14 DAY TRIAL // A new iWatch is in the works, rumors say and Apple may even announce it on September 9. Until then, the Cupertino team is still working to protect their intellectual property. The latest Apple patent describes how the future iWatch may have built-in wireless charging.
According to patentlyapple, the latest patent awarded by the US Patent and Trademark Office was revealed back in June, but only now the details are coming out. Apple explains how charging a small battery often gets frustrating and using cables with small portable devices is even worse. However, including a wireless charging module into such devices would make them bulky.
Apple solution is pretty simple and aims to solve more than one problem at a time. The patent reveals how such a device may also include a speaker, vibrator or near field communications antenna. Those parts may have an inductor that can be used to transmit or receive NFC signals. Apple engineers describe how the inductor may be shared by wireless charging circuitry so that the wireless charging signals can be converted into power to charge a battery.
Apple thinks this kind of innovation can be used both in smartphones, smartwatches and miniature devices, but it can also fit into larger electronics like desktop computers, televisions, monitors or laptops. However, the most beneficial use is in a small device, like a wristwatch.
The engineers from Cupertino, California-based tech giant go into the details of an iWatch. The device may have a display mounted on a plastic, glass, ceramics or metal casing. The watch display may be a touch screen display with a layer of conductive capacitive sensor electrodes or other touch sensor components. Capacitive touch screen electrodes may be made up from an array of indium tin oxide pads or other transparent conductive structures.
Apple also details how the same device may be used for wireless payments. An NFC chip would come in handy for this type of operation.
The inventor of this patent application is Jeffrey Terlizzi and Apple filed this originally in the first few months of 2013.
Apple is expected to release a wearable device and set its foot into this market with a new device capable of using a multitude of sensors to communicate with an iPhone or other external devices. The main Apple event will be taking place on September 9, 2014, in Cupertino. Apple may also reveal two types of phones at the same time.