Smartwatch hardware components | List of Smartwatch parts and functions
The article describes Smartwatch hardware components and parts. It mentions list of Smartwatch parts and Smartwatch components with their functions.
Introduction:
Due to advancement in technologies and availability of smart devices people are looking for more
features than just time. Todays smart watches provide many features such as receiving calls,
dialling of calls, reply to texts or emails, calender or meeting reminders etc.
What is smartwatch ?
In general, the watch which provides extra features than time is known as smart watch. It consists of microprocessor, wireless transceiver IC, GPS IC, display, sensors, buttons and wrist band.
The figure depicts Samsung Gear Neo which weighs only 68g and 36.9mm width.
The switches are available in various budget range from multiple manufacturers.
There are many benefits of smart watches for the users. Some of these are as follows.
• It works in tandem with smart phones.
• The postpaid number can be shared with smartwatch to avail data and voice calls.
• Based on wireless ICs mounted on the smartwatch, it can be connected with wifi and/or cellular network.
• The smartwatch can be connected with nearby bluetooth devices if bluetooth IC is available on the watch.
• Multiple fitness spps can be installed on the smartwatch for various features.
• Based on sensors installed, it can be used for heart rate and blood pressure measurements.
It can also be used for distance measurements, sleep monitoring and calories burned while running and walking and so on.
Functions of smartwatch hardware components or parts
When we teardown smartwatch such as Samsung Gear Neo or any other smartwatch, we will usually found following smartwatch hardware parts. Following table describes functions of these common smartwatch parts or components.
| Smartwatch parts | Functions |
|---|---|
| Display |
Provides the visual interface for users to interact with the device. 1.63 " super AMOLED display 320 x 320 resolution |
| Memory (RAM and Storage) | Function : RAM for temporary data storage and storage for long-term data retention. Usually 4GB internal memory for storage and 512 MB size RAM are used in smartwatches. |
| Camera | 2 MP Camera with auto focus with different resolutions (1920 x 1080, 1080 x 1080, 1280 x 960), 720p video at 30 fps |
| Battery | Provides power to the device. 300 mAh Li-ion, Typical usage 2 to 3 days and low usage provide 6 days of battery life. It can be peeled out and replaced with no tools. |
| LCD digitizer cable | It connects LCD with motherboard. |
| Motherboard with CPU | CPU helps to execute instructions, processes data and manages overall device performance. It houses 1 GHz dual core alongwith other electronic components. |
| Watch Band | It helps to wear the device on the wrist. It is very easy to detach. |
| Gasket | It is used to provide support to case and screws for proper fixing with motherboard and other parts. |
| Microphone and speaker | Enables voice input and output. |
| Vibration motor | Provides haptic feedback for notifications. |
| Charging port | Allows recharging the battery of the device . |
| Enclosure or case | Protects internal components from external elements. It makes the smartwatch more durable and water resistant and enhances overall build quality. |
| Operating System (OS) | Manages the device's operations and supports applications. |
| BIOS/UEFI Firmware | Basic Input/Output System or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface provides low-level control of the hardware. It ensures proper initialization of hardware components during the boot process. |
| Wireless Connectivity modules (Bluetooth , Wi-Fi , NFC, Cellular) | Can be interfaced with any of the wireless devices as per various standards such as wifi, bluetooth, NFC or cellular (GSM, 4G LTE, 5G) for communication with other devices for data transfer and much more. |
| Sensors | Different sensors are integrated in smart watches for various functions as follows. Accelerometer : Measures acceleration and tilt. It is used to verify accurate motion detection and orientation changes. Gyroscope : Measures angular velocity and rotation which helps to ensure precise motion tracking and responsive. Heart rate monitoring device : Measures user's heart rate. GPS : Determines the device's location. Ambient Light Sensor : Adjusts display brightness based on ambient light conditions. |
| Buttons or Keys or touch screen | Can be used to provide input to the Smart watch by users as per need. There are keys on smartwatch which can be used fo various functions such as "Home", "Back" etc. Moreover screen itself can be used for various navigation due to its "touch" functionality. |
The smartwatches are available in various colors. Tizen based wearable platform is installed on these kind of smartwatches. Tizen is Linux based mobile operating system used by Samsung Electronics.
A smartwatch comprises several essential components that collectively enable its advanced functionalities. The design incorporates an enclosure for protection, firmware for system control, and various security features to ensure data protection. Integrating and optimizing these components is crucial for creating a functional and user-friendly smartwatch. Refer difference between Smartwatch Vs. Regular traditional watch >>.