Why can't arm movements be used to charge watch?

[Bichon]

While doing my fitness workout today, I started thinking about mechanical watches, and how many of them use the natural movement of the wearer's arm to wind the mainspring. During my exercise with an Apple Watch, my arms are in constant motion. Why couldn't that energy be captured and used to charge the battery?

 

[Sami13496]

My guess is that Apple Watch requires just too much energy so it wouldn’t be near enough, but the cost of implementing that kind of mechanism would increase the price. But this is just a guess.

 

[Jackbequickly]

Winding a spring must be more easy than making electricity. Some watches have solar cells built into them to charge the battery but Apple watches use a lot of power in comparison to just telling the time.

 

[LeeW]

Mechanical watches require very little energy by comparison. The AW is all display, the movement just won't generate anywhere near enough energy and even if a solution did exist it would be heavy and bulky on the wrist which you don't want.

 

[neutrino17]

It might be possible, but that device would take more space, cost more money and it would be another point of possible failure. Plus lots of people are not that active that they could charge their phones. Overall, Apple engineers decided that it‘s not worth it.

 

[NoBoMac]

Plus lots of people are not that active that they could charge their phones.

Another Fitness ring! Encourage more vigorous exercise to close one's wattage ring! 😉

But, yeah, would be an Apple Watch Mega for all the reasons enumerated.

 

[NT1440]

Kinetic watches produce milliwatts of power. Not even remotely close enough to offset the loss of battery space it would take up.

 

[neutrino17]

Another Fitness ring! Encourage more vigorous exercise to close one's wattage ring! 😉

But, yeah, would be an Apple Watch Mega for all the reasons enumerated.

I like it. You have to do jumping jacks for an hour to charge your Watch!

 

[Julien]

Can't believe everyone is missing the main reasons. You would have to ADD a weighted rotating balance wheel with springs/levers/screws/connectors/etc PLUS you would need to add an actual generator to convert the mechanical energy to electrical energy. This would likely add WAY over 50% more mass (size and weight) to the watch plus an additional mechanical failure point.

 

[BillGates1969]

Maybe we need an Apple iCharge wearable that you wear on your upper arm. Has a rechargeable battery that is charged this way and an iCable going to the AW to top up in the day.

 

[jz0309]

Maybe we need an Apple iCharge wearable that you wear on your upper arm. Has a rechargeable battery that is charged this way and an iCable going to the AW to top up in the day.

Well, you do realize that you will still need a puck to charge the watch, which means 1. That you will likely have to loosen your band in order for the puck to get under the watch and 2. With the puck now between the sensors and your skin, you don’t get any readings anymore, in fact, it’s like the watch is no longer on your arm and therefor in charge mode and no motivations and such either…

 

[BillGates1969]

Well, you do realize that you will still need a puck to charge the watch, which means 1. That you will likely have to loosen your band in order for the puck to get under the watch and 2. With the puck now between the sensors and your skin, you don’t get any readings anymore, in fact, it’s like the watch is no longer on your arm and therefor in charge mode and no motivations and such either…

But the iCharge will have an accelerometer in it

 

[TechnoMonk]

The energy is minuscule. You can ask the same question about why can you recharge EV batteries using the motion of the car.

 

[zorinlynx]

But the iCharge will have an accelerometer in it

And now we shall take this to its logical conclusion:

 

[HawkTheHusky1902]

And now we shall take this to its logical conclusion:

View attachment 2244713

Linux and Macs are the perfect combination imo. Great gardware (the Apple Silicon Macs) and lightweight/fast OS= 👌

 

[izzy0242mr]

Maybe we need an Apple iCharge wearable that you wear on your upper arm. Has a rechargeable battery that is charged this way and an iCable going to the AW to top up in the day.

Well, you do realize that you will still need a puck to charge the watch, which means 1. That you will likely have to loosen your band in order for the puck to get under the watch and 2. With the puck now between the sensors and your skin, you don’t get any readings anymore, in fact, it’s like the watch is no longer on your arm and therefor in charge mode and no motivations and such either…

Guys guys...I have a better idea. Just make the watch bigger, strap it to your face, and that way it can take your body readings but it's cool if its bigger because it'll go on your head/face. Then add cool games like Wii Fit type stuff and your actions will charge the wearable face device which will have a battery attached to the device via an iCable!

maybe call it an Apple Vision Pro or something. Tim Apple, feel free to send me royalties for this idea if you take it up.