Distributed charging of mobile devices

A method of universal and distributed charging of different mobile devices having different charging characteristics, comprising the steps of:

• providing a secondary coil and receiver associated with and removably attachable to a mobile device, as part of a replacement shell, skin, door or other device which includes the secondary coil and receiver and which couples to one or more of a battery electrodes or a power port of the mobile device;
• providing an identification component associated with the mobile device or the replacement shell, skin, door or other device, which is configured to provide wireless identification of the receiver to a base unit;
• and
• providing a means of avoiding overcharging the mobile device inductively,
• wherein, when the mobile device, having the replacement shell, skin, door or other device which includes the secondary coil and receiver, is placed in proximity to the base unit having one or more primary coils, each primary coil having a generally planar shape so that when a current is passed through the primary coil a magnetic field is generated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the primary coil, the perpendicular magnetic field is used to inductively generate a current in the secondary coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device in a manner that avoids overcharging of the mobile device;
• wherein different mobile devices have different charging characteristics associated therewith;
• and
• wherein the base unit operates to
• one or more detect, identify, or authenticate the mobile device with the base unit as provided by the identification component,
• determine, and activate, a selection of the one or more primary coils in alignment with the secondary coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, and
• communicate information to provide power transfer to the mobile device, via the selection of the one or more primary coils in alignment, according to its particular charging characteristics.