Apple
is going to revolutionize the battery for Laptops, if their latest patent
filing is to be believed.
On
Thursday September 3rd 2015, Apple had filed a patent with the US
Patent and Trademark Office for a fuel cell for their Apple Macbook pro as
reported in the article “Apple
envisions laptops that run for days without a recharge”, published
September 3, 2015 by Dara Kerr, CNET News.
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It’s
very similar to a POC (Proof of Concept) fuel cell developed by Intelligent
Energy that is able to fit inside of an Apple iPhone as described in my blog article
entitled “Intelligent
Energy Hydrogen Fuel Cell for Apple - How Hydrogen can give Apple products
weeks of battery life by 2017”.
So
what’s so interesting about yet another miniaturized a PEM (Proton Exchange
Membrane) Hydrogen fuel cell?
Apple Hydrogen Fuel
cell – Powering your Laptop with Water is possible
What's
interesting is that Apple's patent doesn’t specify Hydrogen as the fuel, but
suggests other potential sources of fuel such as:
1.
Sodium borohydride and water
2.
Sodium silicate and water
3.
Lithium hydride and water
4.
Magnesium hydride and water
Compressed
hydrogen and Liquid Hydrogen are also possible fuels as noted in the article “Apple
exploring hydrogen fuel cell batteries that could last weeks”, published
September 4, 2015 By Liam Tung, ZDNET.
But
using hydrogen is highly unlikely, due to the fact that storing compressed
hydrogen would slowly leak into the surrounding atmosphere and cause an explosion.
Worse it burns with an invisible flame, making it hard to spot should a
compressed hydrogen canister or cartridge rupture.
It
also unique in that Apple's idea comes built into the Laptop or device instead
of being an external peripheral, much as the batteries for the Apple Macbook
comes built into the laptop.
The
idea of as laptop being able to run on water with specially dissolve salts that
can liberate hydrogen is intriguing. Still, I wouldn't mind if this device
could be made into a separate power supply to power, sorta like a little mini
portable generator, as Apple could license the technology to other computer
makers that way.
Apple and the Battery –
Last vestige of the Analog Era that needs Apple innovation
Apple
has been known to consider some impressive ideas for the future before, such as
Solar, Kinetic Charging or even Inductive charging for such products as the
Apple iPhone and even the Apple Watch as noted in my blog article
entitled “Apple
considering Inductive, Solar and Kinetic Charging for Apple iWatch - Apple
iWatch will start the Post-Power Adapter Era and kill the power Brick, the last
vestige of the Analog Era”.
Recharging
products using ultrasound technology from Meredith Perry’s Ubeam is also
possible as noted in my blog article
entitled “Meredith
Perry's Ubeam Ultrasonic Power Transfer and the Venture Capitalists - Ubeam's
Wireless Charging Future is a Good Vibration with a Magnetic Personality”.
But
whatever technology Apple uses, it has to fit with their simplified aesthetic
and mustn’t involve making the product unnecessarily complicated. While a fuel
cell will give Apple Macbooks and Apple iPhones a longer battery life, the
issue of how to refuel these products is still messy, as it may force the
customer to come in contact with chemicals.
It
has to be as simple as buying a cartridge and replacing it when it’s finished
and the cartridges must last for months at a time, not weeks. Also it would be
great if the technology was very portable.
Still,
the idea of a mini generator, be it a built in Fuel cell that converts hydrogen
into electricity via a PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) or using specially
treated water as a fuel would be much in demand.
It
would provide a way for Apple customers to finally disconnect your electronics
from the electricity power grid, the last vestige of the Analog World!
Here's
the link:
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