Watch band with adjustable color
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsZhengyu Li, Chia Chi Wu, Chen Zhang, Qiliang Xu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Watch bands described herein include electrochromic features that provide adjustable color control based on an applied voltage to offer a variety of colors and color combinations to be displayed by a single band. The user or a control system can control, select, and/or adjust one or more colors of the watch band for visual display. Accordingly, a variety of colors can be displayed at different times without requiring different watch bands for each color or color combination. The color changing features can be used as a visual output of information from the watch to the user.
Claims19
A watch comprising:
- a watch body comprising a processor configured to control a voltage generated from the watch body;
- and
- a watch band configured to be removably attached to the watch body, the watch band comprising filaments, each of the filaments comprising:
- a conductor wherein, when the watch band is attached to the watch body, the conductor is operatively connected to the processor and configured to receive the voltage;
- and
- an electrochromic layer comprising a polymer that surrounds an entirety of the conductor along a segment of the conductor, wherein the electrochromic layer is a color that is determined by the voltage when the voltage is applied to the conductor.
A watch comprising:
- a watch body comprising a display configured to display a representation in a color;
- a watch band comprising an electrochromic layer;
- and
- a processor in the watch body, the processor being configured to:
- control the color of the representation of the display;
- and
- control a voltage applied to the electrochromic layer so a color of the electrochromic layer matches the color of the representation on the display.
A watch band for securing a watch to a wrist of a user, the watch band comprising:
- an attachment member for removably attaching the watch band to a watch body of the watch;
- an electrical connector configured to electrically connect to the watch body when the attachment member is attached to the watch body;
- a conductor;
- and
- an electrochromic layer disposed on the conductor, the electrochromic layer comprising a polymer layer disposed on the conductor, the polymer layer being a color determined by a voltage applied by the watch body to the conductor;
- and
- an electrolyte layer disposed on the polymer layer and comprising ions configured to react with the polymer layer when the voltage is applied to the conductor to reversibly change the color of the electrochromic layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.