Apple has filed for a patent for a flexible battery pack -- which would be suitable for the rumored iWatch product. Apple has already shown interest in wearables by filing a patent earlier this year with a "flexible" display that wraps around your wrist.
Flexible battery packs for use in electronic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible battery pack may include a plurality of cells, such as galvanic or photovoltaic cells. The battery pack also may include a plurality of laminate layers coupled to the cells that include a top laminate layer and a bottom laminate layer. An adhesive may be used to couple the top and bottom laminate layers together such that each of the plurality of cells is isolated from each other. This arrangement may allow the battery to be shaped to fit a form factor of the electronic device. This arrangement also may allow one or more of the cells to be selectively removed from the plurality, which may be desirable from a manufacturing perspective.
Apple notes that convention battery packs are often too rigid and not flexible enough to conform to new form factors. For instance bending lithium polymer cells could damage the battery cells rendering the battery useless. Apple details how their battery pack resolves many of the issues of conventional battery packs by having a unique form factor. Apple does list a number of devices this would benefit in the entire patent application, however "wristwatches" is not mentioned.
iWatch rumors have been heating up recently, especially with Apple filing for the 'iWatch' trademark and fashion CEO Paul Deneve joined the team for "special projects."
Read More via PatentlyApple and 9to5mac
Flexible battery packs for use in electronic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible battery pack may include a plurality of cells, such as galvanic or photovoltaic cells. The battery pack also may include a plurality of laminate layers coupled to the cells that include a top laminate layer and a bottom laminate layer. An adhesive may be used to couple the top and bottom laminate layers together such that each of the plurality of cells is isolated from each other. This arrangement may allow the battery to be shaped to fit a form factor of the electronic device. This arrangement also may allow one or more of the cells to be selectively removed from the plurality, which may be desirable from a manufacturing perspective.
Apple notes that convention battery packs are often too rigid and not flexible enough to conform to new form factors. For instance bending lithium polymer cells could damage the battery cells rendering the battery useless. Apple details how their battery pack resolves many of the issues of conventional battery packs by having a unique form factor. Apple does list a number of devices this would benefit in the entire patent application, however "wristwatches" is not mentioned.
iWatch rumors have been heating up recently, especially with Apple filing for the 'iWatch' trademark and fashion CEO Paul Deneve joined the team for "special projects."
Read More via PatentlyApple and 9to5mac