Abstract:
A device includes a cord for connecting into a traditional alternating power supply. The device also includes retractable cords that can be returned and fit inside the device body when not in use. A mechanical or tactile feature on the body of the device or on the cords provides an indicator corresponding to a type of jack that matches the particular device to be charged. Other features are provided to the device to facilitate distinguishing of types of connectors available in the device. Users are able to quickly locate the power source, identify an appropriate cable, and commence charging while lingering near the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus to charge or provide electric current to mobile devices and electronic peripherals. 
         [0003]    Related Art 
         [0004]    It is well known that mobile and wireless devices operate by a stored power source usually in the form of a battery. Typical batteries need to be recharged one or more times daily especially when put to heavy use throughout the day. Users often carry one and sometimes many of these devices. Users rely on these devices to conduct personal and professional business. For example, a typical businessman may carry several wireless devices that require varying amounts of power throughout the day. At any given time, the typical businessman may carry a watch, a wireless headset, a tablet, a laptop and one or more mobile phones. 
         [0005]    Users are constantly seeking out opportunities to recharge their devices at work, at home, in their car, at the gym, in airports, restaurants and hotels. A common scene is someone sitting on the floor at a mall or airport next to a standard wall socket with his charger plugged into the socket and a wire plugged his device, pulling power like some vampire running low on life. 
         [0006]    While there have been efforts made to provide power kiosks and charging stations, often users are responsible for providing their own cable. Such may be very inconvenient when considering substantial and daily use of such devices. Further, users may be required to carry several different power cords, and at worst, one for each device carried. In the case of some commercial power kiosks, the charge for using such service may exceed the budget of some users. While expensive commercial offerings may work in some circumstances, it does not fit the circumstances of the bulk of users. Accordingly, there remains a substantial opportunity to improve upon existing charging stations and to provide a charging device that can be installed near or formed in common structures and furniture in vehicles, at places of travel and at various locations of occupation. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Embodiments and techniques described herein relate to a non-obtrusive charging device that can provide power to recharge wireless electronic devices and provide power to wired devices. The device provides benefits and advantages not previously available in known devices. 
         [0008]    In one particular illustrative implementation, a device includes a cord for connecting into a traditional alternating power supply. The device also includes retractable cords that can be returned to and fit inside the device body when not in use. A mechanical or tactile feature on the body of the device or on the cords provides an indicator corresponding to a type of jack or receptacle that matches the particular device to be charged. Users are able to quickly locate the power source, identify an appropriate cable, and commence charging while lingering near the device. The recharging device is inexpensive to manufacture and may be easily installed across a wide variety of existing locations thereby providing a substantial, inexpensive and convenient infrastructure for recharging devices in hotels, bus stops, restaurants, movie theaters, schools, automobiles, and so forth. A mechanism to accept micro payments is additionally provided so as to incentivize businesses, schools, government facilities and so forth to allow installation of the devices at many locations for the convenience of any device owner who spends at least a minimal amount of time at a stationary location. 
