Maybe I’m reading it wrong, but a newly granted Apple patent for a “Wireless Power Systems With Foreign Object Detection” seems to hint a possible return of the abandoned AirPower product.
About AirPower
The AirPower (pictured in an image released by Apple over four years ago) was originally announced in September 2017 alongside the iPhone X. It was supposed to be able to charge a Qi-compatible iPhone, an Apple Watch, and a pair of AirPods (in a special wireless charging case) at the same time regardless of where they were placed on the pad.
However, there were constant rumors of production, engineering, and manufacturing difficulties. Seems those rumors were right, as Apple announced in March 2018 that work on the device was being canceled as, in Apple’s words, “will not achieve our high standards.”
The patent filing relates relates generally to power systems, and, more particularly, to wireless power systems for charging electronic devices. In the patent filing, Apple notes that, in a wireless charging system, a wireless power transmitting device such as a charging mat wirelessly transmits power to a wireless power receiving device such as a portable electronic device.
The wireless power receiving device has a coil and rectifier circuitry. The coil receives alternating-current wireless power signals from the wireless charging mat. The rectifier circuitry converts the received signals into direct-current power.
About the patent
In a wireless charging system, a wireless power transmitting device such as a charging mat wirelessly transmits power to a wireless power receiving device such as a portable electronic device. The wireless power transmitting device uses a wireless power transmitting coil to transmit wireless power signals to the wireless power receiving device.
The wireless power receiving device has a coil and rectifier circuitry. The coil of the wireless power receiving device receives alternating-current wireless power signals from the wireless power transmitting device. The rectifier circuitry converts the received signals into direct-current power.
Apple wants its wireless charging system to determines\ whether an external object is present in the vicinity of its transmitting coil. The external object may be a foreign object such as a coin or paperclip or may be a wireless power receiving device. If a foreign object is detected, suitable action may be taken — such as stopping wireless power transmission.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “A wireless power system has a wireless power transmitting device and a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power transmitting device uses a wireless power transmitting coil to transmit wireless power signals to the wireless power receiving device. The wireless power transmitting device determines whether an external object is present.
“The external object may be a foreign object such as a coin or paperclip or may be a wireless power receiving device. External objects are detected using quality-factor measurements. Wireless communications are used to discriminate between foreign objects and wireless power receiving devices. Quality factor measurements may be compensated for aging and temperature effects using temperature measurements and compensation factors based on frequency and measured resistance.”
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