Apple Patents some kind of wireless charging apparatus for its Watch; battery to be included in strap

Apple has patented a new type of “charging apparatus” for the Apple Watch that employs the watch strap to charge the device.

While it’s not very clear what the “apparatus” is, the patent does describe an inductive coil that attaches to the watch body and “inductively transmits power” from a battery or from the strap itself.

Does this mean that your Watch strap can act as a battery? Possibly. It might also mean that the strap can be used to transmit power to the body. The “power apparatus” may be partially embedded within the band, the patent application adds.

The design is claimed to be a two-way one, allowing for wireless transmission and reception as well. It’s possible that the system can be used to transfer data to and from the Watch in this fashion.

There’s also mention of charging the device via a lightning port and even, strangely enough, a mini-lightning port, notes AppleInsider .

The wireless charging design, particularly the placement of the coil, will probably interfere with the heart-rate sensor at the bottom of the Apple Watch. Apple apparently wants to fix this by fitting translucent windows in the conductive head.