Regulatory Filings May Point to Apple Partnership With Wireless Charging Firm Energous

[MacRumors]

Apple may be working with Energous on a wireless charging project according to regulatory filings discovered by VentureBeat. Energous certification documents dating back to 2014 features a mysterious "Apple compliance testing" listing, which could hint at a partnership.

According to VentureBeat, this is proof Apple is considering using Energous' WattUp wireless charging technology in one of its devices, but it should be noted that this listing isn't concrete proof of a relationship - it could also be a reference to MFi testing for an iPhone case or other WattUp iPhone accessory.

The conclusion here is obvious: the WattUp reference design would only undergo compliance testing at Apple if Apple is evaluating its use in one of its portable devices. And the fact that Energous names the company so nonchalantly and unambiguously seems to be suggestive of a well-formed relationship between the two.

While there continues to be no undeniable proof that Energous is working with Apple, there have been other hints. Energous has claimed it is working with "one of the top five consumer electronics companies," it has relationships with Apple manufacturers TSMC and Foxconn, and both are members of ANSI.

Energous also happens to be the only company that has a long-distance RF-based wireless charging system (WattUp) that's nearly ready to launch in consumer products. According to rumors, Apple is working on an extended range wireless charging solution, which would allow the iPhone to be charged at a distance without the need to be placed on a mat or other charging base. WattUp transmitters can charge devices located up to 15 feet away.

Apple is said to be planning to introduce wireless charging in the 2017 iPhone and may be working to overcome obstacles like the loss of power transfer efficiency that occurs when the distance between the transmitter and the receiver increases.

According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, "Wireless is the future." Given the recent removal of the headphone jack and the need for the Lightning port to serve multiple functions, wireless charging is a logical next step.

Over the course of the last several months, Apple has been hiring engineers with expertise in wireless charging and it's rumored to be seeking a supplier for wireless charging chips, suggesting there are plans in motion for the next-generation iPhone.

Read more on a possible partnership between Energous and WattUp.

Article Link: Regulatory Filings May Point to Apple Partnership With Wireless Charging Firm Energous

 

[agsystems]

This looks amazing - the kind of thing, you would think Apple would like to own as a core technology

 

[mazz0]

It's the Apple Watch that really needs this

 

[JackANSI]

It's going to be hard to get this to work well with a metal cased device... at least without more antenna lines that people hate.

 

[4419626]

I'm all for this as long as I don't have to deal with people yelling "wattup?!" at me all the time. I might riot.
That video was like a really cringey university animation project.

 

[Archer_cz]

This would be an Apple style - use the technology only when it makes sense for the regular customer and it's easy to use.

 

[freepomme]

They're about to give them an offer they can't refuse.

 

[frifra]

Energous also happens to be the only company that has a long-distance RF-based wireless charging system (WattUp) that's nearly ready to launch in consumer products.

So 1 year is nearly? Tech industry moves fast. Let's see if there is really no competitor.
[doublepost=1473969185][/doublepost]

They're about to give them an offer they can't refuse.

If this would be imgur, I'd say about tree fiddy.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Friend is a VP over at Energies. Gonna have to see what's up.

 

[Kaibelf]

Apple, always playing catch-up. Shame on Tim. Samsung already has introduced a way to recharge their latest phones remotely as shown by this footage:

 

[Saipher]

Next year's iPhone anyone??

 

[jimbobb24]

This as currently developed is far too large for a phone - way too bulky. The "charger" is gigantic and probably costs thousands. So -lots of minturization work to be done. Apple has a lot of expertise and would love to see them figure out a way to make this work but will require a ton of heat dissipation.

 

[69650]

Seems like we've been asking for wireless charging forever. Maybe next year.
[doublepost=1473969884][/doublepost]

Apple, always playing catch-up. Shame on Tim. Samsung already has introduced a way to recharge their latest phones remotely as shown by this footage

Is it not possible to have at least one thread where nobody takes a dig at Samsung. This is getting boring now.

 

[Zedcars]

"Hey, Shut the F*** Up!" Lol

Extraordinarily bad video about some potentially awesome tech.

 

[jdelaune]

Energous aren't the only ones working on 'long distance' wireless charging. You have these guys as well. http://www.ossia.com/

The trouble is you are only going to get trickle charging with these systems. So it may be okay for a watch/headphones but not so great for a phone, tablet or laptop.

Resonant charging makes more sense in my mind because they could use it on all their products from laptop to watch. Or a combination of both RF and resonant. A trickle and fast charge.

 

[allanfries]

Nikola Tesla would be proud!

 

[69Mustang]

Apple, always playing catch-up. Shame on Tim. Samsung already has introduced a way to recharge their latest phones remotely as shown by this footage:

You disparage Samsung, but I've yet to see your successful business do anything.

/inside joke

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

It's going to be hard to get this to work well with a metal cased device... at least without more antenna lines that people hate.

Which is why you swap to ceramic.

 

[MasterRyu2011]

Friend is a VP over at Energies. Gonna have to see what's up.

Keep us in the loop.

 

[Mac 128]

Seems like we've been asking for wireless charging forever. Maybe next year.

2018 and they drop the Lightning port from the iPhone.

 

[Kaibelf]

Is it not possible to have at least one thread where nobody takes a dig at Samsung. This is getting boring now.

If only the internet had more than one site! Or better yet, let's just let you supply a list of guidelines so that we don't run afoul of your curated list of what you want to read about that agrees with your tastes and wants, Your Majesty.

 

[frifra]

Saaaay watt?

 

[iMember]

Apple, always playing catch-up. Shame on Tim. Samsung already has introduced a way to recharge their latest phones remotely as shown by this footage:

is that an iPhone? burning?

https://www.cnet.com/news/iphone-6-plus-blew-up-while-charging-woman-claims/

Probably this will shut him up...

 

[borgqueenx]

when apple talked wireless with the iphone 7 i really hoped for wireless charging as the phone cant be used for music+charging now (wired anyway).... So this definatly has to start being normal in the upcoming iphone 8.....the anniversary iphone.

 

[Gorms]

It's going to be hard to get this to work well with a metal cased device... at least without more antenna lines that people hate.

Well, they are obviously playing around with ceramic at the moment. That may go some way to helping that issue?