Apple reportedly filed for a patent for a new battery. The fuel system may power various Apple products for weeks at a time.
The Independent reported that the company is currently developing batteries that may power its iPhones and MacBooks for days or even weeks, according to new patent documents. Apple has presented new plans, which seem to be intended for its laptops, involving a fuel cell system that will significantly increase the battery life of the devices. As soon as the new battery runs out, users can conveniently swap it with a fully-charged model.
The patent documents reveal that the battery packs would consist of a detachable fuel cartridge that will be connected to the fuel cell system. This can mean that the packs may be swapped, charged or disposed of after use. Apple did not yet indicate how the fuel cells will function, but the company appears to remain open to currently-developing technologies that might help it attain its objective.
Mashable wrote that the patent features a system made up of a fuel cell, which will convert fuel into electrical power. There is also an interface to the portable computing device, which could be a smartphone or laptop, as well as a controller that monitors the status of the fuel cell and manages it accordingly.
The application also shows that the battery would include sodium borohydride and water, lithium hydride and water, sodium silicate and water, lithium borohydride and water, magnesium hydride and water, lithium aluminum hydride and water, aluminum hydride, a hydrocarbon, an amine borane complex, lithium aluminum hydride, a magnesium borohydride-amine complex, magnesium borohydride, compressed hydrogen gas and liquid nitrogen.
The filings also referred to the MagSafe charging system of Apple. It is the technology used on most of its laptops, allowing the chargers to clip on via a magnet, and then slip off again when pulled. This is very convenient so that the computer would not crash down if anyone would accidentally trip over the wire. Apple might be thinking of using the same technology to its iPhones and iPads in the near future.
Similar to several other patents filed by Apple in the past, not all of the proposed technologies ever see production. It might delight users to know that Apple and other manufacturers are working relentlessly to boost the battery life of its products.
Apple might make an announcement during its big event on September 9, 2015.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
