It looks like fans of devices from Xiaomi - a brand known for its high-quality, low-cost products - are about to get their hands on some very exciting new products.
According to records from intellectual property information platform Tianyancha, the Chinese brand has applied for a patent on using solar energy to charge its wearable devices, and the request has been approved.
Smart rings are a hot market for brands.
Smart rings are a hot market for brands.
As for how Xiaomi’s new solar charging solution works, the solar panels will be placed on the device in a specific arrangement to form a compact system that is efficient in converting and storing energy. As described in the patent document, the solar panels will be electrically connected to a control circuit board to utilize solar energy.
A light concentrator is also added to the dial, equipped with light inputs and outputs, with the back side directing the light towards the solar panel. Focusing the light on this specific location will significantly increase the amount of light that reaches the solar panel, thereby helping to charge the device.
It’s worth noting that this solution won’t save battery life, but rather aims to provide constant power to the device. This means users could charge their wearables less frequently, or if they’re optimistic, they could even stop charging them with electricity altogether.
Patent content that Xiaomi has applied for and has been licensed.
Patent content that Xiaomi has applied for and has been licensed.
This solution is aimed at solving the battery life problem of compact wearables that cannot accommodate larger batteries with longer usage times. What’s even better is that this idea can be applied to any of Xiaomi’s wearables: smartwatches, smart bracelets, and even smart rings in the future. Smart rings are a relatively new field, and Samsung recently made headlines with the appearance of the Galaxy Ring - a product that has received such strong pre-orders that Samsung has adjusted production from the initial 400,000 units to 600,000 units to meet demand by the end of the year.
There's currently no word on when this solar charging solution will come to Xiaomi's wearables lineup, nor when the company will introduce its own smart ring.
Black Shark Ring is the latest project from Black Shark. Xiaomi's gaming brand is in the process of developing a smart ring line and has shared a few slides on its official Weibo account.
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Black Shark Ring smart ring.
Black Shark Ring smart ring.
Accordingly, the Black Shark Ring smart ring will come in Silver, Black and Red and will be 2.2mm thick. Notably, the ring has a thin black line that runs through the center of the ring and widens at one point. Black Shark advertises that the ring has Smart Touch.
Black Shark said the Black Shark Ring smart ring will have comprehensive health monitoring features – measuring heart rate, blood oxygen levels and body temperature.
Black Shark Ring has a battery life of up to 6 months.
Black Shark Ring has a battery life of up to 6 months.
The company didn’t mention the durability of the ring, but said the charging case will “enable convenient charging” with a battery life of up to 180 days. In other words, users can use the ring for up to 6 months without needing to charge it. Previously, the Samsung Galaxy Ring only had a battery life of 9 days, “far behind” Black Shark’s product.
Currently, it is still unclear how much this smart ring costs and which markets it will be sold in. We will update more information about the product in the next articles!
