Using the flashlight feature on the Apple Watch, users can view things in the dark. In the future, Apple Watches may come with an external flashlight.
Using a patent granted to Apple, the company is developing a device it calls “Modular Light Assembly For A Wearable Device.” The device can be installed externally to the housing and band of a smartwatch.
This patent schematic shows what the future Apple Watches may look like with an external flashlight attached to their bands. The user can point it like a torchlight wherever they want to shine it rather than pointing at the watch’s screen, which has less range and brightness.
In addition, the modular light will have its own power source, so it won’t affect the battery of the Apple Watch. There could also be a button to turn it on/off without interacting with the Apple Watch.
According to the patent, the “modular light can receive communication from the wearable device to activate (turn on) or deactivate (turn off) one or more light sources,” which would mean that Apple Watch users could control it as well.
According to the patent, the modular light may also have an IP rating since the seals and O-rings prevent liquid ingress into the sensitive components.
As well as being separable from the watch’s band, the modular light may be attached permanently to the band in some embodiments, which means the flashlight could be sold separately for the Apple Watch. Apple may also launch new flashlight bands.
