PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10175653-B1
Application Number: US-201615357469-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Watch glow light band

Abstract:
Watch bands with multiple light tubes, each light having a light fiber and at least one light-emitting diode for providing light to each light tube. The light-emitting diode may produce a wide color gamut for the light fiber to produce light in each light tube. Each light-emitting diode may produce a different color and light intensity different from the other light tubes in the watch band. The light tubes doubles as the structure for attaching a watch body to a user&#39;s wrist and as a carrier of light to add variety and style to the watch band. The watch band may have a variety of different attachment mechanisms for attaching and securing the watch body to the user&#39;s wrist.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A watch band comprising:
 a watch body connector configured to attach the watch band to a watch body, the watch body having a display with a touchscreen; 
 light tubes connected to the watch body connector; 
 a light fiber within each light tube that extends through an entirety of the light tube; and 
 a light-emitting diode within each light tube that is configured to emit light into an end of one of the light fibers. 
 
     
     
       2. The watch band of  claim 1 , further comprising a light-emitting diode disposed at each of the opposing ends of each light tube. 
     
     
       3. The watch band of  claim 1 , wherein each light tube contains multiple light-emitting diodes. 
     
     
       4. The watch band of  claim 1 , wherein each light tube is made of an extendable material, and wherein each light fiber is helically coiled within its light tube. 
     
     
       5. The watch band of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first watch band portion with multiple light tubes coupled to a first side of the watch body; 
 a second watch band portion with an equal number of light tubes coupled to an opposing side of the watch body; and 
 a watch band fastener configured to fasten first band portion to second band portion and to align the light tubes of the first band portion with the light tubes of the second band portion. 
 
     
     
       6. The watch band of  claim 1 , wherein each light tube is opaque with discrete areas that allow the passage of light from the light tube. 
     
     
       7. The watch band of  claim 1 , wherein each light tube has a different refractive index. 
     
     
       8. The watch band of  claim 1 , wherein each light tube is embedded within an outer covering, and wherein the outer covering defines openings that allow the passage of light from the light tubes to outside the outer covering. 
     
     
       9. The watch band of  claim 1 , wherein the watch band further comprises a processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive signals to turn on and turn off the light-emitting diodes and to change the colors and light intensity of the light-emitting diodes. 
     
     
       10. The watch band of  claim 9 , wherein the processor receives a signal to control the light-emitting diodes from a user-based application. 
     
     
       11. The watch band of  claim 9 , wherein the processor receives a signal from a camera to change the color of the light-emitting diodes based on a color of a captured image from the camera. 
     
     
       12. The watch band of  claim 11 , wherein the camera is included in the watch band. 
     
     
       13. The watch band of  claim 11 , wherein the camera is included in a separate device in communication with the processor. 
     
     
       14. The watch band of  claim 9 , wherein the processor receives a signal to change the color of each light-emitting diodes based on data from an external data source. 
     
     
       15. A watch, comprising:
 a watch body; 
 a watch band that produces light; 
 a processor; and 
 an image-capturing device; 
 wherein the processor controls a color of the light produced by the watch band based on a signal received from the image-capturing device, and wherein the signal is based on a color in an image captured by the image-capturing device. 
 
     
     
       16. The watch of  claim 15 , wherein the image-capturing device is separate from the watch body. 
     
     
       17. The watch of  claim 15 , wherein the image-capturing device transmits a signal to the processor to change the color of the light produced by the watch band based on an average color of a captured image. 
     
     
       18. The watch of  claim 15 , wherein the image-capturing device transmits a signal to the processor to change the color of the light produced by the watch band based on a color selected from a captured imaged. 
     
     
       19. The watch of  claim 15 , wherein the watch band comprises multiple light-tube assemblies, wherein each light-tube assembly comprises:
 multiple light tubes; 
 a light fiber within each light tube that extends through an entirety of the light tube; and 
 a light-emitting diode disposed at an end of each light tube, each light-emitting diode configured to emit light into the end of its light tube. 
 
