Patent Publication Number: US-2023136621-A1

Title: Device with plural wireless chargers connectable to each other

Description:
FIELD 
     The disclosure below relates to technically inventive, non-routine solutions that are necessarily rooted in computer technology and that produce concrete technical improvements. In particular, the disclosure below relates to wireless chargers that are connectable to each other. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As recognized herein, wires used to charge devices can be inconvenient, malfunction, and take up valuable space that can be better utilized. As also recognized herein, a device should typically be placed directly over a single wireless charger at a designated location in order to wirelessly charge the device, but that can lead to situations where the device cannot be used while charging due to the inconvenient location of the wireless charger. Further still, users must still remember to place the device at the designated location, and failure to do so can result in the device not having enough battery power remaining when someone goes to use it later. Therefore, there are currently no adequate solutions to the foregoing computer-related, technological problems related to device charging. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, in one aspect a device includes a surface onto which objects are placeable as well as plural wireless chargers electrically connectable to each other. The plural wireless chargers are disposable beneath the surface. 
     In various example embodiments, each of the plural wireless chargers may include at least one charging coil as well as at least one male and/or female connector for connecting to another wireless charger. 
     In some examples, the plural wireless chargers may be arranged in grid array on the device and may be connectable to each other in series and in parallel. If desired, the plural wireless chargers may be accessible beneath the surface through a door or opening in the device. 
     Still further, in some example implementations the plural wireless chargers may include at least a first wireless charger for charging at a first power level and a second wireless charger for charging at a second power level greater than the first power level, where the first wireless charger may not be configured to charge at the second power level. The second wireless charger may be located more centrally on the device relative to an X-Y plane of the surface, and the first wireless charger may be located proximate to an edge of the surface relative to the X-Y plane of the surface. 
     Additionally, in some examples the device may include a first connector for connecting to an alternating current (AC) power source to power the plural wireless chargers as well as a second connector for connecting to a battery to power the plural wireless chargers. The device might even include the battery as well as at least one processor and storage accessible to the at least one processor. The storage may include instructions executable by the at least one processor to determine that power from the AC power source is not available and, responsive to the determination, control the device to transfer power from the battery through the second connector to the plural wireless chargers. 
     Also in some example embodiments, the device may be a first device and the first device may include at least one processor and storage accessible to the at least one processor. The storage may include instructions executable by the at least one processor to determine that power from an alternating current (AC) power source is not available and, responsive to the determination, use a first wireless charger of the plural wireless chargers to receive power wirelessly from a second device different from the first device. The instructions may then be executable to transfer the power received from the second device at the first wireless charger to a second wireless charger of the plural wireless chargers to then use the second wireless charger to charge a third device different from the first and second devices using the transferred power. 
     In another aspect, a method includes configuring a first wireless charger with a first connector for connecting to other wireless chargers for the wireless chargers to exchange power and configuring the first wireless charger with a second connector for connecting to other wireless chargers for the wireless chargers to exchange power. The second connector is different from the first connector. 
     In some examples, the first and second connectors may include wires and/or male plugs protruding from a housing of the first wireless charger. Additionally, or alternatively, the first and second connectors may include female ports extending into a housing of the first wireless charger. 
     In still another aspect, a first wireless charging device includes a wireless charger and plural connectors for connecting to other wireless charging devices different from the first wireless charging device. The connectors provide electrical paths for power to transfer between the first wireless charging device and the other wireless charging devices. 
     Thus, in some examples the wireless charger may include a coil and at least one circuit, with the coil including at least one wire disposed around a magnet. The plural connectors may be connected to the circuit, and the plural connectors may each include a wire protruding from a housing of the first wireless charging device, a male plug protruding from the housing, and/or a female port extending into the housing. 
     Still further, in some example embodiments the first wireless charging device may include at least one processor and storage accessible to the at least one processor. The storage may include instructions executable by the at least one processor to determine that power from an alternating current (AC) power source is not available and, responsive to the determination, control the first wireless charging device to receive power through one or more of the plural connectors from a direct current (DC) power source. 
     Additionally, or alternatively, the first wireless charging device may include at least one processor and storage accessible to the at least one processor, where the storage includes instructions executable by the at least one processor to determine that power from an alternating current (AC) power source is not available. Responsive to the determination, the instructions may be executable to use the wireless charger to wirelessly receive power from a second wireless charging device different from the first wireless charging device. The instructions may then be executable to transfer the power wirelessly received via the wireless charger to a third wireless charging device different from the first and second wireless charging devices. 
     Still further, in some examples the first wireless charging device may include furniture having a surface onto which a computing device is placeable for wireless charging via the wireless charger. 
