At times there are a number of interesting patents that don't require a full report. Instead of passing on them, this report briefly covers 3 inventions that may interest some Apple fans. Links to the patents will allow those interested in a particular patent to dive deeper on demand. The first patent covers 5G millimeter wave antennas coming to Apple Watch. The second patent covers future power cables designed with two varying layers of polymer materials to protect against fraying. And the third patent covers a possible future dual iPhone charging pad.

20210033714: Electronic Devices Having Millimeter Wave Ranging Capabilities

Apple's iPhone 12 includes a millimeter wave antenna for the U.S. market and a patent today points to a future Apple Watch having millimeter wave antennas as shown in the patent figures below.

Apple's patent FIG. 7 above is a perspective view of an illustrative phased antenna array that may be used to perform spatial ranging operations using millimeter and centimeter wave signals; FIG. 10 is a top-down view of an Apple Watch showing how slot antennas for handling non-millimeter wave communications and phased antenna arrays for performing spatial ranging operations using millimeter and centimeter wave signals may be integrated within an electronic device.

20210035708: Cable with Variable Stiffness

Apple's patent application generally relates to cables such as electrical cables used to transmit power and/or data and in particular to a cable having variable stiffness along its length. The patent definitely points to combining a softer polymer with a stiffer polymer to provide a stronger cable construction. This patent doesn't in any way refer to Apple's new braided cables.

Apple's patent FIG. 7 above shows a simplified cross section view of an assembly of a cable using different levels of polymer stiffness.

20210036553: Inductive Power Transfer [Dual Charging Pad]

Apple's patent application discusses improved inductive power transfer or at least seeks to provide the public with a useful choice. Apple's patent FIG. 2a below shows a DD type coil charging pad 200 with two adjacent planar coils 212 and 214.

A second Inductive Charger patent was published today under number 20210036557 titled "Thermally Optimized RX Wireless Chargers for small RX Devices."