On Tuesday, “the US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 27 newly granted patents for Apple Inc.,” Jack Purcher reports for PatentlyApple.
“In our first patent report of the day we cover a pair of Apple patents that could be fuel for future litigation regarding iOS functionality relating to scrolling lists, rotating and resizing content on multi-touch displays,” Purcher reports. “Another patent win covers an iOS docking station based on inductive charging that has yet to surface. Perhaps this granted patent opens the door for its release in the not-too-distant future.”
Purcher reports, “To wrap up our report, we list eight other patents in our final wrap up section that covers such things as an uninterrupted virtual private network (VPN) connection service and a light sensitive display.”
More info, including Apple’s patent application illustrations, the full article here.
Yeah! I bet these patents are going to stop all copying! I’m so excited! What a huge win for Apple!
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lol same sentiment here
It is better than the alternative of not having the patents and battling the companies that do. At least the other guys won’t be able to successfully sue Apple with respect to these patents, even if Apple can’t stop them from infringing in a timely manner.
Besides, we have not seen the end of this patent battle, yet. Apple may yet get in a few killer blows to Samsung and company. In the meantime, Apple is doing quite well, even in competition with the shameless copiers. So it isn’t all bad.
More clubs for Apple to go into battle with.
I’d like wireless charging. I hope that Apple get’s their act together on this or at least explain why they’re unable to deliver it.
My electric toothbrush had inductive charging for years. Don’t see this patent hold.
I think that an inductive charger to power highly sophisticated computers is a little different than a bloody toothbrush. Get serious.
… perhaps. Not enough to deserve that bloody comment. I’m sure there’s a lot more involved than “simply” inductive recharging … perhaps including a sync functionality?
I’m an IT geek, not a lawyer. Reading spec docs is not my area of expertise. Perhaps you are better at reading the docs.
You can’t patent a concept but the method that makes it work. Meaning, they are doing the same as that toothbrush but with different technology.
To quote: “Apple has received a Granted Patent relating to circuits, methods, and apparatus for adapters, such as inserts and cable adapters, and docking stations that include one or more of the following: reradiating antennas to enhance wireless signal integrity, inductive charging circuits, and wireless or optical data links. To date, Apple has yet to debut an inductive charging dock for iOS devices. As shown, the dock housing is configured to receive a handheld device. While the dock housing is shown to receive the handheld device in an upright position, other dock housing configurations for receiving the handheld device along its other sides are also possible. The dock housing is further configured to enable charging the battery of the handheld device through an inductive charge coupling mechanism, and to also provide improved wireless communication by integrating the reradiating antenna as shown. The charge circuit is connected between the inductive charge coupling mechanism and a port for receiving power.”
All I care about is non-tethered charging, built-in to my future iOS devices.
Inductive charging is very slow compared to wired. Which is fine for devices that get used a half hour a day or so but not high power devices like iPads. We’ll see how successful Apple will be if they release one.
It may be slower in the applications with which we are familiar – electric toothbrushes, etc. But I don’t know of any physical limitation that would prevent inductive coupling from providing 1A or more at 5Vdc. Your wall socket provides up to 1.5kW of power. The typical power adapter is 45W to 65W.
And knowing Apple, the improvements will be like no other in the industry, don’t be suprised that with all the Battery Technology they have invented it will be better then what we see now.
I have not yet reviewed the patents. But the inductive charging dock patent should address unique design, functions, and applications of such a device. Apple should know how to submit good patents by now, so you should give them the benefit of the doubt.