By Binu Paul email: b.paul@mobilenapps.com | Mar 15, 2013 08:38 AM EDT
In an answer to Apple's not so impressive adoption of wireless charging technology, a new patent application has come into light whereby the company wants to enable iPad to charge wirelessly via its Smart Cover.
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The patent files further highlight the company's relentless research to develop a wireless charging of its own for its line of portable devices. AppleInsider noticed the patent application recently, which looks for a slightly different way than existing solutions to charge devices wirelessly.
The Apple invention is titled 'Integrated inductive charging in protective cover' which appears to be a new method to be adopted in its upcoming products that use inductive charging to transfer power to an iOS device. The Apple method does not go for the usual induction coil and transformer incorporation; rather, the invention aims to develop a tablet case or an iPad Smart Cover to hold the inductive power transmitter.
"The cover has the usual magnetic attachments and embedded Hall Effect sensor that auto-wakes and sleeps an iPad, but instead of the usual layered padding, the segmented body contains battery cells and necessary wireless charging circuitry. In order to facilitate efficient power transfer, the primary induction transmitter and corresponding receiver in the iPad would be placed as close together as possible," the report states.
Charging happens when the flap covers the display, which signals that the device is not in use. iPad can also determine its own battery state and enable the inductive charging circuit when in "portable mode," or not plugged into a power source. "Apple's system is not completely wireless, however, as the cover itself needs to be charged. This is accomplished through a normal AC adapter, though the patent does note that solar cells can be disposed in the outer layers of the cover to harvest ambient energy," Apple Insider explains.
It's speculated that the aforementioned integrated components are being investigated for a future model of iPad given the fact that current iPads do not contain the inductive charging circuitry required by the patent. It's also rumored that Apple plans to release such features in one of its iPhone model as early as this year.
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