We reported in April on leaked photos allegedly revealing the iPhone 5S. Now, a new Apple patent suggests that the iPhone 6 might be in for a radical redesign.
iPhone 6? 5S? iWatch?
Apple on Thursday filed a patent for a curved battery to be used for mobile devices. It's unclear what hardware the curved battery might eventually end up powering, but the applications are pretty broad. A curved battery makes obvious sense for the rumored iWatch, but there's also no shortage of iPhone 6 and iPhone 5S rumors alleging curved glass displays. A curved battery seems like a logical mate.
There's of course no shortage of Apple patents that have never even resulted in a prototype, so nothing is guaranteed as far as iPhone 6, iPhone 5S or iWatch are concerned. The patent, titled "Curved Battery Cells For Portable Electronic Devices," can be viewed here. The abstract explains how the process of creating a curved battery would work:
The disclosed embodiments relate to the manufacture of a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a pouch enclosing the layers, wherein the pouch is flexible. The layers may be wound to create a jelly roll prior to sealing the layers in the flexible pouch. A curve may also be formed in the battery cell by applying a pressure of at least 0.13 kilogram-force (kgf) per square millimeter to the layers using a set of curved plates applying a temperature of about 85 degrees C. to the layers.
Will the iPhone 6 or iPhone 5S feature a curved battery? Will the iWatch? Give us your thoughts in the comments section.
