“On April 02, 2015, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals new inductive charging interfaces with magnetic retention for electronic devices and accessories,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple.
“To date, Apple has filed a for a patent regarding ‘Wireless charging via Near Field Magnetic Resonance,’ while implementing USB Type-C on their new MacBook for faster charging,” Purcher reports. “Today’s patent makes the case that adding wireless charging to thinner iDevices may not be the way to go in the future.”
“In one way, Apple’s patent appears to advance MagSafe. The problem however is that the European Commission has given Apple until 2017 to implement a common USB solution for charging mobile devices which USB Type-C delivers,” Purcher reports. “Whether this could be integrated into a future version of USB is unknown at this time.”
Read more, and see Apple’s patent application illustrations and diagrams, in the full article here.
Related articles:
Apple ‘iPhone 7′ models likely to offer wireless charging – April 2, 2015
Apple patents inductive charging pad with orientation-based device docking functions – February 4, 2014
Apple granted U.S. patents for wireless charging system, new Mac Pro, Apple TV and more – December 3, 2013
Apple patent application reveals iPad Smart Cover with built-in inductive charging – March 14, 2013
Apple patent application suggests wireless device charging – June 15, 2011
I wonder if this is being used in the watch for charging? 😀
Given that the European Commission is requiring all mobile devices to standardize on USB, that definitely gives weight to seeing USB Type C replacing Lightning. It would be a shame if that happens, but could explain why Apple was a driving force behind the design of USB Type C.
I just wish they had created a MagSafe USB. That would have been the best of all ports.
“USB Type-C on their new MacBook for faster charging,”
. . . and more efficient use of electricity.
If the Europeans set a standard like the huge electrical device plugs they have then NO THANK-YOU! Those are the ugliest most poorly designed plugs in the entire world. We don’t need to lock in a single design for charging our devices because it will stifle innovation and leave us with something like those ridiculously huge 220 VAC plugs.
110 is less efficient than 220 (or 240) in everyday use, and is nearly useless for heavy duty appliances.
But hey they are less ugly which to some seems to be the most important factor. Can’t say I have ever considered a plug ugly, utilitarian perhaps.
Pretty sure my washing machine, dryer, and refrigerator all use 110. Most people in the US don’t own anything in their homes that requires 220.
Maybe you meant to say that it’s not suitable for heavy industrial purposes, which is true. But the vast majority of American homes have no need to plug in industrial shop equipment, and the industries that do have the 220 VAC plugs they need.
You can only speak for yourself, Jooop. Every new home in North America already has 240V circuits as well as 120V. It would be significantly less expensive for homeowners to simply have 240V — both less costly to built and more efficient in energy transmission.
There’s no substantial technical or logistical reason to retain 120V circuits. 120V circuits are antique technology borne out of fear of unreliable/unsafe early electrical devices. Those days are gone. Electronics makers have already made the switch — practically every AC/DC converter is capable for 240V AC circuits.
The people resisting progress are the marketers and the old timers dragging their feet, much like making the leap to the metric system. Practically all the products you buy are already designed in metric and/or dual-dimensioned, but traditionalists assume that end buyers can’t comprehend the simpler metric system. And there is no congressional leadership in the USA, so the end result is the inefficient status quo.
History is littered with obsolete inefficient system standards, and many people on the board here cheer whenever Apple abandons an old standard, but then they gripe about more fundamental societal progress like electrical, measurement, time, and other standards.
You have a point, Sharon Sharalike. Doubling the voltage reduces the current by the same factor for a given power level. And 110Vac is particularly limiting for major appliances and power tools (~1500W for a 15A circuit). That’s why electric dryers use 220Vac. Of course, those plugs are large and butt-ugly, too.