More than displaying information on a band, the whole Watch could be a wraparound strap
In the future, an Apple Watch screen could completely wrap the wearer’s wrist, and information could be shown all the way around.
Apple has already been researching ways to make Apple Watch bands more useful, such as having the Watch change faces depending on which strap is in use. One newly-revealed possibility, though, is that whole Watch could become a band, and the whole band can be a screen.
“[For example,] a smartwatch includes a flexible display panel that is integrated into a flexible watch band,” it continues. “In this manner, the display area of the flexible display panel can cover more available space on the watch face area and band of the smartwatch.”
So everybody wins, if Apple can do it. In 28 pages — and almost 10,000 words — the patent proposes an LED display with “driver circuits… on the back surface.]”
In an almost throwaway line, Apple points out that such a flexible display must have other uses. “Exemplary system applications include wearable, rollable, and foldable displays,” it says.
