close range underwater (e.g., a nearby shark, spearfishing prey, etc.). The underwater speaker could also be used to sound alarms or alerts to notify a diver. Specifically tuned speaker transducers can be used to detect sonar signals from other nearby devices or emitters (e.g., to receive info from a dive tank).
Per the patent, an underwater speaker on an Apple Watch can be optimized for water pressure. And a speaker system can include multiple speakers optimized for different functionalities. One example includes a primary speaker for land communication (i.e. communication outside the water or through air, to propagate sound through air, etc.), and a secondary speaker tuned for water use (i.e., to resonate a frequency underwater). A transducer (e.g., a piezoelectric transducer) can be coupled to an electronic display or another flat surface that can resonate to create sound effectively underwater.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “Underwater communication using sensing fusion can include one or more electronic devices. The electronic device can include a housing defining an internal volume. The electronic device can include a speaker sealed to the housing and tuned for water use (e.g., to produce/detect audible and/or sonar frequency noise underwater). The speaker can include a diaphragm configured to resonate at one or more frequencies underwater. T
“he electronic device can include a pressure compensator associated with the speaker to compensate for hydrostatic pressure acting on the diaphragm. The speaker can include a water permeable membrane to equalize pressure underwater within the speaker, while still maintaining a seal with the housing. The speaker can include multiple seals to prevent water ingress to the internal volume. The electronic device can include another speaker for land communication (e.g., to produce/detect audible noise on land).”
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