New Apple Watch Patent Unveils In-display Touch ID Model

Apple Watch is one of the most popular smart wearables available in the market today. Despite the rise of other competing wearables from tech giants like Samsung and Huawei, it appears that Apple’s revolutionary watch enjoys its massive sales in the wearable segment. A new patent filed by Apple reveals that the Cupertino-based tech giant is planning to level up the design of its Apple Watch and could feature a Touch ID on the screen.

A few days ago, we reported about a new patent that reveals Apple’s plan of moving the antenna of the Apple Watch from the watch’s face to the watch’s band. It appears that Apple is still finding other ways to make the wearable better. The patent suggests that a ‘touch sensing device, force-sensing device, temperature sensing device, and a fingerprint sensor’ could be placed behind the screen.

The main focus of the new Apple Watch patent is moving the antenna to the strap. This leaves more room for other components concealed under the display. While embedding the antenna, WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular antennas on the band could be challenging; it could also open more opportunities that Apple can take advantage of.

This includes introducing a larger battery or equipping the Apple Watch with a Touch ID on its display. With Apple Watch now equipped to conduct Apple Pay purchases and unlock Macs, to name a few, it would come very handy if it could add an extra layer of security on the Apple Watch. After all, security and privacy are two mantras that Apple has long been campaigning to consumers.

Moving the antenna to the watch’s strap could also allow easier access for maintenance and repairs since there is no need to open the entire watch to repair connectivity issues. However, placing the antenna on the strap could also limit the user’s choice of replacing the band to the colors and style that they prefer. It could also become more expensive to replace the band, considering that it now contains essential Apple Watch components.

But, it is worth noting that the patent filed by Apple does not mean that it is going to happen in the future. It is possible that it could just stay as a patent considering that Apple, like other tech giants, has this habit of securing their ideas by patenting it.