Apple files for another patent for an AirPower-like wireless charging system

Apple has filed for yet another patent (number 20200321807) that hints that, though it scrapped plans for the AirPower device, it’s still looking into a next generation wireless charging system. It’s for a wireless charging mat that wirelessly transmits power to an electronic device that is placed on the mat. 

The AirPower 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 was constant rumors of production, engineering, and manufacturing difficulties. Seems those rumors were right, as Apple announced in March that work on the device was being canceled as, in Apple’s words, “will not achieve our high standards.

The new patent filing is for a wireless power system that has a wireless power transmitting device and a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power transmitting device may be a wireless charging mat with one or more coils or may be a wireless charging puck with one or more coils.

This aligns with recent rumors. In April,YouTuber and leaker Jon Prosser, Apple’s AirPower may return from the dead. “May” being, of course, the key word here.)

“The project is back on, internally,” he tweeted. “No guarantee that they’ll finalize and release it, but they haven’t given up yet and they’re trying to re-engineer the coils to displace heat more effectively. Prototyping is underway.