         [0009]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, and thus is not intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    While the appended claims set forth the features of the invention with particularity, the invention, together with its objects and advantages, is more readily appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout, like numerals generally refer to like parts. Unless specifically indicated, the components and drawings are not shown to scale. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view from a first direction of a table equipped with a device charger mounted underneath the working surface according to a first embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a second perspective view of the table and other items shown in  FIG. 1  from a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the view of  FIG. 1  and illustrates the charging cables in a retracted configuration. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the table of  FIG. 1  as looking from underneath the table. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a closeup perspective view of a partially disassembled charging device according to a first embodiment and as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a second closeup perspective view of the charging device shown in  FIGS. 1-4  in another partially disassembled state. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing various electronic components of a charging device according to a second embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of a power charger or device charger. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a device charger according to a second embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Overview. There is a substantial need for convenient and easy recharging of mobile devices. People increasingly carry, use and rely on mobile devices and have a concomitantly higher need to maintain power in these mobile devices. Currently, there is not a popular and widely distributed product that can be attached to and built into furniture and other locations where people naturally settle and live their life. People are often required to carry around their own cables and plug adapters/converters with the hope that they come across a free and accessible alternating current (AC) wall-mounted plug. Described herein is a device that solves many of the problems and shortcomings associated with charging or powering devices. The device is designed to be installed in a nonintrusive location such under a counter top or table and which includes a cable that is configured to provide direct current (DC) to portable devices. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view from a first direction of a table equipped with such a device—a device charger—mounted underneath the working surface according to a first embodiment. The overall device charger or power providing device is generally designated as  10  and is referred to herein as a charging device but it is understood that such device may be used equally well to continuously provide power to any type of electronic device. The table or location for mounting is generally designated as  20 . With reference to  FIG. 1 , a mobile phone  1  and a slightly larger tablet computer  2  are resting on the surface  21  of the table  21  such as during a coffee break at a cafe. The table  20  has a lateral side  22 , front side  23  and bottom side  24 . According to the embodiment shown, the charging device  10  includes a first charging cable  11  and a second charging cable  12 . The first charging cable  11  includes at its exposed or terminal end a plug or connector  13 , which is typically a male type connector for engaging the electronic receptacle in the device  1 . Likewise, the second charging cable  12  includes at its end a connector  14 . The second connector  14  may be of a different style, shape, and so forth so as to offer power from the charging device  10  to a second device  2  that may be from a manufacturer different from the manufacturer of the first device  1 . The first cable  11  and second cable  12  are retractable into the interior of the charging device  10  and thus may be stowed out for convenience when not in use. Thus, while a user (not shown) is waiting for coffee to be delivered to the table, a user may charge her devices  1 ,  2  and may then stow the cables  13 ,  14  out of the way when the coffee or food is delivered to the table  20 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates a second perspective view of the table and other items shown in  FIG. 1  from a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the view of  FIG. 1 . With reference to  FIG. 2 , the charging cables have been retracted into the body of the charging device  10 . The plugs  13 ,  14  are visible and proximate to the front side  23 . What may not be immediately apparent is the location of the connectors  13 ,  14  relative to the front face or front side  23  of the table  20 . In a preferred implementation, the charging device  10  is sized and formed so as to be susceptible to installation under a side  22 ,  23  of the table, proximate enough to be accessible by a user (not shown) and close enough to allow for easy extension of a charge cable. For example, once a first cable is extended, the connector  13  may be removably mated with the first device  1 . The charging device  10  then provides power to the first device  1 . A power cable  34  provides AC current to the charging device  10 . Although not shown, a terminal end of the power cable  34  may be equipped with a standard AC plug for fitting into a standard AC socket. The table  20  is supported above the floor (not shown) by a post  9 . Chairs (not shown) would then be placed proximate to the table  20  if the table  20  were part of the furniture in a coffee shop or restaurant. The charging device  10  alternatively may be installed in a variety of locations such as near hospital beds, airline seats, movie theatre seats, school desks and other locations where portable or mobile devices are likely to be encountered. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates another perspective view of the table  20  and charging device  10  first illustrated in  FIG. 1  as looking from underneath the table. With reference to  FIG. 3 , the charging device  10  is mounted to the bottom surface  24  of the table  20 . The table includes a lateral side  22  and a front side  23 . The generally rectangular body of the charging device  10  is of a maximal height  31  and a maximal width  32 . The size is at least enough to accommodate two charging cables and mechanical equipment to facilitate spooled and spring-loaded retraction of the charging cables when the charging cables are not in use. 
         [0023]    The charging device  10  includes an exposed top surface  35  that is substantially planar for much of its width  32  and which runs substantially parallel or coplanar with the under side  24  of the table  20 . The charging device  10  is mounted a recessed distance  33  away from a front side  23 . The charging device  10  is preferably mounted substantially parallel with a front side  23  of the table considering an axis that runs along the length of the device  10  from left to right. Alternatively, the charging device  10  may be mounted in any location relative to the table  20  depending on one or more of a variety of factors not the least of which is convenience in accessing the plugs  13 ,  14  in view of table size, table geometry, room size and position of other furniture or other fixtures. 
