Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

  • Reviews
  • Recommended Cameras & Gear
  • Learn Photography
  • Contact
  • About
  • Subscribe

Nikon Patents a “Smart” Water Bottle

July 27, 2015 By Eric Reagan

 

Nikon-Water-Bottle

Of all the odd patents I’ve seen from camera companies, this one is near the top of the list.

A recent patent application from Nikon (USPTO No. 14/407,791) reveals that the company has developed a smart water bottle that communicates via NFC with a smart watch (like the Apple Watch) to both measure the fluid intake from the body and can communicate with a health app to determine if the person needs to take in more fluid.

Nikon Patent Diagram

Nikon Patent Diagram

The patent further specifies the ability to use the camera from a mobile device as a “sweating estimation unit” and bases the liquid intake on the volume of liquid removed from the bottle using a weight sensor at the bottom of the bottle.

Nikon Water Bottle Patent Diagram

Nikon Patent Diagram

Additionally, the patent application notes that the “control unit confirms the liquid intake amount of the user and the condition of the user (an output of the biometric sensor or a thermo-hygrograph sensor, a current position of the user detected by the GPS module, and a current date detected by the clock unit), and updates the user information table and the liquid intake table.”

Nikon_Water_Bottle_Patent

Nikon Patent Diagram

But the invention goes beyond a dedicated water bottle and suggests the same calculations can be made using Nikon’s liquid intake app for other cups, bottled sports drinks and even alcohol. In these cases, the goal is to measure salt, sugar and even alcohol intake quantities and provide that information to the user.

“When a user puts on a device having an intra-body communication function or a near field communication function and a liquid container that user users has a communication function, a total intake amount of the user can be recorded automatically even if a house cup is used, a cup at a workplace is used or a drink in bought.”

While this technology has the potential to be very cool, I’m not one who is going to pay hundreds of dollars for smart water bottles. However, if Nikon, or another licensee, can make the technology work without a dedicated water bottle, it could be very helpful to help people understand just how much junk we are consuming from sugary drinks.

Filed Under: Nikon Tagged With: Nikon, nikon rumors, patent, water bottle

 

Comments

  1. Jared says

    July 28, 2015 at 12:59 am

    What happens if you forget to change the batteries in your water bottle?

  2. Paul Szilard says

    July 31, 2015 at 1:32 am

    Rumour has it that they are working on a Smart Loo Paper, which will tell you when you need a shit!
    Giime a break, people!

  3. Tom Manson says

    July 31, 2015 at 7:14 am

    The flow chart is flawed. It needs to be a loop that continuously cycles back to START from END.

  4. Frank DiFalco says

    August 19, 2015 at 2:54 am

    You laugh, but this has been a long time coming…hasn’t it.

Trackbacks

  1. The latest Nikon patents: waterproof 1 Nikkor 7.2-13.6mm f/3.5-4.5 lens and... a smart water bottle | Nikon Rumors says:
    August 18, 2015 at 2:25 pm

    […] am not sure what to make out of this, but Nikon filed a patent for a “smart” water bottle that can communicate with a smart […]

  2. The latest Nikon patents: waterproof 1 Nikkor 7.2-13.6mm f/3.5-4.5 lens and… a smart water bottle | Photohangout says:
    August 18, 2015 at 2:42 pm

    […] not positive what to make out of this, however Nikon filed a patent for a “smart” water bottle that may talk with a smart […]

Support Photography Bay


Deals on Photo Gear

  • B&H Photo Deals
  • Refurbished Canon Gear
  • Refurbished Nikon Coolpix
  • Refurbished Nikon Gear

Recent Posts

  • Nikon NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 Lens Announced
  • DJI Mavic 3 Unveiled with 5.1K Video and Dual Cameras
  • Nikon Launches Z 9 Flagship Mirrorless Camera
  • How to Use Neutral-Density (ND) Filters to Show Smooth Water Motion
  • Fuji GFX 100S Medium Format 102MP Camera Unveiled

Pages

  • 2021 Cyber Monday Camera and Photo Deals
  • About
  • Camera and Photo Deals Newsletter
  • Canon 1D X
  • Canon 1Ds Mark IV
  • Canon 5D Mark III
  • Canon Rebel T4i
  • Contact
  • Disclosures
  • DSLRs
  • How to Subscribe
  • Learn Photography
  • NAB 2016 Live Blog
  • Nikon D4
  • Nikon D800
  • Photography Laws
  • Recommended Cameras & Accessories
  • Reviews
  • Sony Alpha A77

Copyright © 2022 | Photography Bay