Future iPads could ditch Apple's Lightning dock connector in favor of an even more seamless means of powering up: inductive charging through a magnetic Smart Cover.
Apple's U.S. patent application no. 20130063873, published Thursday, describes how a tablet cover (the iPad's Smart Cover) could provide truly wireless charging by including a built-in inductive-charging element and a battery.
"Although a variety of standards have been developed for providing wireless communication with electronic devices, these devices continue to be plagued with a need for corded power supplies," the patent description reads. "These cords are a burden to use, store and carrying around as needed. Cords can be unsightly and substantially hinder portable device mobility."
Indeed. Current inductive charging solutions aren't quite as convenient as Apple's proposed implementation, however. The Nexus 4's wireless charging orb, for example, looks cool, but it's a stand you have to remember to deposit your smartphone on. Nokia's wireless charging Windows Phones also must be placed on an inductive charger. And of course, these inductive charging solutions need a cord.
Apple is careful to note in the patent description that this solution wouldn't necessarily be limited to tablets, but electronic devices of "many forms."
There are a number of hurdles to overcome before we could see this inductive charging cover exist in real life. The inductive charging elements and the magnets in the smart cover would need to be carefully positioned so as not to interfere with one another and reduce power transfer efficiency. And the battery in the cover would need to be very thin and flexible, with a means of dissipating heat. And it's got to be tough enough to protect everything.
But Apple is also exploring a number of battery design solutions, as well as other wireless charging innovations, according to past patent filings. So as always, we'll just have to wait and see if this idea ever comes to fruition or if it's just another notion Cupertino minds toyed with and tossed aside.
