Mystery Samsung trademark points to a new gadget that can take better health measurements than the Apple Watch
- Samsung applied for the trademark "Samsung Speckle" in Europe last week.
- While Samsung may want to reserve the name for many reasons, it's patented several technologies that mention a "laser speckle" system for measuring heart rate or blood pressure.
- Only Samsung knows for sure what this particular speckle reference means.
Could Samsung use lasers to measure heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital health signs? That's a question Galaxy fans were asking in 2016 shortly after a Samsung patent for just that surfaced at the USPTO.
But of course, a patent doesn't mean the company is working on a product, and years passed without additional clues about a new kind of health sensor making its way into one of Samsung's smartphones or smartwatches.
Last week, Samsung filed for the trademark "Samsung Speckle" in Europe. We were tipped to the filing by Brian Conroy, who goes by the name Trademark Ninja.
Samsung's trademark filing doesn't contain much when it comes to revealing information, but the name certainly sounds like it's intended for a device of some sort. The application is for these kind of goods:
Computers; Computer hardware; Peripherals adapted for use with computers; Tablet computers; Portable computers; Data storage devices; Monitors; Headsets for use with computers; Wireless headsets; Portable computer case of leather; Protective covers for tablet computers; Mouse (computer peripheral); Computer keyboards; Convertible PC, namely convertible computers and convertible tablet pc; Wireless speakers; VR image apparatus and instruments; Simulator in the form of goggle for virtual reality; Image apparatus in the form of goggle for virtual reality.
Of course, speckle is a word with a meaning, it's not a made-up term for a product. It means "a mark with a large number of small spots or patches of color" or a "random granular pattern."
So the trademark could apply to lots of other stuff, including ultrasound machines that Samsung makes that have a feature that includes "reduced speckle." The trademark could be about medical equipment, although Conroy said it was filed by the same trademark agency that handles Samsung Electronics trademarks for products like TVs and smartphones. It could even be a reference to Samsung's sparkly gadgets covered with Swarovski crystals.
But since 2016, Samsung has applied for several other patents that build on the concept of shining a laser at skin, looking at the speckle pattern, and then using that to, say, authenticate the user.
The Apple Watch currently uses LED lights to measure heart rate and authenticate the wearer. It could make sense for Samsung's speckle sensor to be included on a smartwatch. Android Central reports that Samsung is rumored to release a new smartwatch called Samsung Galaxy Watch relatively soon, also based on recent trademarks.
Samsung didn't reply to a request for more information. So ultimately, we don't know what Samsung Speckle is about. Do you? Drop me a line at kleswing@businessinsider.com.