         [0024]    The length of the connectors  13 ,  14  is preferably less than the recessed distance  33  such that the connectors do not protrude beyond the side  23 . The charging device  10  includes screws  36  or other attachment mechanism that secures a top portion of the charging device proximate to the rest of the body of the charging device  10 . Recesses  37  are provided or formed in or through the body of the charging device  10  so as to facilitate use of mounting screws  38  that affix the charging device  10  to the table  20 . An electrical cord  34  provides AC current to the device  10 . Visible on the top surface  35  of the device  10  are contour features  39  showing that on each end of the charging device  10  there are contoured or shaped surface features formed in the charging device  10  as explained further herein with reference to other figures. The contour features  39  are implemented to facilitate distinction between types of plugs  13 ,  14  when the first plug or connector  13  is of a different size, shape or manufacturer than the second plug or connector  14 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a closeup perspective view of a partially disassembled charging device  10  according to a first embodiment and as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , the charging device  10  includes a flat or planar base  40 . The base  40  mates against a surface such as the underside of a table (not shown) or other installed location. Many typical installation locations are likely to be substantially flat or planar, and accordingly a preferred form factor of the charging device  10  is flat on at least one of its sides. 
         [0026]    On each lateral end of the charging device  10 , there is a curved or arcuate side wall  41  that corresponds to the outer reaches of a spool which is generally denoted as circular or wheel-like element  50 . A first cable  11  is wound around the spool  50  on a left side and a second cable  12  is would around a second spool  51  on the right side. While two spools  50 ,  51  are shown, one for each of the respective cables  11 ,  12 , there may be any number of charge cables and spools in a charging device  10 , and the size and shape of the device  10  would concomitantly be expanded to accommodate the necessary components. The spool  50  is shown exposed or opened for sake of illustration only. Ordinarily, when assembled, the spool  50  houses the first cable  11  inside of itself, and protects and maintains the first cable  11  from reaching other locations within the charging device  10 . 
         [0027]    Two charging cables  11 ,  12  are shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  because generally there are two frequently encountered charging plug types—one type for Apple®-branded devices such as iPhones® and the like, and another type for mobile phones from other manufacturers. The charging device  10  also includes generally flat vertical side walls  42  that help enclose the device. A power cord aperture  43  is formed in one of the vertical side walls  42  for accepting a power cord (not shown in  FIG. 4  for sake of simplicity of illustration). A pair of support posts  48  rise above the base  40  and receive mounting screws (not shown) that tightly hold a top plate (also not shown) onto the base  40  thereby forming an enclosure. The inside of the posts  48  are threaded. Apertures  37  are formed to accommodate the mounting screws  38  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a second closeup perspective view of the charging device shown in  FIGS. 1-4  in another partially disassembled state. With reference to  FIG. 5 , the base  40 , curved walls  41 , and side walls  42  are still visible. The posts  48  and apertures  37  are also still visible. The first spool  50  and second spool  51  are shown enclosed and fully assembled. The first plug or connector  13  is shown exposed outside of the spool  50  but not properly protruding through the window  44  formed in the arcuate wall  41 . The second spool  51  is also shown enclosed and fully assembled. The second connector  14  is visible outside the body of the second spool  52 . The second connector is not properly extended and is not protruding through the second window  45 . The first window  44  and second window  45  are sized so as to allow or accommodate a cross section of the charging cable but smaller than the neck or collar of the first connector  13  and second connector  14 , respectively. During assembly, the spring-loaded cables and connectors  13 ,  14  are extended outside through the windows  44 ,  45  and the top plate (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) is mated to and fixed to the charging device  10  thereby trapping the connectors  13 ,  14  outside of the charging device  10  to facilitate proper use of the spools  50 ,  51  and spring-loaded charging cables. 
