Wireless charging pad for electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12130665-B2
Application number	US-202117230724-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2021
Priority date	Apr 2, 2016
Publication date	Oct 29, 2024
Grant date	Oct 29, 2024

Abstract

An example portable computer disclosed herein includes a first housing, a keyboard carried by the first housing, a second housing pivotally coupled to the first housing, a display carried by the second housing, a wireless charger, and a pad to carry the wireless charger. The pad is pivotally coupled to the first housing. The pad is moveable relative to the first housing between a first orientation to position the wireless charger above the first housing and a second orientation to position the wireless charger adjacent the first housing. The pad to support a body part of a user adjacent the keyboard when the pad is in the first orientation. The pad is to support an external electronic device proximate the wireless charger when the pad is in the second orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable computer comprising:
a first housing;
a keyboard carried by the first housing;
a second housing pivotally coupled to the first housing;
a display carried by the second housing, the display movable relative to the keyboard between a plurality of viewing angles;
a wireless charger; and
a pad to carry the wireless charger, the pad pivotally coupled to the first housing, the pad moveable relative to the first housing between a first orientation to position the wireless charger above the first housing and a second orientation to position the wireless charger adjacent the first housing, the pad to support a body part of a user adjacent the keyboard when the pad is in the first orientation, the pad to support an external electronic device proximate the wireless charger when the pad is in the second orientation.

2. The portable computer as defined in claim 1 , wherein pad is pivotally coupled to the first housing via a hinge.

3. The portable computer as defined in claim 1 , wherein the wireless charger has a first side and a second side, the pad to support the body part above the first side when the pad is in the first position, the electronic device to be proximate the second side when charging.

4. The portable computer as defined in claim 3 , wherein the first housing has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the upper surface having a recessed area to receive the pad when the pad is in the first orientation.

5. The portable computer as defined in claim 4 , wherein the first side of the pad is to engage the recessed area and the second side of the pad is flush relative to the upper surface of the first housing when the pad is in the first orientation.

6. The portable computer as defined in claim 1 , further including a wireless charging receiver carried by the first housing, the pad to cause the wireless charger to engage the wireless charging receiver when the pad is in the first orientation and cause the wireless charger to disengage the wireless charging receiver when the pad is in the second orientation.

7. The portable computer as defined in claim 1 , further including a battery carried by at least one of the first housing or the second housing.

8. The portable computer as defined in claim 7 , wherein the wireless charger is to transfer power to charge the battery when the pad is in the first orientation, and the wireless charger is to transmit power to the external electronic device when the pad is in the second orientation.

9. The portable computer as defined in claim 1 , wherein the pad is pivotally coupled to a perimeter edge of the first housing.

10. The portable computer as defined in claim 1 , wherein the pad includes a power receptacle to receive a power plug to provide power to the wireless charger.

11. The portable computer as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first housing and second housing are pivotally coupled to move between an open state and a closed state, the pad is between the first housing and the second housing when the pad is in the first orientation and the first and second housings are in the closed state.

12. A portable computer comprising:
a chassis having a base with a perimeter;
a keyboard supported by the chassis;
a wireless charger; and
a pad to support the wireless charger, the pad coupled to the base of the chassis via a hinge to enable the pad to rotate between a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the base, in the first orientation, a first side of the pad is to engage an upper surface of the chassis and a second side of the pad opposite the first side of the pad is to support a body part of a user adjacent the keyboard, and, in the second orientation, the first side of the pad is separate from the upper surface of the chassis and outside of the perimeter of the base to facilitate charging of a mobile electronic device positioned outside the perimeter of the base.

13. The portable computer as defined in claim 12 , wherein the wireless charger is to charge a first carried by the chassis when the pad is in the first orientation.

14. The portable computer as defined in claim 12 , further including a trackpad supported by the chassis, the trackpad adjacent the pad when the pad is in the first orientation.

15. The portable computer as defined in claim 12 , wherein the wireless charger is a first wireless charger, the hinge is a first hinge, the pad is a first pad, and further including a second pad and a second wireless charger, the second pad being pivotally coupled to the base via a second hinge to enable the second pad to rotate between a third orientation and a fourth orientation relative to the chassis, the first pad and the second pad on opposite sides of the base, in the third orientation, a third side of the second pad is to engage the upper surface of the chassis, and a fourth side of the second pad opposite the third side of the pad is to support a second body part of the user adjacent the keyboard, and, in the fourth orientation, the third side of the second pad is separate from the upper surface of the chassis and outside of the perimeter of the base to facilitate charging of the mobile electronic device positioned outside the perimeter of the base.

16. The portable computer as defined in claim 12 , further including a trackpad supported by the chassis between the first pad and the second pad.

17. A portable computer comprising:
a chassis having a base with a perimeter;
a keyboard supported by the chassis;
a wireless charger; and
means for supporting the wireless charger, the supporting means pivotable about an edge of the base of the chassis to rotate between a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the base, in the first orientation, the supporting means to engage an upper surface of the chassis to support a body part of a user adjacent the keyboard when a user uses the keyboard, and, in the second orientation, the supporting means is separated from the upper surface of the chassis and outside of the perimeter of the base to facilitate charging of a mobile electronic device positioned outside the perimeter of the base.

18. The portable computer as defined in claim 17 , wherein the supporting means is pivotally coupled to the chassis via a hinge.

19. The portable computer as defined in claim 17 , wherein the supporting means includes a power receptacle to receive a power plug and provided power to the wireless charger.

20. The portable computer as defined in claim 17 , further including a keyboard and a trackpad carried by the chassis, the wireless charger positioned adjacent the keyboard and the trackpad when the supporting means is in the first orientation.

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Ku Jeff
• Sung Gavin
• Wang Ivan
• Liu Tim
• Jiang Jason Y

Classifications

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• G06F1/1681

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• H02J50/80

  involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices · CPC title