Apple is continuing its run to the patents offices and after filing for patents that have involved creating a laptop shell and a vaporizer among other odd-ball patents, the company is now filing a patent for a kind of technology that will enable iPhones to charge completely wirelessly using just a Wi-Fi router.
According to Apple Insider, the application filed was for “Wireless Charging and Communications Systems with Dual-Frequency Patch Antennas” as a method for transferring power to charge electronic devices over frequencies that are usually reserved for data communications. This include cellular wireless links between 700 MHz and 2700 MHz as well as Wi-Fi signals that can transmit 2.5GHz and 5GHz signals. The document filed also included the new 802.11ad standard spectrum channels which use the WiGig transfer-speeds. This means that the function of this technology will work over a 60GHz frequency band as well. This gives us a little bit of insight, as the patent could be used for future iterations of networking devices possibly rolled out by Apple that would use this proprietary feature.
The technology can use the dual channelling capabilities of Wi-Fi routers in order to create extended ranges of signals that will allow for the device to charge from afar. This is an exciting prospect for numerous reasons, because it could mean that our phone’s batteries could perennially stay charged without needing to be connected to a wall. This also could possibly mean that since Apple has filed for the patent, we could see this technology surface pretty soon. This could also mean that there could be a new standard for phones to receive this charging feature. Will phones now be able to charge through their chipset’s Wi-Fi antennae? We’ll have to wait until the technology materializes.
The company is hoping to release its newest upcoming iPhone with wireless charging technology that will probably not be the same as the one mentioned here but wireless charging should now be a standard affair from all iPhones released here on out. Even the patent filed shows only theories regarding the way the technology can be used but does not have any evidence or application of it just yet. Apple’s series of patents filed just goes to show the kind of innovation that is being conjured within the company. Although the iPhone might be losing traction from the kind of fame it once had, it is good to see Apple working on other appliances and technologies apart from the ones it is already known for.
COMMENTS