     The details of present principles, both as to their structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram of an example system consistent with present principles; 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram of an example network of devices consistent with present principles; 
         FIGS.  3 ,  4 ,  10 , and  11    show top plan views of example wireless chargers consistent with present principles; 
         FIG.  5    shows a side elevational view of an example device housing plural wireless chargers and including a piece of furniture such as a desk or table consistent with present principles; 
         FIGS.  6 ,  7 ,  13 , and  14    show example grid arrays of wireless chargers consistent with present principles; 
         FIG.  8    shows a flow chart of steps that may be used for wireless charger configuration consistent with present principles; 
         FIG.  9    shows example logic in example flow chart format that may be executed by a device consistent with present principles; and 
         FIG.  12    shows an example graphical user interface (GUI) that may be presented on an electronic display for configuring one or more settings of a device to operate consistent with present principles. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Among other things, the detailed description below describes wireless charging units/wireless chargers that are pluggable with each other as well as replaceable. They may therefore be connected as a mesh with other wireless charging units to create a charging surface of any shape and size a user desires, either as part of a piece of furniture or as a stand-alone mesh of wireless charging devices. The units may be connected in series and/or parallel, allowing continued charging even when one or more of the units fail. 
     In some examples, the mesh of charging units may be covered with a thin layer of material (e.g., forming part of a piece of furniture) to provide a seamless user experience and seamless look and feel while still providing charging capability and allowing for concurrent device usage by the user while charging occurs. 
     In various example implementations, the units may be low power wireless chargers for wirelessly charging devices like microphones, mouses, keyboards, and phones. Additionally, or alternatively, the units may be higher power wireless chargers to charge laptops, displays, etc. 
     Still further, if desired a battery backup may also be used to allow charging even during power outages. So, for example, in a situation where there is no AC power, a laptop can be connected to share power with other devices instead of the laptop just consuming power itself. That way a laptop may charge other devices that do not have an auxiliary power supply so they can continue working even if in the scenario of an AC outage. The switch of the laptop or other device to becoming a wireless charge provider device instead of a wireless charge consumer device may be done autonomously whenever the laptop, another device, or one of the wireless chargers themselves recognizes that there is no AC power anymore coming from the main supplier. 
     Also note that if desired, one or more units in the mesh may not actually have wireless charging components but may be blanks (e.g., with a hollow housing) to provide an area for cable pass-through and other implementations. But note that owing to other units of the mesh, with wireless chargers, being connected in series and/or in parallel, power may still pass around the blanks and between other wireless chargers for wireless charging at other areas of the mesh. 
     The connectors themselves that connect the various wireless chargers may be connectors for −/+ power polarity or may be custom connectors for −/+ power polarity and pin/channel used for synchronizing the wireless frequency between wireless chargers as described further below. 
     The connectors may be two pin (+/−), three pin (+/−/ground), three pin (+/−/sync), four pin (+/−/ground/sync), and/or any combination of those in one or more connectors. 
     Additionally, note that if someone puts a hole in a desk to run cables through (e.g., owner modified) and thus puts a hole in one of the wireless chargers, a short circuit for safety may be used. Grounding circuitry may thus be included. E.g., circuitry in each wireless charger may include a failsafe mechanism shorting to ground in the event of a wireless charger failure. Failure types might include the charger being injured through physical puncture or intrusion, or general failure over time. 
     Another type of failure may include the charger power passthrough connectors on the edge being short circuited, and so only that one edge of the charger might get disabled from providing passthrough power based on configuration of that charger&#39;s circuitry. Thus, consistent with present principles, if one edge of a hexagonal prism wireless charger is shorted, then the other five connectors may still work. 
     Prior to delving further into the details of the instant techniques, note with respect to any computer systems discussed herein that a system may include server and client components, connected over a network such that data may be exchanged between the client and server components. The client components may include one or more computing devices including televisions (e.g., smart TVs, Internet-enabled TVs), computers such as desktops, laptops and tablet computers, so-called convertible devices (e.g., having a tablet configuration and laptop configuration), and other mobile devices including smart phones. These client devices may employ, as non-limiting examples, operating systems from Apple Inc. of Cupertino Calif., Google Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., or Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash. A Unix® or similar such as Linux® operating system may be used. These operating systems can execute one or more browsers such as a browser made by Microsoft or Google or Mozilla or another browser program that can access web pages and applications hosted by Internet servers over a network such as the Internet, a local intranet, or a virtual private network. 
     As used herein, instructions refer to computer-implemented steps for processing information in the system. Instructions can be implemented in software, firmware or hardware, or combinations thereof and include any type of programmed step undertaken by components of the system; hence, illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps are sometimes set forth in terms of their functionality. 
