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Apple has Won a Patent for a Cover Accessory with an Integrated Inductive Power Receiving Assembly

1 X cover - iPad case with recharging coil

Apple has been working on an iPad Smart Folio with an inductive power receiving assembly since at least 2014 (published in 2018).  Another such patent came to light in 2021. This morning the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple a patent for a rechargeable accessory case for iPad,  iPhone or even a MacBook.

Wireless Charging System With Simultaneous Wireless Power Transfer At Different Frequencies

Apple's granted patent covers a wireless power system may include one or more wireless power transmitting devices, one or more wireless power receiving devices, and one or more wireless power transmitting and receiving devices. The wireless power transmitting device may include a coil and wireless power transmitting circuitry coupled to the coil. The wireless power transmitting circuitry may be configured to transmit wireless power signals with the coil. The wireless power receiving device may include a coil that is configured to receive wireless power signals from the wireless power transmitting device and rectifier circuitry that is configured to convert the wireless power signals to direct current power. The wireless power transmitting and receiving device may include at least one coil and both wireless power transmitting circuitry and wireless power receiving circuitry.

A device in a wireless power system may be operable with a removable accessory such as a case. The device may transmit or receive wireless power through the case while the electronic device is coupled to the case. The device may also transmit wireless power to the case or receive wireless power from the case while the electronic device is coupled to the case. The case may have a folio shape with a front cover portion that covers the display of the electronic device.

The device may have a first planar wireless charging coil that has windings wound about a central region and that operates at a first frequency. The device may also include a second planar wireless charging coil that has windings positioned in the central region of the first coil and that operates at a second frequency that is different than the first frequency. The first planar wireless charging coil may receive wireless power signals whereas the second planar wireless charging coil may transmit wireless power signals. The first planar wireless charging coil may be operable at a higher maximum power level than the second planar wireless charging coil.

The removable accessory may include a dielectric layer that is interposed between the electronic device and a wireless power transmitting device during wireless power transfer operations between the electronic device and the wireless power transmitting device. A coil may be embedded in the dielectric layer that receives wireless power signals from the second coil of the electronic device while additional wireless power signals pass through the dielectric layer from the wireless power transmitting device to the first coil of the electronic device. The removable accessory may also include a magnetic core that relays flux from the wireless power transmitting device towards the first coil of the electronic device. Additionally, the removable accessory may include a magnetic alignment structure that magnetically couples to additional magnetic alignment structures in the electronic device and/or the wireless power transmitting device to align coils within the charging system during operation.

2 Accessory with recharging coils

Lastly, due to the different associated geometries, power levels, and power transmission frequencies, the magnetic cores within the wireless charging system may have different properties. Each core may be optimized for its particular function and position within the wireless charging system. Different devices may have different space constraints that result in the cores being formed from different materials and/or having different geometries. Additionally, the different frequencies of operation of the coils may have different associated optimal core materials.

For more details, review Apple's granted patent 11710984.

10.52FX - Granted Patent Bar

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