Learned from the watch: Apple describes a new type of protection for the iPhone
Apple is already using clever technology in the smartwatch, for example to remove water from the speaker openings. A similar solution is now also being described for the iPhone.
In the Apple Watch Series 2, Apple presented a function for the first time that enables water to be removed from the openings of the smartwatch. In two patents, the engineers describe the solutions that could also be used in smartphones in the future.
In this first patent , Apple explains what the functions of a device could suffer from penetrating liquids. A system must therefore be found that removes these from the housing as efficiently as possible. As with the Apple Watch, Apple describes the use of a small speaker, the vibrations of which are supposed to help.
Apple describes several arrangements of the internal components that should help to remove the liquids as effectively as possible from the interior of the smartphone. For example, the inner walls can be provided with a special coating. A sensor should also help to identify the moisture.
In contrast to the current Apple Watch, the system could possibly function automatically in the future. The so-called water lock of the smartwatch still has to be activated manually. Any water present is expelled when it is deactivated.
These slow motion recordings show how the water lock works in the current Apple Watch:
Improved water barrier for future devices
Apple's engineers go one step further and describe in a second patent, among other things, other ways of removing water from the housing.
In addition to a loudspeaker, a small heating element could also be used. By heating to more than 100 degrees, liquids in the extremely small chamber can be converted into gases. In this case, water is not expelled, but evaporates in the device.
As usual, such patents did not necessarily mean that the techniques will actually find their way into a real product as shown.
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