     
     
       20. A watch band comprising:
 a watch body connector configured to attach the watch band to a watch body; 
 a light tube connected to the watch body connector; 
 within the light tube, multiple light-emitting elements; and 
 within the light tube, multiple light fibers, wherein each of the light fibers is positioned between an opposing pair of the light-emitting elements. 
 
     
     
       21. The watch band of  claim 20 , wherein at least some of the light-emitting elements are positioned to emit light along the light tube and toward the watch body connector. 
     
     
       22. The watch band of  claim 20 , wherein the opposing pair of the light-emitting elements are positioned to emit light along the light tube and toward each other.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/397,679, filed on Sep. 21, 2016, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to a wearable device. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to a watch band for a wristwatch or other wrist-mounted device (e.g., a smartwatch). 
     BACKGROUND 
     Recent advances in smartwatches have led to improvements in watch bands for smartwatches. Users may desire the ability to customize their watch bands to express variety and style. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure describes watch bands with multiple light-tube assemblies. The light-tube assemblies may include a light tube, a light fiber within each light tube that extends the length of the light tube, and at least one light-emitting diode (LED) for providing light in each light tube. The LED may produce a wide color gamut for the light fiber to produce light. Each LED may produce light characteristics different from the other LEDs in the watch band. Alternatively, all LEDs may produce the same light characteristics. The light tubes may double as both the structure for attaching a watch body to a user&#39;s wrist and a carrier of light to add variety and style to the watch band. Watch bands as described may have a variety of different attachment mechanisms for attaching and securing the watch body to the user&#39;s wrist. 
     Each light tube may have characteristics that may affect how the light from the LED and light fiber pass through the light tube. Examples of light tube characteristics may be light tube shape, light tube thicknesses, light tube translucency, or light tube material. The material of the light tube may provide different refractive indexes for bending or refracting light. The light tubes for the watch band may be uniform or each light tube may have characteristics different from the other light tubes in the watch band. 
     Some embodiments of the watch band may include a processor that controls the light characteristics produced by each LED in the watch band. Light characteristics may include color, intensity, or duration of light produced by each LED in the watch band. These lighting characteristics may be generated by a predetermined color generator, a user-controlled application, or by signals received by the processor from an external data source. Thus, the light produced by the light-tube assemblies may be customizable by a user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a wearable device including a watch band. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of a wearable device with light-emitting diodes located at each end of a watch band. 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of a wearable device with multiple light-emitting diodes located through a watch band. 
         FIG. 4  shows a top view of a watch band of a wearable device with a helically coiled light fiber in an unextended state. 
         FIG. 5  shows a top view of a watch band of a wearable device with a helically coiled light fiber in a fully extended state. 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a wearable device including with a watch band and clasp. 
         FIG. 7  shows a detail view of watch band of  FIG. 6  in an opened position. 
         FIG. 8  shows a side view of wearable device with a watch band fastener. 
         FIG. 9  shows a diagram of electrical components of a watch band. 
         FIG. 10  shows a separate device capturing an image to select a color of the watch band. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims. 
     The following disclosure relates to watch bands with multiple light-tube assemblies to provide light to a watch band. The light-tube assemblies may give a glowing ambience to the watch band. The light-tube assemblies may be both (1) the structure for attaching a watch body of a watch to a user&#39;s wrist and (2) an emitter of colored light for the watch band to add variety and style to the watch band. Each light-tube assembly may include a light tube, a light fiber within the light tube that extends the entire length of the light tube, and at least one light-emitting diode (LED) that provides light for the light fiber. The light produced in each light-tube assembly may be independent of the light produced in any of the other light-tube assemblies of the watch band. Watch bands as described may be secured to a user&#39;s wrist in a variety of different manners and by a variety of different attaching mechanisms. 
