“Back in June 2015, Patently Apple discovered an Apple patent filing covering a ‘Wearable Multi-Modal Physiological Sensing System,'” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple.
“Today, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office finally published Apple’s U.S. version of the patent filing with a few tweaks,” Purcher reports. “The patent generally covers advancing the Apple Watch Heart Rate Monitor so that it will compensate for motion like jogging that could naturally throw off a proper reading of a user’s heart rate as the watch continually moves on the user’s wrist.”
Purcher reports, “We’re able to see in Apple’s patent [illustrations] an electronic device (Apple Watch) having light sensors for determining a heart rate signal. A first light sensor may be co-located with a contacting light guide and a first light emitter. The contacting light guide may be configured so as to be in contact with tissue of a user…”
Read more, and see Apple’s patent application illustrations, in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We’ve had good, consistent results with our Apple Watch (Series 0) heart monitors (they accurately matched results from chest-worn straps) while running, but we’re glad to see Apple working to improve things even further.
SEE ALSO:
Apple files patent application for heart-monitoring wearable device – August 12, 2016
Apple Watch heart rate data vs. Mio dedicated heart rate monitor – May 7, 2015
Apple explains Heart Rate on Apple Watch technology – April 20, 2015
I hope they improve the heart monitor to include heart rate when working with weights. It’s a known problem, but I hope they find a solution without the need to integrate something like a chest strap.
Typically I am happy with the heart rate displayed on my original watch, especially when running. But when I use the “other” workout and I lift free weights, the HR displayed is whacky and inconsistent.
We rarely see Apple release half baked products because they know that when the do they have predators waiting to pound on them.