In April, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Google that revealed a new charging device containing a support beam and a substantially planar housing that may be configured to maintain an angle of under 90 degrees with respect to a flat surface that the charging device is placed on. The charging device may contain an inductive charging component that charges a mobile device in connection with the charging device. It's basic design is very much like Apple's new Apple Watch inductive charger – but larger.
According to Google, traditional chargers that enable a mobile device to be docked upright only allow the mobile device to remain in one position. For example, a mobile device may be connected to a docking station such that the docking station maintains the mobile device in an upright position. However, a user may be required to lift the entire docking station or undock the mobile phone to use the mobile phone. Further, larger mobile devices, such as tablets, do not generally connect to inductive chargers as a connection to the inductive charger is generally difficult to maintain for larger devices.
Google's solution is a charging device that may contain a support beam and a substantially planar housing having a front and a back side. The front side may be configured to touch connect to a portable electronic device and the back side may be connected to the support beam. Google's patent FIG. 3a noted below illustrates an example visualization corresponding to a stand inductive charger.
An inductive charging component may be disposed between the front and the back side and may charge the portable electronic device. The substantially planar housing may contain a circular edge. The device may be configured to roll towards the portable electronic device when the device is near the portable electronic device.
Additionally, a magnet may be located proximate to the first side, such that the magnet is configured to align with a second magnet or metal component associated with the portable electronic device. The magnet may establish the touch connection with the portable electronic device. The location of the magnate may be adjustable such that the location of the magnet may adjust automatically when proximate to the portable electronic device. The inductive charging component may be an inductive coil and may charge the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is connected to the device.
Google filed their patent application 20150130623 back in Q4 2013. Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.
In a secondary patent filing, Google shows us an alternative design in patent FIG. 4A below. The charger is noted as being a "self-balancing stand."
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