Post by account_disabled on Jan 29, 2024 22:27:10 GMT -5
Garmin's upcoming Venu smartwatch could pack solar-powered OLED displays February 25, 2022by Martin 6 You need to know Garmin has filed a patent for solar charging display modules for smart watches. The display can potentially be used on OLED displays while extending battery life between charges. Many Garmin smartwatches have solar charge displays, but they are not OLED. Garmin makes some of the best Android watches on the market, especially for fitness enthusiasts. However, it seems that the company wants to improve the battery life of its smartwatches like the Garmin Venu series. Garmin has filed a new patent that could do just that by giving it a new kind of OLED display.
The patent (via TechRadar ) describes "energy display C Level Executive List modules" that will be placed between the subpixels of the smartwatch's display. This differs from the current method Garmin uses for Power Glass displays on watches such as the fēnix and Instinct series, with a photovoltaic layer between the memory pixel (MIP) display and the glass cover. Garmin notes in the patent how current methods can compromise display quality: Some attempts have been made to equip smartwatches with semi-transparent solar panels, for example using a discrete solar cell placed on (or above) the watch screen. However, the presence of such a solar cell layer reduces the visibility of the display module.
Accordingly, an integrated display module of energy harvesting is needed, which collects solar energy without covering its screen. It looks like Garmin's approach could improve the battery life of future Venu or Epix models while keeping their powerful OLED displays. The Garmin Venus 2 Plus already works for more than a week on a single charge, which is very impressive compared to Wear OS or even WatchOS smart watches. However, it still claims a massive 22-day performance with the latest Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar Edition when in smartwatch mode. Garmin seems to be suggesting that this technology could be used in other devices besides smartwatches, and of course, it's still unclear what these energy-harvesting display modules will actually look like when applied to an OLED display. . Still, the idea of long-lasting smartwatches always excites us, and we hope something comes of this patent.
The patent (via TechRadar ) describes "energy display C Level Executive List modules" that will be placed between the subpixels of the smartwatch's display. This differs from the current method Garmin uses for Power Glass displays on watches such as the fēnix and Instinct series, with a photovoltaic layer between the memory pixel (MIP) display and the glass cover. Garmin notes in the patent how current methods can compromise display quality: Some attempts have been made to equip smartwatches with semi-transparent solar panels, for example using a discrete solar cell placed on (or above) the watch screen. However, the presence of such a solar cell layer reduces the visibility of the display module.
Accordingly, an integrated display module of energy harvesting is needed, which collects solar energy without covering its screen. It looks like Garmin's approach could improve the battery life of future Venu or Epix models while keeping their powerful OLED displays. The Garmin Venus 2 Plus already works for more than a week on a single charge, which is very impressive compared to Wear OS or even WatchOS smart watches. However, it still claims a massive 22-day performance with the latest Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar Edition when in smartwatch mode. Garmin seems to be suggesting that this technology could be used in other devices besides smartwatches, and of course, it's still unclear what these energy-harvesting display modules will actually look like when applied to an OLED display. . Still, the idea of long-lasting smartwatches always excites us, and we hope something comes of this patent.