Mac peripherals including keyboards could work without needing to be recharged with a cable or have new batteries installed, as Apple has been working on a wireless power supply system capable of transmitting power to peripherals like keyboards and trackpads over short distances.
As users shift towards wireless peripherals and accessories that work over Bluetooth instead of a physical connection, more people are discovering power-related inconveniences associated with the hardware. The devices periodically run out of power, requiring users either to connect them to a cable to recharge or to replace the batteries, a process that could waste a few minutes of time if spare batteries are available for use.
While wireless charging can be one solution, by temporarily placing the keyboard or mouse on a charging pad between computing sessions, it however means that users need to remember to move the keyboard and mouse to the charging pad each time. As most people would prefer to have the keyboard in position ready for typing, it is likely users may encounter drained peripherals if they were left out after use without being placed on the pad.
In a patent application published by the US Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday, Apple’s concept for a “Wireless Charging System with Radio-Frequency Antennas” attempts to solve the issue. Rather than relying on a charging coil in a device being in close proximity to a charging pad, Apple’s solution instead allows for the charging to take place over a short distance, such as within a foot of the charging point.
Read more at AppleInsider.com