Apple Patent Hints to Future Motion Charger
Charging mobile devices simply by heat or the motion of our body has been an idea that has been kicked around for a while.
IBM has been predicting such a technology in its annual technology forecast for some time now and still predicts that motion chargers could be a reality in or shortly after 2015.
However, Apple has attracted some attention by actually applying for a patent covering a power supply via electromagnetic induction. The patent application, filed in June of this year, could conceivably hint to a power supply that will charge your iPhone battery as soon as your body is in motion, as TechCrunch pointed out.
What makes Apple's patent especially interesting is the design of the electromagnetic induction process. Apple does not intend to use the kind of traditional wire coils that are typically shown to demonstrate induction. Instead, Apple says it is possible to use coils printed on circuit boards, which would indicate that this technology could actually fit into a mobile device without the need for clumsy wires.
There was no information just how much power such a system is able to generate. However, it appears that if Apple truly has body motion in mind when it reminds us that the movement of magnets close to printed coils can create an "electromotive force", then we surely hope that this patent will end up in technology we will be able to buy soon.

IBM has been predicting such a technology.....
The patent application, filed in June of this year, could conceivably hint to a power supply"
etc,etc --> does anyone else think that innovation should only be rewarded when an actual prototype has been built and proven to be , erm, actually 'innovative'
--> i.e. does this type of activity (early (theoretical) patent with no prototype) block all future competitive activity in the (legal) area surrounding the patent. Is this really a good thing for open innovation? Do we need to change the way patent applications work?
But Apple patenting it means I'll never get it for my phones.
But Apple patenting it means I'll never get it for my phones.
IBM has been predicting such a technology.....
The patent application, filed in June of this year, could conceivably hint to a power supply"
etc,etc --> does anyone else think that innovation should only be rewarded when an actual prototype has been built and proven to be , erm, actually 'innovative'
--> i.e. does this type of activity (early (theoretical) patent with no prototype) block all future competitive activity in the (legal) area surrounding the patent. Is this really a good thing for open innovation? Do we need to change the way patent applications work?
Nope and you can thank apple and the patent office.
However, there is no way to generate any usable amount of electricity from body heat or motion. There is no viable function to generate electricity from the ever-so-slightly-higher than ambient human body temperature, and any electricity generated from motion is going to be relative to the (tiny) mass of the generator assembly of the charging device. It would be more efficient to make the back of the phone a solar cell(a la ye olden solar calculators from the 90s) than to use motion or body heat, and any freshman engineering major knows that.
Nokia 920, prepared to pay $110 billion dollars
No "we" don't. You seem to have us confused with low intelligence people. It's Apple crap. Apple is evil and we'd rather not hear about it ever.
Please, patent your stuff once you have diagrams and blueprints for it. When everyone can actually see that you have legitimately engineered a new device, a patend should be granted to you. Please, again, stop trying to patent IDEAS.
Thanks
-The Average Tech-Informed Guy
With copy to: The US patent department.
The iphone is literally just that
To politicians:
Please reform the US Patent Office, and give it extra funding so it has more staff to handle the patent application overload.
Probability of them caring: 1%
Probability of them cutting each others' throats over abortions, gay rights and etc: 99%
Changing the way patents are granted is a noble goal, but it will take a gargantuan effort. Attacking Apple for using the systems like its competition does is just silly.
Apple has brought the entire industry to the state it's in today, had they not done so the lack of innovation would have us with phones barely beyond the N95 today. They bring the industry forward, they are at the heart of innovation, and even if your non-Apple preferred brand has to *steal* from Apple to keep up, you'll benefit as well. Just as long as they get caught red handed in court.