Mobile and wearable devices are making great strides in just about everything. Every time we have better screens, better antennas, more powerful software and everything improves very quickly, but there is something that has stagnated: batteries. There are many companies that are investigating to launch the next generation of batteries, but that does not mean that you have to stop investigating, for example, new charging methods that allow us to extend the autonomy of a device.
According to a patent that was made public today, Thursday, February 16, Apple is investigating a device charging mechanism capable of generating electricity through movements. But slow down your enthusiasm a bit if you think that this movement would be of the wrist; which we would move it would be a wheel like that of classic watches and we would charge the watch as we did by winding watches that I dare not say in which year we stopped using them.
Apple patents a new-old charging method
Although the patent, available at this link, is a little more complex than a simple wheel that allows us to charge the Apple Watch, we can't help but think that it is just that. Personally, it seems unlikely to me that those from Cupertino are going to add this function to their smart watch or iPhone, something that the patent also contemplates. Can you imagine someone who has paid hundreds of euros for a smart watch spending all their time turning a wheel as if they had a watch from 30 or more years ago? On the other hand, also we would have to see how much autonomy we gain after how long turning this load wheel.
In my opinion, what Apple wants with this patent is that nobody uses an idea that they have had, that patents also serve for that. But what would be much more interesting is that they implement a charging system, available in many watches, that charges the Apple Watch or iPhone with our movements. Or take the plunge and launch the next generation of batteries. What do you think?