Apple wants to turn regular fabric into electronic displays

The vast majority of patents never make their way into any released products, but it’s still interesting to see the kinds of things that companies like Apple are thinking of. For example, Apple has applied for a patent in the United States for a method of turning woven fabric into an electronic display. Basically, by taking light-transmissive materials and weaving them into conventional textiles, Apple claims it can create an extra display that would be able to work alongside gadgets such as the Apple Watch. The patent was filed back in May of 2014, so Apple has had the idea for a while now, but only time will tell if the company actually intends to implement it in any of its products. 

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday published an Apple patent application describing a method by which light-transmissive materials like nylon are interwoven into conventional textiles, literally creating a woven display for use with devices like Apple Watch. Aptly titled “Woven display,” Apple’s application details a technique of weaving light pipe fibers into conventional fabrics, a clever amalgam of traditional textile production and modern materials. The resulting smart fabric would have a multitude of uses, one being an Apple Watch band that doubles as a simple secondary display. The basic theory behind Apple invention is to lay down light transmissive fibers alongside opaque fibers to form a precise pattern. The document proposes filling the weave’s lengthwise yarns, or warp, with light pipe fibers and the over-under yarn, called the weft, with traditional material. Alternatively, opaque fibers might constitute most of the warp, while light fibers are included in the weft. In one embodiment, Apple proposes weaving multiple fiber sources, including specialized fibers like glass, polymers and nylon, into a cohesive flexible band. Using modern tools like computer controlled three-dimensional knitting equipment, it’s possible to accurately weave a variety of fibers into complex spatial designs. Alternatively, light-transmissive sections of the band can be made opaque during the finishing process by applying a light-blocking substance.