Apple wants to make an Apple Watch screen that wraps all the way around the wrist
In the future, an Apple Watch screen could completely wrap the wearer's wrist, and information could be shown all the way around.
More than displaying information on a band, the whole Watch could be a wraparound strap
Apple has already been researching ways to make Apple Watch bands more useful, such as having the Watch change faces depending on which strap is in use. One newly-revealed possibility, though, is that whole Watch could become a band, and the whole band can be a screen.
"In this manner, the display area of the smartwatch is not limited to a rigid watch face area," says the newly-granted patent named "Display Module And System Applications."
"[For example,] a smartwatch includes a flexible display panel that is integrated into a flexible watch band," it continues. "In this manner, the display area of the flexible display panel can cover more available space on the watch face area and band of the smartwatch."
Apple also notes that such a device would mean that, "both the watch face area and band may be adjusted to conform to the wrist size of the user."
So everybody wins, if Apple can do it. In 28 pages -- and almost 10,000 words -- the patent proposes an LED display with "driver circuits... on the back surface.]"
Detail from the patent showing one continuous screen across the band and the regular Apple Watch display area
This idea of a wraparound Apple Watch screen band is the one Apple keeps focusing on in the patent. But it's not the only one.
In an almost throwaway line, Apple points out that such a flexible display must have other uses. "Exemplary system applications include wearable, rollable, and foldable displays," it says.
Apple has previously been revealed to have researched rollable iPhones.
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Comments
1) I/O technologies (so I can, by example, not twist my arm in contorted fashion to swipe a turnstile or a payment terminal. But the I/O on the bottom side of the wristband (by the latch);
2) Embed energy storage (i.e., battery) in the watchband. That would reduce the thickness of the watch itself (or allow for more real estate to shove in other technology) and/or extend the life between charges