Apple Investigating Wireless Charging via Wi-Fi Routers

Megalith

Megalith

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Sadly, this patent merely “covers the theory” so it is hard to say if Apple can make this a reality, but it sure would be convenient if you could charge your electronics using just your Wi-Fi router. Such routers would rely on “dual polarization and dual frequency antennas” to extend charging range, so you could theoretically keep something charged regardless of where you walked in your house. We haven’t even mastered long-range internet via Wi-Fi yet, so I am not going to be optimistic here.

Apple's invention deviates from contemporary technology in that incorporated wireless circuitry and supporting components handle both communications and power delivery. Current iterations, like Apple Watch's inductive charging hardware, are dedicated to power transfer only, and are limited to very short distances. Apple proposes a variety of techniques to extend that range. Along with dual mode circuitry, the claims recited in today's patent mention dual-polarization, dual-frequency patch antennas consistent with beam forming layouts. Patch antennas typically consist of a flat, rectangular resonating element placed over a larger metal ground plane structure. The flat antenna arrangement is ideal for mounting on flat surfaces, hence the term "patch."
 
From what I remember the reason tesla coils never took off for wireless power was because of how loud they were.
 
Heh! Miniature Wardenclyffe Towers? Curious as to how long it might take before somebody has fun with a Topsy the Elephant type experiment to prove how dangerous wireless anything is? ;)

Hope people who are trying to recreate and continue Tesla's work/research into his tower make progress.

// ....in before Apple patents the towers
// ....though i'd be good if Apple actually did this kinda research :)
 
At CES or something similar a few years (2-3) ago, a company was showing off Wi-Fi charging via the router, and it worked. What happened to it?
 
Well, it's nice to see Apple hasn't lost their core skillset that got them off the ground and successful.
That's right they stole this idea too.

Nikoli Tesla already demonstrated powering devices by RF. Hell, applications of remote powering / charging have been around forever including NASA sending power from one satellite to another via microwaves and things as simple as RFID chips.

Also, Tesla's remote power via RF was killed when Westinghouse realized you could not meter or charge for this type of power distribution (unlike wires hosting AC).
Tesla's funding for that project and others was pulled due to ROI concerns.
 
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