Customers stand beneath an Apple logo. (Photo : Reuters/Mike Segar)
A patent application filed by Apple Inc. was published on Sep. 3, Thursday, by the US Patent and Trademark Office. Apple's engineers have designed a "Fuel Cell System to Power a Portable Computing Device," according to the patent application title.
According to the website Free Patent Online, Apple's project consists of a built-in internal power system that will enable mobile electronic devices to run for "days or even weeks without refueling". This solution proposed by the high-tech giant would solve the most common complaints of customers about modern electronics regarding to their limited battery life.
Most of the mobile gadgets in use, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and digital cameras, are running out of power at the most inconvenient times. Apple aims to provide a solution to fix this annoying issue.
According to a report published by 9to5Mac, Apple's patent application presents fuel cell power sources designed as a built-in solution into mobile electronic devices. The company's engineers come with this solution as a way of minimizing the extra weight involved. Recently, fuel cells have become a compelling solution for their ability to provide a lot of energy into a relatively small package, unlike the batteries.
Apple has filed before other patent applications for fuel cell systems. For instance, in 2011, the high-tech giant filed an application for a "portable computing device". Earlier this year, in March, Apple had another patent application filed for an external fuel cell system for mobile devices.
Various products have been designed for powering electronics, but only several have found their way on the consumer market. Fuel cells for electronics are used usually for portable charging. Typically a person has to carry a rechargeable fuel cartridge and recharge a music player or a smartphone when. The difference is that Apple's project is proposing fuel cells that are built directly into electronics.
Fuel cells usually work by combining an oxidizing agent with a fuel. Apple's patent outlines potential fuel sources, such as water and magnesium hydride, water and sodium silicate, or water and lithium hydride.
This technology has gained in popularity over the past few years because it could prove a good alternative to batteries. It can also be used as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels, such as oil and gas.
