Amaya Toman The U.S. Patent Office today published an Apple patent that describes a headphone case with inductive charging capabilities. While the patent doesn't specifically mention AirPods or AirPower, the related illustrations clearly show a case similar to the one that came with the original AirPods, as well as an AirPower-style pad.
The vast majority of currently manufactured wireless charging pads require the exact position of the charging device for the most efficient charging possible. But Apple's latest patent describes a method that could, in theory, allow for arbitrary positioning of the AirPods case. Apple's solution is to place two charging coils in the right and left bottom left corners of the case, with both coils having the ability to receive power from the pad.
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Apple first teased the public about the AirPower pad and AirPods with the possibility of wireless charging in September 2017. The pad was supposed to see the light of day already last year, but its release did not happen and Apple did not come up with any alternative date. Last year, at the same time, the first reports began to appear about the difficulties that Apple allegedly had to face in connection with the release of the charger, and which led to such a long delay. But now it finally seems that Apple has overcome all the problems and we can start looking forward to AirPower again. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo even claims that we will see a pad for wireless charging in the middle of this year.
A number of reports suggest that a Spring Keynote will be held at the Steve Jobs Theater in the newly built Apple Park on March 25, where Apple will introduce its new services - but there should also be a place for the premiere of new hardware. In addition to new iPads and MacBooks, there are also rumors that AirPower and a wireless case for AirPods could finally arrive.
Source: AppleInsider
