Your wrist might be telling you more than just the time.
It tracks your heart rate. Logging your sleep. Nudging you to breathe. Some watches can even call emergency services or detect atrial fibrillation before you know something’s wrong.
But here’s the twist: most people have no idea how we got here. They think Apple invented the smartwatch. Or maybe Fitbit. But the road to the modern wrist computer is way messier than that.
Behind every flick of the wrist is a web of inventions, lawsuits, and forgotten pioneers. From calculator watches in the ’80s to blood oxygen sensors today, the real story of smartwatches spans decades of innovation. It is layered with pioneering patents, health tech breakthroughs, and a few high-stakes courtroom showdowns that shaped today’s wearables market. In this article, we’ll unpack:
- Who really built the first “smart” watch (and why it’s not who you think).
- The core patents that power today’s health-tracking tech.
- The legal fights that tried to stop innovation on the wrist.
- And how you can explore these hidden patents using Global Patent Search.
Let’s rewind the clock.
The Origins of the Smartwatch: From Geeky Gadget to Health-Tracking Powerhouse
Most people think the smartwatch was invented in Silicon Valley sometime after the iPhone. The truth? It started as a calculator on your wrist and slowly evolved into one of the most sophisticated consumer technologies of our time. Let’s rewind.
The First Digital Watches: Setting the Foundation (1970s–1990s)
In 1972, Hamilton Watch Company and Electro/Data Inc. launched the Pulsar Time Computer, the world’s first digital wristwatch. It had no smart features, but it kickstarted a new era of electronic wearables.
By the 1980s, Seiko and Casio were pushing the boundaries. Seiko’s Data 2000 and RC Series could store text, sync with PCs, and even run rudimentary apps. Casio followed with its iconic calculator and databank watches, a massive hit with students and tech enthusiasts.
In 2000, IBM’s WatchPad, developed with Citizen, introduced a touchscreen, accelerometer, and fingerprint sensor running Linux. It was ahead of its time, and it quietly laid the groundwork for the modern smartwatch OS.
These early devices were clunky and niche, but they proved a bold idea: a watch could be more than a timepiece.
The Turning Point: From Notifications to Health (2000s–2015)
In the early 2000s, watches started getting connected. Microsoft SPOT (2004) delivered real-time data via FM signals. Sony Ericsson’s MBW-100 (2006) used Bluetooth to sync with phones. Both were early attempts at wrist-based utility but failed to take off.
Then came the fitness tracking wave.
Fitbit (founded in 2007, launched in 2009) didn’t look like a watch, but it changed everything. It turned step tracking and calorie counting into a lifestyle. Nike+ FuelBand and Jawbone UP followed, making wearable data cool.
In 2013, Pebble exploded on Kickstarter, raising $10 million. It introduced custom watch faces, notifications, and an open app ecosystem, all on an e-paper screen with multi-day battery life. It wasn’t perfect, but it proved the demand was real.
Samsung joined the race the same year with the Galaxy Gear, and while early models were clunky, they signaled that big tech was ready to bet on your wrist.
The Smartwatch as We Know It: Apple, Google, and the Fight for the Wrist (2015–2025)
When the Apple Watch launched in 2015, it didn’t invent the smartwatch. But it defined it.
Apple focused on three pillars: fitness, notifications, and design. Each new model added more health features, like an ECG app (Series 4), fall detection (Series 4), blood oxygen monitoring (Series 6), and even temperature sensors (Series 8).
This wasn’t just a gadget. It was a personal health companion.
Meanwhile, Google was building Wear OS, an Android-based platform used by Fossil, LG, and Motorola. After years of fragmented hardware, Google made a decisive move in 2019: it acquired Fitbit, and in 2022, it launched the Pixel Watch, a blend of Fitbit’s health tracking and Google’s ecosystem.
Samsung pivoted, too, ditching Tizen in favor of Wear OS, making Android smartwatches more unified.
Today, smartwatches are:
- Detecting irregular heart rhythms and sleep apnea.
- Tracking ovulation and skin temperature.
- Calling emergency services automatically after falls or crashes.
They’re not just extensions of your phone. They’re medical-grade sensors, and that shift has brought serious IP attention.
In fact, the Apple Watch faced a US import ban in 2023 after Masimo accused it of infringing on its blood oxygen monitoring patents. The case escalated quickly from the ITC to federal court, and Apple temporarily stopped selling the latest models in the U.S. The ban was later paused, but the message was clear: the wrist is now prime IP real estate.
The Battle for Your Biometrics: Why Smartwatch Sensors Are a Patent Goldmine
Smartwatches have transformed from simple timepieces to sophisticated health monitoring devices that track metrics like heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and even electrocardiograms (ECG). This evolution has not only revolutionized personal health tracking but has also ignited intense patent battles among tech and medical device companies. Each is vying for dominance in the lucrative biosensor market.
The Rise of Biosensor Patents in Wearable Technology
The integration of biosensors into wearable devices has been a game-changer. Companies have invested heavily in developing sensors that can non-invasively monitor various health parameters. For instance, photoplethysmography (PPG) is widely used to measure heart rate by detecting blood volume changes in the microvascular bed of tissue. Advancements have extended to measuring blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂), ECG, and electrodermal activity (EDA), providing users with a comprehensive health overview.
Did you know – The convergence of metabolic health and wearables is also starting to show up in litigation, as seen in Novo Nordisk’s US12029779B2, a patent focused on weight loss innovations that raises broader questions about biosensor IP across healthcare and consumer tech.
