Future Apple Watches may add a camera, more fitness features (and Face ID?)

Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,478,099) for “systems and methods for determining axial orientation and location of a user’s wrist.” If it ever comes to fruition, it could add a camera other features to the Apple Watch.

One component of the patent is a compact digital camera that would be used to take and store still and/or video images. The camera could be oriented to allow a user to capture images of nearby objects in the environment, such as a bar code or QR code. And if an Apple Watch could store images, it could, conceivably, support Face ID.

Apple’s patent also involves “wrist profiles” for the Apple Watch. Each user can have one or more wrist profiles (e.g., wrist size, tendon locations, wrist shape, etc.). When the user attaches the wearable device to the wrist, a processor or controller can match the wrist profile to a stored wrist profile. 

The stored wrist profile can be associated with the user and can be used to unlock (i.e., give the user access to full range of functions) the device. In some examples, the stored wrist profiles can be used for restoring calibration settings unique to the user and/or user preferences. Each user can have one or more wrist profiles (e.g., wrist size, tendon locations, wrist shape, etc.). When the user attaches the wearable device to the wrist, a processor or controller can match the wrist profile to a stored wrist profile. The stored wrist profile can be associated with the user and can be used to unlock (i.e., give the user access to full range of functions) the device. In some examples, the stored wrist profiles can be used for restoring calibration settings unique to the user and/or user preferences. 

The invention could also improve the smartwatch’s fitness/health tracking features. For example, the user can be performing a bicep curl. One or more motion sensors (e.g., accelerometer) can determining the timing of when the user can be performing the bicep curl. The motion sensors can associate the timing with the user’s grip of the weights or dumbbells determined by the strain gauges (e.g., piezoelectric sensors). The timing of the bicep curl and user’s grip can further be associated with the muscle activity determined by the EMG sensors.

The timing of the bicep curl, the user’s grip, and the muscle activity can optionally be associated with the user’s heart rate determined by, for example, the PPG (e.g., optical sensors) sensors. The device can analyze the user’s performance and can provide feedback and/or, for example, calometric data related to the user’s weight lifting performance. For example, the device can inform the user that the user is over rotating his or her wrist during the exercise and/or is gripping the weights too tightly. 

Finally, the patent involves a watch strap that can include capacitive and EMG sensors.

Here’s Apple’s summary of the invention: “This relates to systems and methods for determining the axial orientation and location of the user’s wrist using one or more sensors located on the strap, the device underbody, or both. For example, the strap can include a plurality of elastic sections and a plurality of rigid sections. Each elastic section can include one or more flex sensors. 

“In some examples, on or more electromyography (EMG) sensors can be included to measure the user’s electrical signals, and the user’s muscle activity can be determined. In some examples, a plurality of strain gauges can be included to generate one or more signals indicative of any changes in shape, size, and/or physical properties of the user’s wrist. In some examples, the device can include a plurality of capacitance sensors for increased granularity and/or sensitivity in measuring the amount of tension exerted by the user’s wrist.”