         [0029]    The charging device  10  includes a circuit board  60  that provides, for example, an AC/DC conversion circuit for providing power to the charging cables. The circuit board  60  is in electrical communication with the AC power cord  34  via leads  61 . Two pairs of outbound electrical leads  62 ,  63  extend to the spools  50 ,  51 , respectively, for providing direct current (DC) to the charging cables. The first pair of electrical leads  62  may provide a first voltage that may be distinct or different from a second voltage provided through the second pair of electrical leads  63 . Such different voltages are designated by and correspond properly to the expected voltages for the types of plugs  13 ,  14  provided by the charging device. 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing various electronic components of a charging device according to a second embodiment. A single circuit board  60  was referenced in  FIG. 5  for sake of simplicity with reference to a single function of converting AC to DC for providing power to the charging cords. As is understood in the art, such power conversion may be done with a single board or multiple components and/or with one or more circuit boards. With reference to  FIG. 6 , various other electronic circuitry  70  may be provided to a charging device  10  in addition to an AC/DC converter  71 . For example, near field communication (NFC) circuitry  72  may be provided to the charging device  10 . A general CPU and related circuitry  73  may also be provided. Components such as RAM  77 , ROM  78  and display circuitry  74  may be provided and used in support of the use of the general CPU circuitry  73 . More robust programming and intelligent interaction with the charging device  10  may thus be facilitated through use of an operating system and traditional programs and instructions. Further, power metering circuitry  75  may be provided. For certain applications, cellular telephone circuitry  76  may be provided. Finally, sensors  79 , communications components  80  and interface components  81  may also be provided. Interface components  81  include such things as USB ports, video ports, audio jacks and so forth. All of these components  71 - 82  may be in electronic communication one with another through one or more buses such as the central bus  82  illustrated in this figure. 
         [0031]    More detailed information and illustrative use cases are now presented for these components  71 - 82 . 
         [0032]    According to a first use case, a charging device  10  may be used in a most simple embodiment, that is, to act as a single function charger for charging a mobile phone. A user reaches for and extends a power cable from the device, and plugs it into her mobile phone for a period of time. At the end of the charging session, the user disconnects the charging cable, and with the aid of a spring-loaded spool such as spool  50 , the user allows the charging cable to retract under tension back into the body or housing of the charging device. 
         [0033]    According to a second use case, a charging device  10  is provided with an AC/DC converter  71 , power metering circuitry  75  and NFC circuitry  72 . When a mobile device that also has NFC circuitry enabled is brought sufficiently near the charging device  10 , the mobile device and charging device  10  exchange information. For example, the mobile device receives information identifying the charging device  10  such as one or more of the following: (1) information identifying the owner of the charging device  10 , (2) location information associated with the charging device  10 , and (3) charging related information. Charging related information may include an amount of power provided to the device over a period of time as measured by the power metering circuitry  75  such as a during the time the mobile device is attached to the charging device  10 . The electronic circuitry  70  may also receive information from the proximate mobile device such as a information related to charging such as voltage preferred by the mobile device. The charging device  10  may then provide power according to the information received from the mobile device. The NFC circuitry  72  may provide information to the mobile device once, intermittently over the course of time that the mobile device is proximate to the charging device  10 , or at the beginning and end of a charging session. 
         [0034]    According to a third use case, a charging device  10  is provided with an AC/DC converter  71 , NFC circuitry  72 , and communication components  80 . Communication components  80  may include one or more of the following: (1) an audio-generating component such as a speaker or a tone generator; (2) a light generating component such as an LED, laser LCD panel, LED panel and the like; (3) a mechanical force generator such as a vibration generator or servo that can extend a charge cable; and (4) a thermal component such as a heater or cooler. According to this use case, When a mobile device that also has NFC circuitry enabled is brought sufficiently near the charging device  10 , the mobile device and charging device  10  exchange information. For example, the mobile device provides to the charging device  10  information. Such information may include information related to a manufacturer, connector size, or a voltage requirement. In response, the charging device  10  may then actuate one of the communication components  80 . For example, the charging device  10  may then respond to the transferred information by providing an audible signal on a left side or right side corresponding to the appropriate charging cable that matches the identity of the mobile device that has been placed proximate to the charging device  10 . A user may then select the proper cable without having to guess which cable to use and without physically or visually inspecting which charge cable is appropriate for the mobile device. 
