Apple Patent suggests Inductive Charging for iPhone 5
A number of newly granted Apple patents have been published by the US Patent and Trademark Office, the most notable of which details plans for an inductive charging port to be used with an iOS device.
The patent, reported by the Patently Apple blog, shows a unit which will incorporate inductive technology in order to charge devices wirelessly and is expected to be compatible with future iPhones and iPads.
Wireless charging is not a totally new concept. PowerMat introduced induction technology back in 2010 and has since provided a selection of cable-free charging options. However, this latest development highlights Apple’s intentions to introduce the technology to its devices.
Another interesting aspect of the patent application is the incorporation of a ‘reradiating antenna’ into the unit, meaning mobile signal will be boosted to any connected device. Again, this is the first such example of the technology to come directly from the Cupertino company.
Of course, the patent approval does not necessarily mean that we will see the dock come to fruition at any point in the near future or even at all. That said, Apple has been rumoured to be researching wireless charging for some time so we may see an inductive charging port appear alongside the much anticipated iPhone 5 unveiling.