     The light produced by the light-tube assemblies are impacted by the light characteristics of the LEDs (e.g., color, light intensity, duration, etc.), the type of light fiber used in the light-tube assemblies, and the physical characteristics of the light tube (e.g., light tube shape, light tube thicknesses, light tube transparency, or light tube material) in the light-tube assemblies. The light characteristics of the LEDs may be customizable by the user during use; however, the characteristics of the light fiber and light tube are dependent on the light fiber and light tube for each light-tube assembly. 
     In some embodiments, the wearable device may have a processor that controls the colors in each light-tube assembly. The processor may assign the colors for each light-tube assembly based on a user-controlled application or on data received from another data source. For instance, the user may use a separate device with image-capturing capabilities to capture an image of a desired color and send a signal to the processor to change the color of the light-tube assemblies based on the color in the captured image. Alternatively, the color of the light-tube assemblies may be based on data from an external data source (e.g., data based on the user&#39;s heart rate, current weather, or stock prices). For example, the processor may change light characteristics of the light-tube assemblies to preset colors based on the data. 
     These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to the figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. Also, any feature described with respect to an individual embodiment may be applied to the other described embodiments to the extent it is not inconsistent or otherwise conflicting with the features of the other embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a wearable device  100  with a watch band  110  having multiple light-tube assemblies  104 . Each light-tube assembly  104  may have a light tube  120 , a light fiber  130  and at least one light-emitting diode (LED)  140 . Each light tube  120  may extend from a first end  122  to a second end  124 . Light fiber  130  (e.g., fiber-optic filament) may extend within light tube  120  from first end  122  to second end  124 . Alternatively, each light tube  120  may have multiple light fibers  130  that extend from first end  122  to second end  124 . Light fiber  130  may be a solid-core side-glow light fiber, solid-core end-glow light fiber, or any other suitable optical fiber. Light fiber  130  may be etched or have other surface treatment that affects the passage of light through its sides. For example, light fiber  130  may have a greater degree of surface treatment as a distance from LED  140  increases, to promote even light transmission along light fiber  130 . Further, LEDs  140  may be positioned within each light tube  120  (e.g., at first end  122  or second end  124 ). LEDs  140  may be located within watch body connectors  150  or may be located outside of watch body connectors  150 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, LEDs  140  may be located within watch body  102 . LEDs may be powered by a battery of wearable device  100 . LEDs  140  may be a RGB LEDs to produce a wide color gamut. 
     Light tubes  120  may extend into watch body connectors  150 . Watch body connectors  150  may be components of watch band  110  that attach watch band  110  to watch body  102  of wearable device  100 . Each watch body connector  150  may also enable an electrical connection to be established between watch body  102  and watch band  110  to allow data and/or power transfer between watch band  110  and watch body  102 . Alternatively, light tubes  120  may be connected directly to watch body  102  rather than to watch body connectors  150 .  FIG. 1  illustrates two watch body connectors  150 , with a watch band connector  150  on opposing ends of watch body  102  to attach watch band  110  to watch body  102 . 
     Each LED  140  of watch band  110  may produce the same color so that watch band  110  has a uniform look. Alternatively, each LED  140  for each light tube  120  may produce colors independent of the light produced in the other light tubes  120  in watch band  110 . This may enable watch band  110  to have multiple light tubes  120  each with a different color to add variety to watch band  110 &#39;s appearance. 
     Light tubes  120  may be translucent to allow the passage of light from light fiber  130  to outside light tubes  120 .  FIG. 1  illustrates light tubes  120  as translucent merely to illustrate light fibers  130  and LEDs  140  within light tubes  120 . For clarity, light tubes  120  are described as translucent in the specification but are otherwise not illustrated as translucent in the figures. 
     Alternatively, light tubes  120  may be opaque and light tubes  120  may define several openings  160  in opaque light tubes  120  to allow passage of light from light fiber  130  to outside opaque light tube  120 . Openings  160  are shown in broken lines in  FIG. 1 . Openings  160  may be positioned in an arrangement that produces certain shapes or patterns. Alternatively, openings  160  may be positioned in an arrangement that optimizes light passage through opaque light tube  120  or otherwise allows consistent light passage through the opaque light tube  120 . In some embodiments, instead of being physical openings, the openings are translucent areas of otherwise-opaque light tubes  120 . Openings  160  may take any shape, for example ovals (as shown), lines, letters, glyphs, other symbols, etc. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates watch band  110  with four light tubes  120 . However, the present disclosure is not so limited, and the number of light tubes  120  may be more or fewer than four light tubes  120 .  