         [0035]    Alternatively, still according to the third use case and actuation of another one of the communication components  80 , the charging device  10  may then flash an appropriate LED on either a left side or right side corresponding to the appropriate charging cable that matches the identity of the mobile device that has been placed proximate to the charging device  10 . The original signal is transferred via NFC communication components and triggers the communication component  80 . The user may then select the proper cable and power connector matching the power receptacle of his mobile device by following a visible signal generated by the charging device  10 . The user is then able to select without having to guess which cable to use and without physically or visually inspecting which charge cable is appropriate for the mobile device. 
         [0036]    Alternatively, still according to the third use case and actuation of another one of the communication components  80 , the charging device  10  may then activate a mechanical component on either a left side or right side corresponding to the appropriate charging cable that matches the identity of the mobile device that has been placed proximate to the charging device  10 . The original signal is transferred via NFC communication components and triggers the communication component  80 . The user may then reach out and touch either a left side or right side of the charging device  10  and locate and identify a side that is vibrating and thereby select the proper cable and power connector matching the power receptacle of his mobile device by following a mechanical signal generated by the charging device  10 . The user is then able to select without having to guess which cable to use and without physically or visually inspecting which charge cable is appropriate for the mobile device. 
         [0037]    According to yet another alternative, and still according to the third use case and actuation of yet another one of the communication components  80 , the charging device  10  may then activate a thermal component (as a communication component  80 ) on either a left side or right side corresponding to the appropriate charging cable that matches the identity of the mobile device that has been placed proximate to the charging device  10 . For example, the thermal component is a cooler that cools a portion of the outer surface of the charging device  10 . Use of such thermal component would need to be balanced against the cost of producing the device. The original signal is transferred via NFC communication components and triggers the communication component  80  of the charging device  10 . The user may then reach out and touch either a left side or right side of the charging device  10  and locate and identify a side that is blowing cold air and thereby select the proper cable and power connector matching the power receptacle of his mobile device by following a thermal signal generated by the charging device  10 . The user is then able to select without having to guess which cable to use and without physically or visually inspecting which charge cable is appropriate for the mobile device. In these circumstances, the combination of NFC circuitry  72  and communication components  80  provide improved features as compared to known charging devices. 
         [0038]    According to a fourth use case, a charging device  10  is provided with an AC/DC converter  71 , NFC circuitry  72 , power metering circuitry  75 , and cellular circuitry  76 . In this use case, when a mobile device that also has NFC circuitry enabled is brought sufficiently near the charging device  10 , the mobile device and charging device  10  exchange information. For example, the charging device  10  may detect a new device in the vicinity and may then activate one or more portions of the cellular circuitry  76 . The charging device  10  may receive via a NFC communication a type, a device size, a battery size, a manufacturer or other type of information from the mobile device. When the mobile device is attached to the charging cable, the power metering circuitry  75  may be engaged. 
         [0039]    According to a first variation of the fourth use case, the charging device  10  may communicate, via a NFC transmission, information about charging to the mobile device. The charging information is preferably generated by the power metering circuitry  75 . In such variation, the charging information may be a one-time or intermittent flow of information about an estimate of an amount of power being provided to the mobile device. Such estimate of power may be formed in one of several ways. According to a first example, the estimate is based on a time duration that the mobile device has been attached to the charging device  10  and is based on a fixed number (average of power consumed per unit of time) in a memory  77 ,  78  corresponding to an average of power consumed by charging the correspondingly identified mobile device (e.g., a mobile telephone of model X made by manufacturer ABC). Such average power number could be taken from manufacturer information and is pre-programmed into the memory  77 ,  78  of the charging device  10  at the time of manufacture of the charging device  10 . In this way, the charging device  10  does not need to be dynamically configured or updated after initial manufacturer. According to another example, a second alternative calculation method, the power metering circuitry  75  could measure actual power consumption at each interval of time, then sum up the entire amount of power consumed over the charging period (time at which the mobile device is attached to the charging device  10 ), and finally communicate this information about the total power consumed during charging. 
