The mechanism is capable of generating electricity

Feb 16, 2017 09:26 GMT  ·  By

Many companies file patent applications for various innovative and revolutionary ideas, and Apple makes no exception. The Cupertino giant has filed a patent application for a manual winding mechanism that would generate electricity and expand battery life on Apple Watches.

The patent application describes a device charging mechanism for generating electricity through winding, similar to traditional wristwatches. The application was filed at the US Patent and Trademark Office, according to Apple Insider.

Apple describes a charging system that applies a rotational magnetic field to move an electric generator in a device. This results in electricity that could be stored in a battery cell and thus extend battery life on an Apple Watch or other devices.

The device might also use the same magnetic field to wind a spring

Apple’s patent also talks about a method of using the same magnetic field in order to wind a spring or a coil, which would exert constant rotational force on the charge generator to create electricity. The charging station would have to be set to spin a master rotor, coupled to a second slave rotor and thus generate a magnetic flux effect.

Since the Apple Watch already uses a Digital Crown for navigation, this method could very well be used on upcoming smartwatches. The mechanism would allow users to manually charge their watches. The Apple Watch features a high-capacity battery, while Apple’s tests found that the battery could last for up to 18 hours under certain usage conditions.

Apple Watch Series 2 launched last year comes with multiple features like GPS radio, which take up a big chunk of the battery life that can last for about one day.

The electrical generation system could potentially be used in smartphones and tablets, although the company is now reportedly focused on delivering iPhones with thinner bodies and higher processing power. Such a winding mechanism would be much more suitable on an Apple Watch, but it remains to be seen if Apple will perfect the technology and incorporate it in upcoming smartwatches.

Apple patents Connector-free magnetic charger/winder (4 Images)

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