FIG. 1  also illustrates light tubes  120  with a circular cross section, however, the cross section of light tubes  120  may alternatively be oval, triangular, trapezoidal, etc. The size of each light tube  120  may also be different than shown. For example, each light tube  120  may be the same size, or alternatively, each light tube  120  may have a different size from other light tubes  120 . Light tubes  120  may also have different thicknesses. Light tubes  120  may be fabricated from a variety of different materials, such as, for example, elastomers (e.g., thermoplastic elastomers (TPE)), plastics, rubber, or any other suitable material. The materials may have different refractive indexes which may bend the light from light fibers  130  at different angles. Light tubes  120  of watch band  110  may all be the same, thus giving watch band  110  a uniform look. Alternatively, each light tube  120  of watch band  110  may be different based on the above-described characteristics of light tubes  120 . 
     In another embodiment, light tubes  120  may be encompassed within an outer covering of watch band  110 . For example, light tubes  120  may be molded within a material, such as, for example, elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), plastics, rubber, or any other suitable material. By encompassing light tubes  120  within the material, watch band  110  may have a more traditional appearance. The material of watch band  110  may be translucent or opaque, thus the passage of light through the material may vary. If the material is opaque, the material may define openings (e.g., similar to openings  160 ) to allow the passage of light from LEDs  140  and light fibers  130  to outside of the opaque material of watch band  110 . The openings may be positioned in a way that allows consistent light passage through the opaque material or otherwise optimizes light passage through the opaque material. The openings may also be arranged to produce certain shapes or patterns, and may take any shape, as described above. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate side views of exemplary embodiments of wearable device  100  and watch band  110  with multiple LEDs  140  within each light tube  120 . In  FIG. 2  LEDs  140  are located at opposing ends  122  and  124  of each light band  120 . In  FIG. 3  LEDs  140  are spaced throughout light tube  120 . In both  FIGS. 2 and 3 , pairs of opposing LEDs are connected by and provide light to light fibers  130 . LEDs spaced apart from watch body  102  or watch body connector  150  may be powered by wire traces within light tubes  120  that are connected to a battery of wearable device  100  (e.g., within watch body  102  or watch body connector  150 ). 
     Opposing LEDs  140  within each light tube  120  may increase the amount of light that travels through light fiber  130  and may provide a more even and consistent light output along light fiber  130 . This can increase the amount and evenness of light that passes outside of light tube  120 , presenting a brighter, more consistent color for watch band  110 . 
     Watch band  110  may attach to opposing sides of watch body  102  and watch band  110  may wrap around a user&#39;s wrist to secure wearable device  100  to the user&#39;s wrist. According to an embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , light tubes  120  may be fabricated from a flexible material that allows the stretching of light tubes  120 , and allows light tubes  120  to revert back to their original shape without permanent deformation. Accordingly, the user would be able to slip their wrist through stretched light tubes  120  of watch band  110  and then have light tubes  120  revert back to their original shape. The original shape of light tubes  120  may allow the circumference of wearable device  100  to be substantially the same as the circumference of the user&#39;s wrist, thus enabling wearable device  100  to be secured to the user&#39;s wrist without any permanent deformation of light tubes  120 . Light tubes may be fabricated from a variety of materials, such as, for example, elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), plastics, rubber, or any other suitable material. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , light fibers  400  may be helically coiled or otherwise non-straight when light tubes  120  are not stretched. The user may apply a force along a first direction A 1 , as illustrated by the arrow, to an extended position in  FIG. 5 , stretching watch band  110  to extend their hand through it. When the force is no longer applied, flexible light tubes  120  revert back to their original unextended shape as illustrated in  FIG. 4  (or to an intermediate position between  FIGS. 4 and 5  depending on the size of the user&#39;s wrist). The helical coil of light fiber  400  enables light fiber  400  to extend and retract based on the stretching of light tube  120 .  FIG. 5  illustrates flexible light tube  120  and helically coiled light fibers  400  in an extended or stretch position. The use of helically coiled light fiber  400  helps maintain the integrity of light fiber  400  while the user stretches light tubes  120  to don and doff wearable device  100 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary embodiment for attaching a wearable device  600  to a user&#39;s wrist using a watch band  610 . Watch band  610  may have a first band portion  612  and a second band portion  614 . Watch band  610  may be similar to watch band  110 , and may include multiple light tubes  620  with a light fiber  630  within each light tube  620 . At least one LED  640  may be located within each light tube  620 .  