         [0040]    According to a second variation of the fourth use case, the charging device  10  may communicate, via a cellular transmission, information about charging to a third party server or service provider, or to the mobile device of the user. Such information about actual power consumed during charging could be used to request a micro-payment from a financial account associated with the mobile device that was charged. For example, for a twenty minute charge of a mobile phone, a user could be charged $0.35 at the end of a billing cycle, or within a few seconds of the power metering circuitry  75  detecting disconnection of the mobile phone from the charging device  10 . 
         [0041]    According to a fifth use case, a charging device  10  is provided with an AC/DC converter  71 , NFC circuitry  72 , sensors  79  and communication components  80 . Sensors  79  may include such components as a proximity detector and a thermal detector for detecting if a human hand is brought sufficiently proximate to the charging device  10  such as when the charging device  10  is mounted under a table or for detecting movement proximate to one of the charge cables. According to this use case, when a mobile device that also has NFC circuitry enabled is brought sufficiently near the charging device  10 , the mobile device and charging device  10  exchange information. For example, the charging device  10  may receive information from the mobile device via a NFC communication to identify which charging cable is appropriate for the mobile device. A communication component  80  may then activate, thereby directing a user of the mobile device to withdraw or unspool the appropriate charging cable from the charging device  10 . For example, the communication component  80  may be an LED proximate to the window of the correspondingly appropriate charging cable and connector, and the charging device may flash the LED. When a user brings his hand close to the connector, a sensor  79  may then detect the proximity of the person&#39;s hand and causes the charging device to stop flashing the LED. In this way, the charging device  10  intelligently directs a user to select the appropriate charging cable. This use case and the other use cases described above are exemplary of the types of behaviors that are possible with the components illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Through such components, a variety of behaviors are possible for the charging device which improve upon known devices and methods for selecting an appropriate cable for a device to be attached to a charging device such as device  10 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of a power charger or device charger. With reference to  FIG. 7 , a charging device  100  is illustrated from a viewpoint similar to that of  FIG. 3 . The charging device  100  includes a first or left portion  101  inside of which is a first charging cable (with a connector  13  hidden by the body  35  of the charging device  100 ). The charging device  100  also includes a second or right portion  102  inside of which is a second charging cable coiled as illustrated in other figures such as  FIGS. 4-5 . Assembly screws  36  are visible on the top portion of the body  35 . Just outside the right side  102  and hidden by the body of the charging device  100  is a second connector  14  as described in reference to other figures. The body  35  includes an aperture  43  for accepting an AC cord for providing AC power to the interior of the charging device  100 . 
         [0043]    The exterior of the charging device  100  has been adapted to provide physical contextual clues that distinguish the two types of charging cords inside of the device. The contextual clues have been accentuated in  FIG. 7  to illustrate features to facilitate distinguishing of the two sides of the charging device  100  and thereby distinguishing between two charging connectors  13 ,  14 , one of which would be incompatible for charging of any particular mobile device. Specifically, the right side  102  includes a first or rectilinear set of contour features  39 A, and the left side  101  includes a rounded or ergonomic (second) set of contour features  39 B. The first contour features  39 A include narrow rectilinear valleys of a first narrow size  104 . The second contour features  39 B include distributed ridges  105  separated by valleys of a width  103  that is substantively larger than the first size  104 . That is, a human user may tactilely be able to distinguish the left side  101  from the right side  102  based on this feature. Additionally, a depth of the respective sets of valleys may distinguish the left side  101  from the right side  102 . 
