# US 2018/0322262 A1 · Wearable devices and associated security apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0322262 A1 - Document ID: US20180322262A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/584,772 - Filed: 2017-05-02 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-02 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Applicants: Intel Corporation - Inventors: William A. Rafferty; Diarmaid O'Cualain; Mike J. Hibbett; Jelle Sels; Maurice Lynch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180322262A1 ## CPC - G06F 21/31: User authentication - G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt} - G06F 1/1684: {Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675} - G06F 1/3231: Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users - G06F 21/35: communicating wirelessly - G06F 21/88: Detecting or preventing theft or loss - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Wearable devices and associated security apparatus are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a strap including a first conductor and a second conductor, when the strap is open, the first and second conductors are a first distance apart, when the strap is closed, the first and second conductors are a second distance apart, the first distance is greater than the second distance; and a device access enabler, to: provide a reference signal to the first conductor; and monitor a response to the reference signal to determine if the strap is open or closed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a strap including a first conductor and a second conductor, when the strap is open, the first and second conductors are a first distance apart, when the strap is closed, the first and second conductors are a second distance apart, the first distance is greater than the second distance; and a device access enabler, to: provide a reference signal to the first conductor; and monitor a response to the reference signal to determine if the strap is open or closed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reference signal is a square wave. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device access enabler is to determine that the strap is closed based on the response being associated with a resistive/capacitive response. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the resistive/capacitive response is associated with the response satisfying a reference value after a threshold amount of time has lapsed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device access enabler is to determine that the strap is open based on the response being associated with a non-resistive/capacitive response. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the non-resistive/capacitive response is associated with the response satisfying a reference value before a threshold amount of time has lapsed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a wearable device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in response to the device access enabler determining that the strap is open, the device access enabler to request access information prior to enabling access to the wearable device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in response to the device access enabler determining that the strap is closed, the device access enabler to enable access to the wearable device if access information has been provided during a wearing period of the wearable device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device access enabler is to monitor the response to the reference signal using a comparator and a timer, the comparator is to compare the response to a reference value to determine when the response satisfies the reference value and the timer is to determine an amount of time taken for the response to satisfy the reference value, the device access enabler to identify the strap as being closed based on the amount of time being equal to or greater than a threshold amount of time, the device access enabler to identify the strap as being open based on the amount of time being less than the threshold amount of time. ### Claim 11 An apparatus, comprising: an input/output device to provide a reference signal to an end of a wearable device, the input/output device to receive a response based on the reference signal provided; a comparator to determine when the response satisfies a reference value; and a determiner to determine a status of the wearable device based on when the response satisfies the reference value. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the status of wearable device is associated with a strap of the wearable device being open, closed, closed and locked, or closed and unlocked. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the determiner includes a capacitor presence determiner, when the status of the wearable device is associated with the strap of the wearable device being closed, the capacitor presence determiner to identify a presence of a capacitor at the end of the wearable device based on the response, when the status of the wearable device is associated with the strap of the wearable device being open, the capacitor presence determiner to identify an absence of the capacitor at the end of the wearable device based on the response. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein when the determiner determines that the status of the wearable device is associated with the strap of the wearable device being open, a security accessor to request access information prior to enabling access to the wearable device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein when the determiner determines that the status of wearable device is associated with the strap of the wearable device being closed, a security accessor to enable access to the wearable device if access information has been provided within a wearing period of the wearable device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the wearing period includes when the wearable device is turned on and is being worn. ### Claim 17 A method, comprising: providing a reference signal to an end of a wearable device; receiving a response based on the reference signal provided; determining when the response satisfies a reference value; and determining, by executing an instruction with at least one processor, a status of the wearable device based on when the response satisfies the reference value, wherein the status of wearable device is associated with a strap of the wearable device being open or closed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein when the status of the wearable device is associated with the strap of the wearable device being closed, identifying a presence of a capacitor at the end of the wearable device based on the response. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein when the status of the wearable device is associated with the strap of the wearable device being open, the capacitor presence determiner to identify an absence of the capacitor at the end of the wearable device based on the response. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein when the status of wearable device is associated with the strap of the wearable device being open, requesting access information prior to enabling access to the wearable device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein when the status of wearable device is associated with the strap of the wearable device being closed, enabling access to the wearable device if access information has been provided within a wearing period of the wearable device. ### Claim 22 A tangible computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to, at least: provide a reference signal to an end of a wearable device; receive a response based on the reference signal provided; determine when the response satisfies a reference value; and determine a status of the wearable device based on when the response satisfies the reference value, wherein the status of wearable device is associated with a strap of the wearable device being open or closed. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to request access information prior to enabling access to the wearable device when the status of wearable device is associated with the strap of the wearable device being open. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to enable access to the wearable device if access information has been provided within a wearing period of the wearable device when the status of wearable device is associated with the strap of the wearable device being closed.