System and method for inductive charging of portable devices

A portable device capable of being inductively powered and/or charged comprising:

• a receiver unit, which includes a receiver coil generally having a planar or curved surface, wherein the receiver unit is coupled to or incorporated into a portable device or battery, or case, skin, or other accessory for use therewith, and wherein the receiver unit is capable of receiving energy from a base unit such as a charger or power supply via an inductive field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane or curved surface of its receiver coil, and using the energy to power or charge the portable device or battery;
• and
• a regulator circuit coupled to the receiver unit, that regulates current drawn from the receiver coil and/or output voltage or output current from the receiver unit to be within the range of one of either a predefined value of voltage or current, or an appropriate power parameter of the portable device and/or battery.

A system for inductive powering and/or charging of portable devices or batteries that includes electromagnetic shielding, comprising:

• a base unit such as a charger or power supply, which includes one or more primary coils generally having a plane or curved surface, wherein each of the primary coils can be activated to generate an inductive field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane or curved surface of the coil, for use in powering or charging one or more portable devices or batteries simultaneously;
• an electromagnetic shielding material or layer or layers in front of the charger or power supply coil(s) that suppresses undesirable electromagnetic radiation during powering or charging of the one or more portable devices or batteries.

A wearable clothing item which enables inductive powering and/or charging of portable devices or batteries, comprising:

• a base unit, within the clothing item, which includes one or more primary coils generally having a plane or curved surface, wherein each of the primary coils can be activated to generate an inductive field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane or curved surface of the coil, for use in powering or charging one or more portable devices or batteries simultaneously;
• one or more features within the base unit that assist in providing some degree of position independence of the portable devices or batteries with respect to the base unit, including detecting the presence of one or more portable devices or batteries within or on or attached to the clothing item, and then selectively activating appropriate one or more primary coils so that the base unit can charge or power the one or more portable devices or batteries so detected.

A kiosk or charging station which enables inductive powering and/or charging of portable devices or batteries, comprising:

• a base unit, within or on the kiosk or charging station, which includes one or more primary coils generally having a plane or curved surface, wherein each of the primary coils can be activated to generate an inductive field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane or curved surface of the coil, for use in powering or charging one or more portable devices or batteries;
• one or more features within the base unit that assist in providing position independence of the portable devices or batteries with respect to the base unit, including detecting the presence of one or more portable devices or batteries within an area of the kiosk or charging station, and then selectively activating appropriate one or more primary coils so that the base unit can charge or power the one or more portable devices or batteries so detected.

A system for inductive powering and/or charging of portable devices or batteries, comprising:

• a base unit such as a charger or power supply, which includes one or more primary coils generally having a plane or curved surface, wherein each of the primary coils can be activated to generate an inductive field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane or curved surface of the coil, for use in powering or charging one or more portable devices or batteries, and wherein one or more primary coils are free to move within a sector or whole of the base unit;
• and
• one or more features within the base unit that assist in providing position independence of the portable devices or batteries on the base unit, including detecting the presence of one or more portable devices or batteries, and then selectively activating appropriate one or more primary coils so that the base unit can charge or power the one or more portable devices or batteries so detected, including wherein upon placing a portable device or battery or case, skin, or other accessory for use therewith is placed on the base unit, the primary coil is caused to move within its sector or whole of the base unit so that it is better aligned with the portable device or battery or case, skin, or other accessory for use therewith.

A system for inductive powering and/or charging of portable devices or batteries, comprising:

• a receiver unit, which includes a receiver coil generally having a planar or curved surface, wherein the receiver unit is coupled to or incorporated into the portable device or battery, or case, skin, or other accessory for use therewith, and wherein the receiver unit is capable of receiving energy from a base unit such as a charger or power supply via an inductive field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane or curved surface of its receiver coil, and using the energy to power or charge the portable device or battery;
• and
• wherein one or more of the base unit and/or the receiver unit include additional circuitry and/or coils or antennas to provide further functionalities to the portable device or battery, including exchanging data through one or more of Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC, Felica, WiMax, RFID, Wireless USB or another wireless or optical medium.