A new patent application was unearthed by AppleInsider showing a different way devised to wirelessly charge devices. Apple’s Phil Schiller wasn’t took keen on wireless charging and downplayed the current systems saying they are no better than wired charging as users still have to connect a wire to the wireless charging dock. His words created an impression that Apple is not at all into wireless charging technologies. But guess what? Apple has different plans for it and hopes to create true wireless charging. Though companies like Nokia, Palm and LG already tried their hand at wireless charging, none of them took off quite too well.
The patent shows the way Apple is trying to include a inductive coil along with a battery right into the iPad cover this making it wirelessly charge the iPad by storing the extra charge in the iPad cover. In short, the iPad cover will act as the external battery and then it transmits the charge to iPad wirelessly upon certain conditions like when the cover is completely closed on the iPad.
This might seem a bit too novel but there is pretty good chance of being implemented in the future. The main hurdles that we see are to find a battery thin and flexible enough to fit into an iPad case in the first place. Also a cover is meant to take hard hits and protect the device, storing a battery in the cover will potentially expose it to damages that might even extend to the iPad itself!
We can imagine Apple extending the wireless charging from an iPad cover to an iPhone placed over it, will that not be cool? Do pen down your comments below.
Source: USPTO