You read right. Apple was just awarded a patent for a “seamlessly embedded heart rate monitor.” Thankfully, the filing doesn’t relate to the firm wanting to surgically implant customers with heart rate monitors, (at least, not yet).
The company is, however, seemingly exploring ways in which it can include an integrated sensor into its electronic devices, for “detecting a user’s cardiac activity and cardiac electrical signals.”
From the patent:
The electronic device can include a heart sensor having several leads for detecting a user’s cardiac signals. The leads can be coupled to interior surfaces of the electronic device housing to hide the sensor from view, such that electrical signals generated by the user can be transmitted from the user’s skin through the electronic device housing to the leads. In some embodiments, the leads can be coupled to pads placed on the exterior of the housing.
If we had to guess, we would say that Apple may just be looking for the security of this type of technology being “patented,” for fear of potential rivals surfacing when it finally announces its first wearable product, complete with heart-rate monitor capabilities. Okay, that’s just us; but it would make a lot of sense, right?
“The pads and housing can be finished to ensure that the pads are not visibly or haptically distinguishable on the device, thus improving the aesthetic qualities of the device. Using the detected signals, the electronic device can identify or authenticate the user and perform an operation based on the identity of the user,” the filing continues, as the company describes the possible methods in which it could implement such technology into its existing (or future) mobile devices.
In some embodiments, Apple explains, the electronic device would be able to “determine the user’s mood from the cardiac signals,” and at the same time, “provide data related to [this detected] mood.”
Right now, it’s just a patent. But, it’s certainly one to watch.
You are reading Patent Watch: The Apple Heart Rate Monitor which was originally published to RazorianFly by @ArronHirst. You can subscribe to our many available feeds in order to receive daily updates whenever we publish new content, or you can follow us on Twitter at @razorianfly.