IP Library › Patent Application 14551817
Patent Application
App. No. 14/551,817

WIRELESS CHARGING RECEPTACLE

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
14/551,817
Abstract

An apparatus for a wireless charging receptacle is provided in the illustrative embodiments. An enclosure having a shape and a plurality of sides is formed to at least partially enclose a device while charging a rechargeable power source in the device. An opening is formed in the enclosure. the opening is located on a first side from the plurality of sides. The first side has a surface area less than a second surface area of a second side in the plurality of sides, the second surface area being largest of all surface areas of all sides in the plurality of sides. A wireless charging mechanism is configured relative to at least one of (i) the second side and (ii) a third side of the enclosure, wherein the wireless charging mechanism wirelessly supplies energy to a second wireless charging mechanism coupled with the device.

Claims (25)

1 . A wireless charging receptacle apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

an enclosure having a shape and a plurality of sides to at least partially enclose a device while charging a rechargeable power source in the device;

an opening in the enclosure, wherein the opening is located on a first side from the plurality of sides, wherein the first side has a surface area less than a second surface area of a second side in the plurality of sides, the second surface area being largest of all surface areas of all sides in the plurality of sides; and

a wireless charging mechanism configured relative to at least one of (i) the second side and (ii) a third side of the enclosure, wherein the wireless charging mechanism wirelessly supplies energy to a second wireless charging mechanism coupled with the device.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is positioned relative to a surface in a vehicle such that the first side with the opening is positioned on the surface and other sides in the plurality of sides are obscured by the surface.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the surface is a substantially horizontal surface in the vehicle.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the surface is a substantially vertical surface in the vehicle.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a guiding mechanism, wherein the guiding mechanism guides the device into a position at least partially within the receptacle, wherein the position places the second wireless charging mechanism within a threshold distance from the wireless charging mechanism.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the guiding mechanism comprises a protrusion from a side in the plurality of sides.

7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the guiding mechanism comprises an indentation in a side in the plurality of sides.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a restraining mechanism, wherein the restraining mechanism holds the device in a position within the receptacle, wherein the position places the second wireless charging mechanism within a threshold distance from the wireless charging mechanism.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the restraining mechanism comprises a movable structure associated with a side in the plurality of sides.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a height adjustment mechanism, wherein the height adjustment mechanism holds the device in a position at a certain depth in the enclosure, wherein the position places the second wireless charging mechanism within a threshold distance from the wireless charging mechanism.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a cooling mechanism, wherein the cooling mechanism removes from the receptacle a heat byproduct of wirelessly charging the device in the receptacle.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the cooling mechanism comprises a venting structure associated with a side in the plurality of sides, wherein the venting structure allows a cooling fluid to flow into the enclosure, contact the device, and flow out of the enclosure.

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the cooling mechanism comprises structure to direct a cooling fluid to flow adjacent to a side in the plurality of sides, wherein the venting structure allows the cooling fluid to indirectly remove the heat byproduct by cooling the side.

14 - 19 . (canceled)

20 . An article of manufacture which, when operated, cause a machine to carry out steps of a method for forming a wireless charging receptacle apparatus, the method comprising:

forming an enclosure having a shape and a plurality of sides to at least partially enclose a device while charging a rechargeable power source in the device;

forming an opening in the enclosure, wherein the opening is located on a first side from the plurality of sides, wherein the first side has a surface area less than a second surface area of a second side in the plurality of sides, the second surface area being largest of all surface areas of all sides in the plurality of sides; and

configuring a wireless charging mechanism relative to at least one of (i) the second side and (ii) a third side of the enclosure, wherein the wireless charging mechanism wirelessly supplies energy to a second wireless charging mechanism coupled with the device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 24, 2014
From: HOPPER, JENIFER; PELOQUIN, MARK A.; PRATT, STEVEN L.; RISTER, KARL M.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034252/0282 →