Pioneers and Their Patented Innovations
Several companies have been at the forefront of integrating health sensors into smartwatches:
- Apple Inc.: Introduced ECG capabilities in the Apple Watch Series 4 and blood oxygen monitoring in subsequent models. These features have been central to Apple’s health-focused marketing strategy.
- Fitbit: Launched the Fitbit Sense in 2020, featuring an EDA sensor for stress management, along with ECG and SpO₂ monitoring.
- Masimo Corporation: A medical technology company specializing in non-invasive monitoring technologies, holding patents for pulse oximetry sensors.
Legal Disputes Over Sensor Technologies
The race to dominate the biosensor market has led to significant legal confrontations:
- Masimo vs. Apple: Masimo accused Apple of infringing on its pulse oximetry patents, leading to a U.S. International Trade Commission ruling in 2023 that resulted in a temporary ban on certain Apple Watch models. Apple responded by disabling the blood oxygen feature in affected devices sold in the U.S.
- AliveCor vs. Apple: AliveCor alleged that Apple’s ECG technology infringed on its patents and filed an antitrust lawsuit. However, a U.S. federal appeals court dismissed the case in early 2024.
The Intersection of Innovation and Intellectual Property
These legal battles underscore the intricate relationship between innovation and intellectual property in the wearable tech industry. Companies strive to offer cutting-edge health monitoring features while navigating a complex web of existing patents. This environment fosters both rapid technological advancement and contentious disputes over intellectual property rights.
The Patents That Made It Possible
Significant technological innovations have underpinned the evolution of smartwatches into sophisticated health-monitoring devices. Many of them are protected by patents. These patents not only highlight the ingenuity behind wearable technology but have also been central to notable legal disputes in the industry. Below is a selection of key patents that have shaped smartwatch development:
| Patent Number | Assignee | Filed Year | What It Covers | Why It Matters |
| US8768424B2 | University of Nottingham | 2007 | A photoplethysmography (PPG) device using modulated light to measure blood volume changes. | Forms the basis for non-invasive heart rate monitoring in wearable devices. |
| US8945017B2 | Fitbit Inc. | 2011 | A wearable heart rate monitor combining a heartbeat waveform sensor and motion detecting sensor. | Enables accurate heart rate tracking during physical activities. |
| US8948832B2 | Fitbit Inc. | 2013 | A wearable fitness device with a motion sensor and PPG sensor for heart rate monitoring. | Integrates motion data to improve heart rate measurement accuracy. |
| US20200229761A1 | Apple Inc. | 2018 | A wearable electronic device with electrodes for sensing biological signals. | Facilitates ECG measurements in smartwatches. |
These patents exemplify the critical innovations that have propelled smartwatches from simple timepieces to comprehensive health monitoring tools. They also underscore the competitive landscape of wearable technology, where companies strive to protect their advancements through intellectual property rights.
The IP Wars You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
The evolution of smartwatches into sophisticated health-monitoring devices has revolutionized personal wellness. It has also ignited significant legal battles over intellectual property (IP). Major players in the tech and medical device industries have clashed over patents, leading to high-profile disputes that have shaped the current landscape of wearable technology.
Apple vs. Masimo: The Pulse Oximetry Patent Dispute
In 2020, medical technology company Masimo accused Apple of infringing on its pulse oximetry patents, alleging that Apple integrated Masimo’s light-based sensor technology into the Apple Watch without permission. Masimo claimed that Apple had hired key employees and misappropriated trade secrets to develop the blood oxygen monitoring feature introduced in the Apple Watch Series 6. This led to a ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in October 2023, which found that Apple had violated Masimo’s patents. As a result, an import ban was imposed on certain Apple Watch models that contained infringing technology. In response, Apple disabled the blood-oxygen monitoring feature in affected devices sold in the U.S.
AliveCor vs. Apple: ECG Technology and Antitrust Allegations
AliveCor, a company specializing in personal electrocardiogram (ECG) technology, filed lawsuits against Apple, alleging that the tech giant infringed on its patents related to heart rate analysis and ECG functionality. AliveCor claimed that Apple had incorporated these patented technologies into the Apple Watch, effectively monopolizing the heart rate monitoring app market. However, in February 2024, a U.S. federal judge dismissed AliveCor’s antitrust lawsuit, a decision that AliveCor plans to appeal.
Fitbit vs. Jawbone: Allegations of Trade Secret Misappropriation
The rivalry between wearable tech companies Fitbit and Jawbone escalated into legal disputes over the alleged theft of trade secrets. Jawbone accused Fitbit of poaching employees who allegedly took confidential information with them. In 2016, a U.S. International Trade Commission judge ruled in favor of Fitbit, stating that no misappropriation of trade secrets had occurred.
These legal confrontations underscore the fiercely competitive nature of the smartwatch industry, where companies vigorously protect their innovations and market positions through complex IP litigation.
How Global Patent Search Helps You Navigate the IP Maze
Global Patent Search (GPS) won’t hand you a master list of who owns smartwatch tech. But here’s what it does exceptionally well:
It helps you check whether your feature, like ECG alerts or temperature tracking, overlaps with existing patents, even if all you have is a product concept. By inputting descriptions such as “wearable device with ECG and SpO₂ monitoring,” users can uncover relevant patents, facilitating a deeper understanding of the field and aiding in strategic decision-making
It connects real patent claims to natural-language descriptions of what your wearable actually does.
It’s built for product teams and innovators, not just legal departments, so you can catch potential IP roadblocks early, before they become problems.
If you’re developing in wearable health or trying to understand the IP landscape around sensor tech, GPS gives you the visibility others miss. Explore the tool: Global Patent Search.