         [0044]    Further, the ridges, grooves and/or valleys as the second contour features  39 B run along the rectilinear and raised portion  102  at an angle relative to the axis of the body  35  of the charging device  100 . The ridges and grooves or valleys of the second set of contour features  39 B run substantially parallel with the axis running along the body or top  35  of the charging device  100 . A human user may tactilely be able to distinguish the left side  101  from the right side  102  based on this second feature. 
         [0045]    Yet further, the left side  101  has been finished with a relatively smooth texture  113  as marked within an indicated dashed rectangular region. The right side  102  has been finished with a rough texture or stippled finish  114  within a second indicated dashed rectangular region. A human user may tactilely be able to distinguish the left side  101  from the right side  102  based on this feature. 
         [0046]    Further, the left side  101  has been provisioned with a first set of visual communication components such as a first set of LEDs  107 . The right side  102  has been provisioned with a second set of visual communication components such as a second set of LEDs  108 . The color of light emanating from the first set of LEDs  107 , although not illustratable in  FIG. 7 , may distinguish the left side  101  from the color of light emanating from the LEDs  108  of the right side  102 . The two sides are yet furtherably distinguishable from each other based on the LEDs  107 ,  108 . Specifically, the first set of LEDs  107  are arranged in a first pattern that is distinct from a second pattern in which the second set of LEDs  108  are arranged. When a paper or other incident surface  111  is place proximate to the LEDs  107 ,  108 , the patterns  109 ,  110  of incident light from the LEDs  107 ,  108  are visible. In particular, the first pattern  109  is in the shape of a pyramid or triangle, and the second pattern  110  is in the shape of a circle. If a person were to place his hand under the table  20 , and when one or both sets of LEDs  107 ,  108  were illuminated, the two sides could be distinguished by observing a pattern that emanates therefrom. The respective sets of LEDs  107 ,  108  may be formed into a letter, symbol or other actual symbol that corresponds to a manufacturer, size, number or other indicator associated with the corresponding connector  13 ,  14 . In this way, a user is then able to select the appropriate connector  13 ,  14  without having to guess which cable (left or right) to use and without physically or visually inspecting which connector is appropriate for the mobile device. These features of the left side  101  and right side  102  provide enhanced features for a charging device  100 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a device charger according to a second embodiment. With reference to  FIG. 8 , a device charger  116  includes a first plug  13  associated with a first vendor or type of charging receptacle, a second plug  14  associated with a second vendor or type of charging receptacle, and a third plug  115  such as corresponding to a USB-C type of plug. The third plug  115  is shaped so as to protrude and remain on the outside of the aperture  117  through which a charging cord attached to the third plug  115  may be extended for attaching to and charging an electronic device (not shown). The charging cord of the third charging plug  115  is attached to a spring loaded spool so as to facilitate retraction of the cord inside the body of the device charger  116 . A contoured region  118  corresponding to the region at or near the third plug  115  is preferably distinguished from the regions corresponding to the first plug  13  and second plug  14 . The contoured region  118  may include distinguishing features or contours along the front face  119  of the charging device  116  or on the top surface  35 , or along both the front face  119  and top surface  35 . This second embodiment illustrates that modifications to the charger may be made without departing from the purpose of the same and to allow for trends in the electronic device industry so as to support any number of types of devices and types of receiving charge receptacle corresponding to one of the plugs  13 ,  14  and  115 . 
         [0048]    Conclusion. In the previous description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures, devices, systems and methods are shown only in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the invention. 
         [0049]    Reference in this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “implementation” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or implementation is included in at least one embodiment or implementation of the invention. Appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments. 
         [0050]    It will be evident that the various modification and changes can be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit of the invention. In this technology, advancements are frequent and further advancements are not easily foreseen. The disclosed embodiments may be readily modifiable in arrangement and detail as facilitated by enabling technological advancements without departing from the principles of the present disclosure.