FIG. 6  illustrates LEDs  640  located at opposing ends within each light tube  620  of first band portion  612  and second band portion  614 . Watch band  610  may include a hidden deployment clasp  650  that is out of view when watch band  610  is attached to the user&#39;s wrist. Hidden deployment clasp  650  may enable light tubes  620  of first band portion  612  and second band portion  614  to be aligned to each other when clasp  650  is secured. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a detailed view of hidden deployment clasp  650  when clasp  650  is opened. When clasp  650  is opened, the user may insert their wrist into watch band  610 , and then close clasp  650  to secure wearable device  600  to the user&#39;s wrist and align light tubes  620  of first band portion  612  with corresponding light tubes  620  of second band portion  614  located across clasp  650 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another exemplary embodiment for attaching watch band  110  to the user&#39;s wrist. Watch band  110  may include a fastener  800  located near either first end  122  or second end  124  of watch band  110 . Fastener  800  may include a slot  810  for receiving one end of light tubes  120 . The user may be able to adjust the fit of watch band  110  by sliding light tubes  120  to an appropriate spot in slot  810 . Light tubes  120  may be secured within slot  810  in a variety of manners, for example, friction-fit, a buckle, a latch, a snap, a hook-and-loop fastener, magnetic attraction, or other mechanical interlock or attachment mechanism. The user may also be able to completely remove light tubes  120  from slot  810  of fastener  800 , thus making it easier for the user to don and doff wearable device  100 . 
     Watch band  110  may have a variety of other different attachment mechanisms for securing wearable device to the user&#39;s wrist without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, as described above, light-tube assemblies  104  may act as the structure for attaching wearable device  100  to the user&#39;s wrist as well as act as a carrier of light. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a flowchart of the electronic components of watch band  110 . Watch band  110  may include a power source  900 , a processor  910 , and a transmitter/receiver  920 . Watch band  110  may further include a variety of different sensors  930 , such as, for example, light sensors, sound sensors, motion sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc.), heath sensors, biometric sensors and the like. Sensors  930  may be located on watch band  110  itself or sensors  930  may be located on a separate device that is in communication with transmitter/receiver  920  and processor  910 . Watch band  110  may further include a camera  940  that may be located on watch band  110  itself or may be located on a separate device that is in communication with transmitter/receiver  920  and processor  910 . Processor  910  may also be in communication with an external data source  950  that may transmit data to processor  910  by way of transmitter/receiver  920 . These electronic components may be housed within watch body connector  150  of watch band  110 . Alternatively, watch band  110  may be electrically connected to watch body  102  of wearable device  100  to enable data and/or power transfer between watch body  102  and watch band  110 . If watch body  102  and watch band  110  are electrically connected, power source  900 , processor  910 , transmitter/receiver  920 , sensors  930  and camera  940  may be housed in watch body  102 . 
     Processor  910  is configured to change the light characteristics of each LED  140  in watch band  110 ,  610 . Light characteristics include light color, light intensity, light state (on or off), and light duration. Light characteristics also include light pattern, which can be changes over time of any of light color, light intensity, light state, and light duration. Each LED  140 ,  640  may produce light characteristics independent of the other LEDs  140 ,  640 . In other words, watch band  110 ,  610  may produce a common light characteristics for all of its LEDs  140 ,  640  or watch band  110 ,  610  may produce different light characteristics for each LED  140 ,  640  at the same time. Further, the light produced by watch band  110  may be dynamic. In other words, the light characteristics of watch band  110 ,  610  may constantly be changing. Processor  910  may receive signals from a variety of different sources to change the light characteristics produced by each LED  140 ,  640 . 
