Apple Applies for Patent on Wireless iPad Charging via Smart Cover

[erzhik]

Originally Posted by RenoG

Are you serious right now? Its how its done, i.e. via ipad case. Who else wirelessly charge a tablet via slim case?

While not exactly slim, you can argue that Asus Transformer does the same thing.
Again, what Apple proposes is not true wireless charging. It's a case with built in extended battery.

[.Asa]

Whatever this thing turns out to be, I will certainly buy one because it looks awesome.

Has anyone else noticed that the iPad in the picture is an old iPad 2/3?

[JHankwitz]

Originally Posted by Radio

How innovative!!!


That would give me about 5 minutes more of battery life.

Lol - damn cover wouldn't even stay on with that weight.

Seriously this is the next big thing?

Upon what do you base your '5 minutes more of battery life."?
How do you know it won't stay on with that weight? Have you tested it?
Where do you get that this might be the next big thing? It's only a patent for a possible cover.

It's sad to see someone living such a negative existance.

[baryon]

Not sure I get it: if the smart cover makes contact with the iPad anyway, why waste energy and bulk on transmitting power wirelessly between the cover and the iPad, when all they have to do is make two electric contacts where the smart cover magnets touch the iPad, and transmit power the old-school wired way…?

[Mike MA]

Originally Posted by flottenheimer

I hate those tangling white wires.

I hate them even more when knots appear from nowhere...

[nia820]

Am I the only one not crazy about wireless charging? I mean how hard is it to just plug in your ipad before going to bed and let it charge while you are sleep.

[yAak]

Originally Posted by baryon

Not sure I get it: if the smart cover makes contact with the iPad anyway, why waste energy and bulk on transmitting power wirelessly between the cover and the iPad, when all they have to do is make two electric contacts where the smart cover magnets touch the iPad, and transmit power the old-school wired way…?

My thought as well -- and doing it that way would be more efficient in terms of power loss.

So, what the heck is the point?

[elchemor]

http://www.kudocase.com

[bedifferent]

Hmmm Interesting, however as the cover [generally] goes with the iPad, and is essentially the "pad" used for charging the device, doesn't that defeat the purpose of setting a device onto a surface to charge it, then grab the device and go? If the cover is the wireless "charger" that is plugged in via USB, and one would take the cover with them, how is this different from directly plugging in the device?

Over the past two years, I've installed USB outlets in most of my rooms. A traditional outlet with two USB plugs. Sure it requires a cord plugged into the device, but I have so many cords it's easy to plug in my iPhone or iPad anywhere in the house.

[alexgowers]

The nay sayers and doom mongers will claim apple has lost the plot.

I see this as a sign apple is not only looking at new tech but is still pro actively breaking new ground, albeit with wacky future that is not currently an option in a commercial product.

Has anyone ever seen a patent that actually looks anything like the final product? no

The reality is a lot of the patents filed make no sense without the finished product in front of you.

[Liquorpuki]

Originally Posted by ersatzplanet

I agree with you - nobody seems to also see that the iPad has the receiving coils built in so that means IT WILL WORK WITH A STANDARD CHARGING PAD. Apple can't patent the standard charging pad but can patent this. The upshot will be that you can either but the charging cover or probably also have a pad that you lay the iPad on (face down) to charge at night. With the receiver coils in the iPad it will work with BOTH systems.

There is no standard charging pad.

[OrangeSVTguy]

the future

Tour WiTricity’s Room of Tomorrow: Wireless Charging That’s Flexible - Apple should invest in this company.
http://bcove.me/xolv5bxk

[linuxcooldude]

Originally Posted by erzhik

While not exactly slim, you can argue that Asus Transformer does the same thing.
Again, what Apple proposes is not true wireless charging. It's a case with built in extended battery.

A lot of assumptions. The battery is pictured on the iPad itself and not the cover.

[iisdan]

This doesnt even make sense... The cover still has to be plugged in?

[bedifferent]

Originally Posted by iisdan

This doesnt even make sense... The cover still has to be plugged in?

That's what I'm wondering. Might as well plug the iPad in if that's the case.

The only benefit I can ascertain is the iPad cover may act as a backup charger when/if the iPad loses juice, something akin to a Mophie Juice Pack.

[CShort]

Originally Posted by Mr.damien

What's your point ? I never saw a single iPad without a cover. Now this one give you more battery life for free, what's the problem ?

you are kind of a guy that likes to complain right ?

I can see his point, the cost of adding wireless charging to the cover/ipad would be more than just having a physical connection (like the surface) between the cover and the iPad. The wireless bit doesn't add any convenience.
I think this is just another patent that Apple is sitting for royalty reasons.

[MuseumVisitor]

If they are going to use Tesla's coil pancake patent, they shoud finaly introduce Serbian iTunes store.

http://merlib.org/node/5516

http://www.scene.org/~esa/merlib/voltage/patentfig2.gif

http://www.energeticforum.com/renewa...figuera-9.html

[Robin4]

If the cover will also use solar power, I'm in. It would be fantastic for travelers, hikers, vacations, etc. Yeah, a step in the right direction. Green revolution is the future.

[dreadnort]

Originally Posted by RenoG

Are you serious right now? Its how its done, i.e. via ipad case. Who else wirelessly charge a tablet via slim case?

Read the qoute i clearly state wireless charging not how it's done

[thewinelake]

Just seen the full patent description and it sounds like they're saying - and seems to make less sense than ever....

[Mr.damien]

Originally Posted by CShort

I can see his point, the cost of adding wireless charging to the cover/ipad would be more than just having a physical connection (like the surface) between the cover and the iPad. The wireless bit doesn't add any convenience.
I think this is just another patent that Apple is sitting for royalty reasons.

Yes but this product isn't even released. Why complain about a price you don't know about ?

----------

Originally Posted by ThunderSkunk

1. The point I made.

2. You haven't looked very hard. The majority of the iPads I've seen don't have big covers. Say for a second that everyone with an ipad or phone wants to have a big floppy cover on it:

3. The problem has already been stated. It's in every way inferior to either of its alternatives. Not convenient like using an induction pad, not efficient like a physical connection. ...What gives you the idea it'd be free?

4. I'm the kind of guy that expects a company with a million times the resources mine has, to innovate proportionately great ideas. Way to counter my concerns on the design with a personal attack though.

A very way inferior, about a product you never saw. You must be some kind of a great hardware engineer right ? Then why you are not working for Apple or create the new thing as you are so good ?

[Lacasse]

This is only part of the solution...

What we're seeing is the antenna, what's missing is the base charger.

This is the real-world implementation of that home wireless charging system (which was reposted a few weeks ago on macrumors). If you recall, in the video demo, they had to attach a box to each device, including the tv, and other phones. This is that black device, in the form of a cover.

Similar cases will be designed for the iphone, ipod.

That's my thought.

j.

[Saturn007]

Originally Posted by flottenheimer

Nice.
But what I'd much rather like is for Apples standard headphones/ear-plugs to become wireless. That would be a killer feature for me. I hate those tangling white wires.

That'd be better than holding a cell phone transmitter/receiver against your brain hours a week... but still-- any such EM transmitter/receiver next to your brain for long stretches of time is likely to cause damage.

Low amounts perhaps... but over time, it could be a killer indeed!


Yes, the tangle of wires is a nuisance, but there are other fixes.

Can Siri lower or raise the volume?

I like inductive charging-- the idea of it--no more messing with plugging it in. However, that's not that big a deal.

Say Apple, let's have the iPhone be thicker, so that the speaker can be better and the battery bigger!