iPhone 6 Rumors: Apple Awarded Smart Dock Patent with Wireless Induction Charging

By Prarthito

| Published: Thursday, February 6, 2014, 16:58 [IST]

Cupertino-based technology giant Apple has had an on and off relationship with docks in the past with a number of related technologies being rumored to arrive with a new iPhone. Now with a brand new year already upon us, it seems like Apple's is still continuing with this relationship with the company, reportedly, being awarded a brand new patent involving a Smart Dock that enables wireless inductive charging.

As reported by Apple Insider, Apple has been awarded a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The new patent features a flat smart dock that will look to determine the way a device is placed and perform important actions such as induction charging, data syncing, diagnostics testing, and more.

Apple Awarded Smart Dock Patent with Wireless Induction Charging

And while this may look like something entirely new, in reality, it's actually not. Apparently, Apple had filed a patent for a Smart Dock back in 2012 which didn't bear any fruits at that time. However, the new one concerning the same Smart Dock has now been awarded by the USPTO.

As of now, the new patent for the Smart Dock includes several components such as a processor, memory, internal power supply, and multiple sensors, among a list of other components.

The dock, itself, has been described as playing the central role in the transfer of data between a user's device and a host device - such as a computer. And as we all know, data, itself, would require a wire such as a Lightning cable or even a wireless networking between two devices to transfer data.

Apart from that, the patent also describes support for multiple devices, as the dock will be able to perform actions related to data transfers and charging on devices when kept in close proximity to each other. Transfers between a host device and a primary device placed on the charging surface have also been described as a capability of the Smart Dock.

Now it remains to be seen if Apple is able to finally get it right and introduce the new age feature in an upcoming iPhone it may look to release in the near future - preferably iPhone 6. Only time will tell.