Apple Patents iPad Smart Cover With Wireless Inductive Charging

Apple has filed a patent for an iPad Smart Cover that can charge the device using induction.

The patent is entitled 'INTEGRATED INDUCTIVE CHARGING IN PROTECTIVE COVER' and outlines 'accurate and reliable techniques for wirelessly powering a tablet device.'

Here's the detailed description of how it might work:

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In one embodiment, the portable computing device can take the form of a tablet device such as the iPad. More particularly, the tablet device can have associated with it a protective cover that can be attached and detached repeatedly and easily using magnetic attachment. The protective cover can take the form of a Smart Cover exclusively for use with the iPad line of tablet devices. 

In any case, the described embodiments relate specifically to the wireless supply of power to electronic devices using inductive coupling. More particularly, useful power can be supplied directly to a tablet device by way of a protective cover that can be placed in close proximity to a surface of the tablet device. The protective cover can include an inductive power transmitter that can take many forms such as inductive coils. The inductive coils can, in turn, receive power from an external power supply. 

In some cases, however, the protective cover can include an internal source of power such as a battery that can be used to store power that can subsequently be passed to the tablet device by way of the inductive power transfer circuit. In the described embodiment, the inductive power transfer circuit can be developed between the inductive power transmitter in the protective cover and an inductive power receiver in the tablet device. The power supplied through the inductive power transfer circuit can be used to power the tablet device and/or to charge the tablet device's internal batteries, if needed.