     A processor may be any single- or multi-chip processor that can execute logic by means of various lines such as address lines, data lines, and control lines and registers and shift registers. Moreover, any logical blocks, modules, and circuits described herein can be implemented or performed with a system processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A processor can also be implemented by a controller or state machine or a combination of computing devices. Thus, the methods herein may be implemented as software instructions executed by a processor, suitably configured application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) or field programmable gate array (FPGA) modules, or any other convenient manner as would be appreciated by those skilled in those art. Where employed, the software instructions may also be embodied in a non-transitory device that is being vended and/or provided that is not a transitory, propagating signal and/or a signal per se (such as a hard disk drive, CD ROM, or Flash drive). The software code instructions may also be downloaded over the Internet. Accordingly, it is to be understood that although a software application for undertaking present principles may be vended with a device such as the system  100  described below, such an application may also be downloaded from a server to a device over a network such as the Internet. 
     Software modules and/or applications described by way of flow charts and/or user interfaces herein can include various sub-routines, procedures, etc. Without limiting the disclosure, logic stated to be executed by a particular module can be redistributed to other software modules and/or combined together in a single module and/or made available in a shareable library. Also, the user interfaces (UI)/graphical UIs described herein may be consolidated and/or expanded, and UI elements may be mixed and matched between UIs. 
     Logic when implemented in software, can be written in an appropriate language such as but not limited to hypertext markup language (HTML)-5, Java/JavaScript, C #or C++, and can be stored on or transmitted from a computer-readable storage medium such as a random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a hard disk drive or solid state drive, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage such as digital versatile disc (DVD), magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices including removable thumb drives, etc. 
     In an example, a processor can access information over its input lines from data storage, such as the computer readable storage medium, and/or the processor can access information wirelessly from an Internet server by activating a wireless transceiver to send and receive data. Data typically is converted from analog signals to digital by circuitry between the antenna and the registers of the processor when being received and from digital to analog when being transmitted. The processor then processes the data through its shift registers to output calculated data on output lines, for presentation of the calculated data on the device. 
     Components included in one embodiment can be used in other embodiments in any appropriate combination. For example, any of the various components described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged, or excluded from other embodiments. 
     “A system having at least one of A, B, and C” (likewise “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” and “a system having at least one of A, B, C”) includes systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc. 
     The term “circuit” or “circuitry” may be used in the summary, description, and/or claims. As is well known in the art, the term “circuitry” includes all levels of available integration, e.g., from discrete logic circuits to the highest level of circuit integration such as VLSI, and includes programmable logic components programmed to perform the functions of an embodiment as well as general-purpose or special-purpose processors programmed with instructions to perform those functions. 
     Now specifically in reference to  FIG.  1   , an example block diagram of an information handling system and/or computer system  100  is shown that is understood to have a housing for the components described below. Note that in some embodiments the system  100  may be a desktop computer system, such as one of the ThinkCentre® or ThinkPad® series of personal computers sold by Lenovo (US) Inc. of Morrisville, N.C., or a workstation computer, such as the ThinkStation®, which are sold by Lenovo (US) Inc. of Morrisville, N.C.; however, as apparent from the description herein, a client device, a server or other machine in accordance with present principles may include other features or only some of the features of the system  100 . Also, the system  100  may be, e.g., a game console such as XBOX®, and/or the system  100  may include a mobile communication device such as a mobile telephone, notebook computer, and/or other portable computerized device. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the system  100  may include a so-called chipset  110 . A chipset refers to a group of integrated circuits, or chips, that are designed to work together. Chipsets are usually marketed as a single product (e.g., consider chipsets marketed under the brands INTEL®, AMD®, etc.). 
     In the example of  FIG.  1   , the chipset  110  has a particular architecture, which may vary to some extent depending on brand or manufacturer. The architecture of the chipset  110  includes a core and memory control group  120  and an I/O controller hub  150  that exchange information (e.g., data, signals, commands, etc.) via, for example, a direct management interface or direct media interface (DMI)  142  or a link controller  144 . In the example of  FIG.  1   , the DMI  142  is a chip-to-chip interface (sometimes referred to as being a link between a “northbridge” and a “southbridge”). 
     The core and memory control group  120  include one or more processors  122  (e.g., single core or multi-core, etc.) and a memory controller hub  126  that exchange information via a front side bus (FSB)  124 . As described herein, various components of the core and memory control group  120  may be integrated onto a single processor die, for example, to make a chip that supplants the “northbridge” style architecture. 
     The memory controller hub  126  interfaces with memory  140 . For example, the memory controller hub  126  may provide support for DDR SDRAM memory (e.g., DDR, DDR 2 , DDR 3 , etc.). In general, the memory  140  is a type of random-access memory (RAM). It is often referred to as “system memory.” 