     For example, processor  910  may control LEDs  140  so that watch band  110  may be used like a flashlight, which may be beneficial at night. The user may be able to activate light-tube assemblies  104  to provide light at night so that the user may move around in the dark by the light of watch band  110  without having to turn on lights in the house or turn on a flashlight. The light output in this case may be a white or blue-tinted light, and may be dimmable so that the user can set an appropriate intensity (i.e., brightness) for their circumstance. Light-tube assemblies  104  may be activated by, for example, giving a verbal command, pressing a button on watch body  102  (e.g., on a display of watch body, which may include a graphical user input on a touchscreen of the display), or by receiving a signal based on sensed motion of the wearer (e.g., by a sensor such as an accelerometer or gyroscope). For example, light-tube assemblies  104  may be activated upon wearable device  100  sensing motion (or a magnitude of change in motion) above a threshold level, which may be used to determine that the user has woken up or gotten out of bed. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a separate device  1000  that sends a signal to processor  910  to change the light produced by LEDs  140 . Separate device  1000  may be an image-capturing device that has a camera  940  and a camera lens, for example, a smartphone, tablet, laptop, personal computer, digital camera, and the like. The user may use separate device  1000  to capture an image  1010  of any nearby color  1020  using camera  940 . Image  1010  captured by camera  940  may be displayed on a display  1002  of separate device  1000 . Display  1002  may display the field of view of camera  940  and enable the user to adjust the field of view of camera  940  to capture or otherwise select the desired color. Once image  1010  is captured by camera  940  of separate device  1000 , the user may transmit a signal  1030  indicating a color in the captured image  1010  (e.g., an average color in the image) to processor  910  in watch band  110 . For example, the user may select a desired color by tapping on the desired color within the captured image  1010  on display  1002 . Separate device  1000  may then transmit signal  1030  to processor  910  indicating the selected color within image  1010 . Further, the user may select multiple colors from the captured image  1010  and each selected color may be used for different light tubes  120  in the watch band  110 . When processor  910  receives signal  1030  from separate device  1000 , processor  910  may change the color of LEDs  140 ,  640  based on the signal received by processor  910 . Processor  910  may also rotate through multiple colors and sequentially change the color of LEDs  140 ,  640  based on the selection sequence of multiple colors. 
     Separate device  1000  may also be a watch body (e.g., watch body  102 ) that is attached to watch band  110 ,  610 , together forming a smartwatch. The smartwatch may have a camera  940  (e.g., in watch body  102  or in watch band  110  itself). The user may use camera  940  to capture image  1010  to select a color for LEDs  140  of watch band  110 . Alternatively, camera  940  may be used to constantly capture the average color in the surrounding area and at the same time be constantly changing the overall color of watch band  110  based on the average color constantly captured by camera  940  on either watch body  102  or watch band  110 . 
     Separate device  1000  may have an application that may enable the user to capture color images with camera  940  of separate device  1000  to set the light characteristics of each LED  140  in watch band  110 . The user may use the same color for each LED  140 ,  640 , or the user may select different colors for each LED  140 ,  640  to customize watch band  110 ,  610 . Accordingly, the user may customize the color of watch band  110 ,  610  based on the color that is captured by camera  940  on separate device  1000 . For example, the user may use separate device  1000  to capture image  1010  of a user&#39;s outfit (e.g., shirt, skirt, pants, etc.) to coordinate the color of watch band  110  with the user&#39;s outfit. 
     Separate device  1000  may communicate with processor  910  of watch band  110 ,  610  by a number of different ways. For example, separate device  1000  may communicate with processor  910  by wireless network, Bluetooth®, Zigbee®, cellular network, LAN, WAN, or any other suitable transmission communication. 
     The colors of LEDs  140  of watch band  110 ,  610  may also be selected and changed in a variety of other manners as well. The user may manually select the colors for each LED  140 ,  640  using a color wheel or other interface displayed on separate device  1000 , which may then send a signal to processor  910  to change the light characteristics of each LED  140 ,  640  based on the selected color(s). Alternatively, processor  910  may select the light characteristics of each LED  140 ,  640  randomly (e.g., based on output of a random color generator of separate device  1000 ). 
     In some embodiments, the light characteristics of LEDs  140 ,  640  may be a function of external data source  950 . For example, processor  910  may receive a signal based on the current weather conditions that are either collected via sensor  930  located on watch band  110  or separate device  1000  or received using a weather application (e.g., via separate device  1000 ). Sensors  930  or the weather application may send a signal to processor  910  indicating colors based on the weather, for example, yellow for sunny, blue for rainy, white for cloudy, etc. 
     In another example, external data source  950  may include time data that provides the time of day to processor  910  so that processor  910  may change light characteristics of LEDs  140 ,  640  based on the time. For example, the user may select certain colors for different times of the day and LED  140 ,  640  may automatically adjust the color of LEDs  140 ,  640  based on the current time. 
