This morning, AppleInsider uncovered a patent, filed with the USPTO in August of 2011, that could hint at the Apple Watch that is slowly turning from wild rumor to semi-leaked real product in development. The patent, titled "Bi-stable spring with flexible display," describes a bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled flexible accessory with a glass touchscreen display — perfect for wearing on a wrist.
The best way to describe the system is a classic '90s accessory, the slap bracelet. See this excerpt from the patent below:
"In a first equilibrium position they can be flat. The second equilibrium is typically reached by slapping the flat embodiment across the wrist, at which point the bracelet curls around the wrist and stays relatively secure in a roughly circular position."
The patent further describes that when the bracelet is worn, it can take advantage of a flexible AMOLED display — making the whole system continuous around a user's wrist. To accomodate different sized wrists, the patent includes a feature for the system that would take advantage of "smart sensors" to turn off part of the system if it overlaps.
While AppleInsider and others are pointing to this patent as tangible signs of an iWatch headed to stores, this isn't the first or only patent Apple has filed that could turn into an iWatch device. The Cupertino company also holds patents for specialized curved glass, haptic technologies and other systems that we could see in an accessory down the road.
What do you think of the possibility of an iWatch? Let us know in the comments.
Lauren Hockenson is a tech reporter and 8-bit enthusiast who dreams of being a wizard. She can be found on MyIGN at lhockenson or on Twitter at @lhockenson.
Source : ign[dot]com
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