Apple Interested in WiTricity Technology for Wireless Charging of Devices

Submitted by lalit on July 12, 2011 - 1:35pm.

Few days back WSJ reported that Apple is working on a new way of charging the phone. And this started rumors that Apple is working on wireless changing for iOS devices. Adding more weight to these rumors was a patent application filled by Apple titled “Wireless power utilization in a local computing environment”. In this patent application Apple talks about using magnetic resonance technology for charging various devices.

One example that Apple gives in patent application is, “The wireless powered local computing environment includes at least a near field magnetic resonance (NFMR) power supply arranged to wirelessly provide power to any of a number of suitably configured devices.” In the application Apple refers to WiTricity technology developed by MIT researchers.

WiTricity was developed by MIT scientist Marin Soljacic to wirelessly transfer electricity over distances ranging from few centimeters to several meters. The basic principle behind WiTricity technology is:

If a conductive loop is connected to an AC power source, it will generate an oscillating magnetic field in the vicinity of the loop.  A second conducting loop, brought close enough to the first, may “capture” some portion of that oscillating magnetic field, which in turn, generates or induces an electric current in the second coil. The current generated in the second coil may be used to power devices.

Apple could use WiTricity in future devices for wireless charging giving them a much better option than induction charging used by device like Palm Pre, where you have to physically touch the device to the charger for charging to take place. By using WiTricity like technology devices like iPhone will start charging wirelessly as soon as they come near a WiTricity charger. Currently these charges have a range of about two meters.

In the video below WiTricity’s CEO Eric Giler talks about the technology and demos various devices including iPhone working on WiTricity.
[Via MacRumors]