New patents discovered by Patently Apple show a MacBook charging itself, along with an iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. The patent shows Apple trying to implement a MagSafe-like feature in future MacBooks.
Patently Apple says that there are two ways in charging using two coils, one is used to charge the MacBook itself, and the second is to charge other devices using the MacBook. Another patent also shows an iPad charging an iPhone and an Apple Watch, similar to a patent that shows a MagSafe accessory charging an iPhone and AirPods.
Apple states that while they are working on standardizing cables, ”“ with only the iPhone left to move on to USB-C ”“ every product needs its own power reserve:
Some electronic devices include one or more rechargeable batteries that may require external power to recharge. Often, these devices may be charged using a common or standardized electrical connector or cable. For example, some devices may be charged using a universal serial bus (USB) connector or cable. However, despite having standardized connectors and cable, each device may require a separate or dedicated power supply to charge. In some cases, having separate power supplies for each device may be burdensome to use, store, and/or transport.
The patents also claim that the devices will be as wide as possible:
A portable electronic device comprising: an enclosure forming a back surface of the portable electronic device; a display coupled to the enclosure and forming a front surface of the portable electronic device that is opposite from the back surface of the portable electronic device; a battery within the enclosure and providing electrical power to the display and a transmit inductive coil positioned within the enclosure and between the display and the back surface of the enclosure, the transmit inductive coil being configured to wirelessly transmit power through the back surface of the enclosure to an external device that is positioned proximate to the back surface of the enclosure
The electronic devices may include inductive coils which may be configured to be in electrical communication with inductive coils of external electronic devices. In some embodiments, the electrically communicative inductive coils may act as transmitting coils and/or receiving coils capable of transmitting power between the electronic devices. This transmission of power may increase a charge of a battery of the electronic device receiving the power, while simultaneously decreasing the charge of a battery transmitting the power. The inductive coils of the electronic devices capable of transmitting power to external electronic devices may allow for the charging of the battery of an electronic device using only another electronic device. As such, only a single power cord or no power cords may be needed to charge one or more of a group of devices that include electrically communicative inductive coils.
Apple is trying to implement wireless charging in many of their products, and with the re-introduction of MagSafe on iPhone 12, Apple could remove the charging port on the next iPhone, with MagSafe being the replacement. This patent is the latest push by Apple to introduce an ”AirPower-like” MacBook feature in the future.
