Apple has filed a patent that makes wind turbine power more flexible and allows access to power even when a turbine is not actively generating power at a given time.
The patent filing includes "a set of rotating blades to convert rotational energy from a wind turbine into heat in a low-heat-capacity fluid." The heat energy stored in the fluid can be transferred to a "working fluid" which can then be used to generate electricity, Apple said.
Apple views the invention as means to grow more independent from traditional power sources such as coal power plants that are typically needed to complement green power sources such as wind turbines, which may not always be able to provide enough power. While operating, the company said that the rotational kinetic energy of the blades can be translated into heat and stored in a capacity fluid.
The patent filing provides information on a very high level and low detail that, if approved, will cover a wide range of concepts to store heat energy generated by wind turbines in fluids. With Apple growing its data centers and exploring alternative power sources, we expect to see more patents in this range surfacing in the foreseeable time.
No it's not. It's about storing thermal energy in a liquid, probably some kind of molten salt, then using that to boil water to drive a steam generator when there's no wind. Solar power plants already use the concept to produce power after the sun goes down. If you're going to hate on Apple at least make sense.
If you understood the article you'd realize how foolish your comment is.
Besides this is already used by homeowners that have solar/wind generators. Its called a Battery Array, it stores energy when the device is running and uses the stored energy when it isn't currently functioning.
homeowners to get sued by APPLE for owning batteries and installed wind generators 10 years ago.
You can't patent an "idea". That's like patenting the "idea" of something that you haven't invented. The "I thought of it first" method shouldn't be valid for something like this. Patents are designed to protect innovation, not passing thoughts.
This is Apple grasping at straws.
Now if the patent was an artificial liquid compound perfected for such task, that would be different, but wtf is that crap.
This hasn't stopped apple yet from patenting things that are not new.
apple patents ideas from movies, steve jobs was a sci-fi junkie that patented movie props.
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-10/tk-predictions-past-steve-jobs-fulfilled
http://gizmodo.com/5454430/the-tablets-of-our-dreams
You can't patent an idea. You need a specific method to go with it, your battery array is safe.
And yet another case of patenting an idea.
http://www.dailytech.com/EDITORIAL+Apples+Patent+Didnt+Look+Much+Like+the+iPad++or+Samsung+Tab+101/article22685.htm
idea patented in 2004, product not until 2010.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2010/11/23/protecting-ideas-can-you-patent-an-idea/id=13495/
I just invented it 6 years before it was possible. I patented the Idea of my invention.
All rectangles with rounded edges are mine - Steve Jobs.