The crown of the future Apple Watch will be an optical sensor, more robust and more versatile? New patent application

The digital crown (the crown-shaped controller on the side) occupies an important position in the Apple Watch user interface.

You can operate watchOS without touching the screen by pressing and turning this, but this mechanical part is a physical button with a movable part from the first generation to the latest model Series 7.

It has become clear that Apple has applied to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a patent that may replace this digital crown with an optical sensor. According to Patently Apple, which is familiar with Apple's patent information, the USPTO published the company's new patent application this week.

This "Watch with optical sensor for user input" patent reduces the number of moving parts inside the Apple Watch by eliminating the digital crown, while allowing a new optical sensor. It describes how the user can scroll the screen through the .

The patent also mentions the ability to operate the system by detecting gestures with an optical sensor, which is not present in the current model.

Not only does eliminating moving parts make the Apple Watch more durable (physical buttons are fragile during normal use or if dropped), but it also introduces other new sensors and higher capacity It is said that it can secure space that can be used for other parts such as batteries. In addition, this new optical sensor can also be used to measure heart rate, respiration rate, blood oxygen level, blood pressure, etc. Digital crowns such as the latest model Series 7 have a built-in electric heart rate sensor, and an electrocardiogram can be obtained by applying a fingertip, but it is possible to measure more health indices in the future.

Currently, it is rumored that the 2022 version of Apple Watch Series 8 (provisional) will be equipped with new health sensors such as blood pressure and body temperature. Of course, tech giants like Apple file and obtain tons of patents, and not all of their technology is implemented in their products. And even if the digital crown is replaced by an optical sensor, it may take years.

Anyway, it seems certain that ``the addition of a new health management function to the future Apple Watch is being considered''. Source: Patently Apple

via:9to5Mac