Wireless charging apparatus

A charging apparatus for wirelessly charging a portable electronic device, the charging apparatus comprising:

• a receiving area configured to removably receive at least a portion of the portable electronic device;
• at least two coil pairs positioned around a perimeter of the receiving area of the charging apparatus, each coil pair including at least a first electrically conductive coil and a second electrically conductive coil, the second electrically conductive coil positioned opposite the first electrically conductive coil on the perimeter of the receiving area, the ends of each electrically conductive coil including electrical leads;
• and
• coil control circuitry electrically connected, directly or indirectly, to each electrically conductive coil at the respective electrical leads of the electrically conductive coil, the coil control circuitry configured to selectively provide a charging current to at least one of the coil pairs, the charging current inducing a magnetic field around the electrically conductive coils of the at least one coil pair for inductively charging the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is in the receiving area.

A wireless charging system comprising:

• a protective case for a portable electronic device;
• and
• an apparatus for wirelessly charging the portable electronic device through the protective case, the wireless charging apparatus comprising:
• a receiving area adapted to removably receive at least a portion of the protective case;
• a plurality of coil sets positioned around a perimeter of the receiving area of the apparatus, each coil set including at least two electrically conductive coils positioned on opposing sides of the perimeter of the receiving area, each electrically conductive coil of each coil set directed inward from the perimeter of the receiving area toward one or more other electrically conductive coils of the respective coil set, the ends of each electrically conductive coil including electrical leads;
• and
• coil control circuitry electrically connected to each electrically conductive coil at the respective electrical leads of the electrically conductive coil, the coil control circuitry adapted to selectively provide a changing electric current to at least one of the coil sets, the changing electric current inducing a magnetic field around the electrically conductive coils of the at least one coil set for inductively transferring electrical power to corresponding coils of the protective case for charging the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is installed in the protective case and the protective case is in the receiving area.