Biometric heart monitor and depth mapping for gesture recognition described in Apple patent filings

A biometric monitor for measuring heart health is among several patent filings from Apple to be published recently, Patently Apple reports.

The company has filed for a continuation patent on a haptic system for the Apple Watch, sports armbands, and a biometric heart rate monitor, which appears as a chest strap in filing images. The “Portable electronic device using a tactile vibrator” described includes a housing, a vibration assembly consisting of multiple diaphragms, and a piezoelectric element couple to but spaced apart from both diaphragms.

A continuation patent application for a 3D depth-mapping system with gesture recognition applications has also been filed, according to the report. The filing for “Multi-modal depth mapping” describes the use of the principle behind Face ID biometric scanning on a larger scale, allowing users to control content on a desktop or Macbook with in-air gestures.

Another published application for a display “burn-in” mitigation system for Apple Watches replaces a number of cancelled applications. In the new filing, control circuitry imposes display constraints to reduce burn-in effects.

Recent patent filings from Apple show the company’s ambitions for device-based digital ID and under-display fingerprint recognition for mobile devices.

Article Topics

3D  |  Apple  |  Apple Watch  |  biometric data  |  biometrics  |  gesture recognition  |  heartbeat biometrics  |  patents  |  wearables