Apple curved battery patent filings hint at future iOS device designs

There’s no rule that says smartphones have to be boring rectangular-ish blocks. And Apple’s latest patent application filings show the company may be looking at some new shapes in its future phones.

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The company filed two patents (also here) that show a new battery that’s curved and features an irregular shape. Presumably, Apple is experimenting with the look for a future line of iPhones or iPod Touch devices. And this wouldn’t exactly be the first time the concept has been mentioned. Past rumors indicate Apple was interested in producing a curvier iPhone, which you can see above in the design mockup commissioned by Josh Topolsky back in 2011.

As for the patent filings, both describe different processes for creating a battery with a curved cell that would fit snugly into a more shapely, curved device. The battery would essentially be top-heavy to facilitate the non-rectangular, thin device.

Here’s a description from the filing:

“In some embodiments, the curve is formed to facilitate efficient use of space inside a portable electronic device. For example, the curve may be formed at one or more ends of the battery cell to allow the battery cell to occupy a curved and/or rounded space within the enclosure of a laptop computer, tablet computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), digital camera, portable media player, and/or other type of battery-powered electronic device.”

But regardless of Apple’s tinkering, we’re unlikely to see this type of battery implemented for the iPhone 6 (or whatever the company decides to call its next iPhone).

Via AppleInsider