Apple Reportedly Working On Apple Watch Bands With Advanced Features

Future Apple Watch bands might have advanced features that allow them to do more than securely attach the Apple wearable to its user's wrist.

A new patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office describes Apple Watch bands with electrical contacts that allow for data or power transfer. The patent, first spotted by Apple Insider, indicates that future Watch bands might even feature additional sensors or be used to extend battery life.

Apple, in the patent, emphasized that it's not that easy to create useful accessories for a small wearable electronic device like the Apple Watch. Other electronic devices like iPhones and iPads have ports with connectors that allow users to attach useful accessories for a variety of purposes.

For example, chargers can be plugged in the port to juice up the device; wired headphones can be plugged in to listen to music, and so on. Users only need to plug these accessories into ports on the iPhone or iPad to use them.

While ports are useful, there are some drawbacks to their use. First, connectors will almost always be large, which means they aren't fit for smaller devices like the Apple Watch. Second, ports and other openings will allow fluids to enter the device, causing them to malfunction, have shorter lifespan, or even inoperable.

Apple's design

The patent indicated that in order for smaller devices to have such accessories, they need to have space efficient connector assemblies. These assemblies need to be resistant to corrosion and moisture, are durable, are easy to assemble and can be expected to last long with daily wear and tear.

Apple's solution to the problem comes in the form of contacts embedded in Apple Watch Bands. These contacts are placed in the band connector that is attached to the Apple Watch.

The patent images showed that the contacts, which look like pins, will serve two purposes. First, they will be used to securely attach the Watch Band in place; and second, they will serve to connect the Apple Watch to components embedded in the Band.

This feature, if successful, will allow Apple to add more functionality to the Apple Watch. Future Watch Bands can be used to extend its battery life, as well as add an additional camera, notification lights, and more.