Text Size

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.

 
Previous Comments

Great idea

03/22, 12:56pm reply

I wish my MacBook would do this already.

Macola

Mac Elite

Joined: Mar 2001

0

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

0

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

0

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

0

Popular News