     In another example, external data source  950  may include data about the user recorded by sensors  930  on watch band  110  or separate device  1000 . For example, watch band  110 ,  610  or separate device  1000  may include physical sensors that track a user&#39;s physical characteristics throughout the day (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, blood-glucose, steps taken, etc.). The light characteristics of each LED  140 ,  640  may vary depending on the data sensed by sensors  930 . For example, the user may set certain colors to be displayed depending on whether the user&#39;s heart rate is within a certain range. Or the colors and intensities of each LED  140 ,  640  may change as the user progresses toward a goal (e.g., progressing from red to yellow to green as the user walks 0; 5,000; and 10,000 steps for the day.) Or the colors may represent current physical characteristics of the user so that their condition can be easily visually assessed by looking at the color of their watch band. For example, if any of a user&#39;s physical characteristics passes a threshold, the color of their watch band may change. Green may mean all physical characteristics are within normal ranges, yellow might mean that one or more physical characteristics have deviated from normal by a non-critical amount, and red might mean that one or more physical characteristics have deviated from normal by a critical amount. 
     In another example, external data source  950  may be current stock prices. A signal may be sent to processor  910  based on stock price information obtained from external data source  950 . For example, separate device  1000  may be connected to a stock price application or separate device  1000  may gather stock information from a network for stock prices for specific stocks, specific stock indexes, or even the user&#39;s own investments. A signal may be sent to processor  910  to change the color of LEDs  140  to a predetermined color selected by the user based on stock performance or to default colors loaded on processor  910 . 
     In another example, external data source  950  may be based on notifications received by separate device  1000 . For example, when a text message is received on separate device  1000 , a phone call is received or missed on separate device  1000 , a notification from an application on separate device  1000  is received, (e.g., news reports, sport scores, etc.), a signal may be sent to processor  910  to change the light characteristics of LEDs  140  to a color and/or pattern (e.g., blinking) previously selected by the user or default color that is preset in processor  910 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. These exemplary embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. All specific details described are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. 
     It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings, and that by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, one may readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. 
     The Detailed Description section is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not ally exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventors, and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the claims. 
     The phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan. 
     The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined in accordance with the claims and their equivalents.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20161121
Publication Date: 20190108
Grant Date: 20190108
Priority Date: 20160921
Inventors: BLOOM, DAVID H.
HE, Miao
MCCLAIN, MEGAN A.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H05B47/125", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B45/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04B45/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0006", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A44C5/0053", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0006", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A44C15/0015", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B45/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B47/175", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04G17/08", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A44C5/24", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A44C15/0015", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A44C5/0053", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B37/0245", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04B45/0015", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B33/0863", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0006", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A44C15/0015", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A44C5/24", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B33/0872", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04B45/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B47/196", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04B45/0015", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A44C5/0007", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B47/125", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02B20/40", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A44C5/0007", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 64815655