Apple's mobile device charging patent
updated 12:40 pm EDT, Thu March 22, 2007
Mobile charging patent
Apple's newest patent filing surfaced today revealing a new power smart notebook system that won't power down while an iPod or iphone are connected to it for charging up.The patent, titled "Charging of mobile devices," states that "if a television set were to have the appropriate port, it could be used to charge a connected device, such as a music player. The television set could determine that it is being used as a charging source for the music device and not turn off that port." The patent in its most basic form would prevent notebooks from going to sleep or powering down when peripheral devices are connected, thereby charging the devices even when sleeping or powered off. Interestingly, no television set currently available on the market offers such a port as defined by Apple's patent filing.












Great idea
03/22, 12:56pm reply
I wish my MacBook would do this already.
Macola
Mac Elite
Joined: Mar 2001
Let the floodgates open..
03/22, 01:01pm reply
...and bring on those SHDTV sets at 1440p res (4mp must be better than 2) as well as some new toys for us boys...
It seems a long dry run with only 2 shipping new products... ;-)
bobolicious
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2002
Sorry QHDTV
03/22, 01:04pm reply
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/cmo-1080p-is-for-punks-we-got-quad-hd-208131.php
bobolicious
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2002
1394 already does this
03/22, 04:46pm reply
The last two Apple notebooks I've owned have been able to charge a device over Firewire when the notebook is asleep. It's just USB that's a problem, and apparently this patent would address it.
TheBum
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2001