     The memory controller hub  126  can further include a low-voltage differential signaling interface (LVDS)  132 . The LVDS  132  may be a so-called LVDS Display Interface (LDI) for support of a display device  192  (e.g., a CRT, a flat panel, a projector, a touch-enabled light emitting diode (LED) display or other video display, etc.). A block  138  includes some examples of technologies that may be supported via the LVDS interface  132  (e.g., serial digital video, HDMI/DVI, display port). The memory controller hub  126  also includes one or more PCI-express interfaces (PCI-E)  134 , for example, for support of discrete graphics  136 . Discrete graphics using a PCI-E interface has become an alternative approach to an accelerated graphics port (AGP). For example, the memory controller hub  126  may include a 16-lane (x16) PCI-E port for an external PCI-E-based graphics card (including, e.g., one of more GPUs). An example system may include AGP or PCI-E for support of graphics. 
     In examples in which it is used, the I/O hub controller  150  can include a variety of interfaces. The example of  FIG.  1    includes a SATA interface  151 , one or more PCI-E interfaces  152  (optionally one or more legacy PCI interfaces), one or more universal serial bus (USB) interfaces  153 , a local area network (LAN) interface  154  (more generally a network interface for communication over at least one network such as the Internet, a WAN, a LAN, a Bluetooth network using Bluetooth 5.0 communication, etc. under direction of the processor(s)  122 ), a general purpose I/O interface (GPIO)  155 , a low-pin count (LPC) interface  170 , a power management interface  161 , a clock generator interface  162 , an audio interface  163  (e.g., for speakers  194  to output audio), a total cost of operation (TCO) interface  164 , a system management bus interface (e.g., a multi-master serial computer bus interface)  165 , and a serial peripheral flash memory/controller interface (SPI Flash)  166 , which, in the example of  FIG.  1   , includes basic input/output system (BIOS)  168  and boot code  190 . With respect to network connections, the I/O hub controller  150  may include integrated gigabit Ethernet controller lines multiplexed with a PCI-E interface port. Other network features may operate independent of a PCI-E interface. 
     The interfaces of the I/O hub controller  150  may provide for communication with various devices, networks, etc. For example, where used, the SATA interface  151  provides for reading, writing, or reading and writing information on one or more drives  180  such as HDDs, SDDs or a combination thereof, but in any case, the drives  180  are understood to be, e.g., tangible computer readable storage mediums that are not transitory, propagating signals. The I/O hub controller  150  may also include an advanced host controller interface (AHCI) to support one or more drives  180 . The PCI-E interface  152  allows for wireless connections  182  to devices, networks, etc. The USB interface  153  provides for input devices  184  such as keyboards (KB), mice and various other devices (e.g., cameras, phones, storage, media players, etc.). 
     In the example of  FIG.  1   , the LPC interface  170  provides for use of one or more ASICs  171 , a trusted platform module (TPM)  172 , a super I/O  173 , a firmware hub  174 , BIOS support  175  as well as various types of memory  176  such as ROM  177 , Flash  178 , and non-volatile RAM (NVRAM)  179 . With respect to the TPM  172 , this module may be in the form of a chip that can be used to authenticate software and hardware devices. For example, a TPM may be capable of performing platform authentication and may be used to verify that a system seeking access is the expected system. 
     The system  100 , upon power on, may be configured to execute boot code  190  for the BIOS  168 , as stored within the SPI Flash  166 , and thereafter processes data under the control of one or more operating systems and application software (e.g., stored in system memory  140 ). An operating system may be stored in any of a variety of locations and accessed, for example, according to instructions of the BIOS  168 . 
     As also shown in  FIG.  1   , the system  100  may include at least one wireless charger  193  acting as a transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving a wireless charge via a magnetic field using, e.g., inductive wireless charging principles and/or resonant inductive coupling principles. Thus, the transceiver  193  may include a coil  195 . The coil  195  may include at least one wire disposed around a magnet and may receive power from another wireless charger (transmitter) on another device/system via the magnetic/electromagnetic field created by the other charger when activated. Likewise, the coil  195  may itself act as a transmitter to transmit power from a battery pack on the system  100 , and/or alternating current (AC) power source connected to the system  100 , to other wireless chargers on other devices. 
     With the foregoing in mind, note that the transceiver  193  may also include at least one circuit  197  configured for receiving current from the coil  195  as received via wireless charging to then provide the current to the system  100  to power it as well as to provide the current to a battery/battery pack of the system  100  to charge the battery/pack. The circuit  197  may also provide power from the battery/pack or AC power source to the coil  195  for the coil  195  to wirelessly charge another device. Thus, the circuit  197  may include one or more converter(s), rectifier(s), regulator(s), inductor(s), capacitor(s), etc. and act as an Rx and/or Tx depending on implementation, switch configuration, and/or logic as set forth below. 
     Additionally, though not shown for simplicity, in some embodiments the system  100  may include a gyroscope that senses and/or measures the orientation of the system  100  and provides related input to the processor  122 , as well as an accelerometer that senses acceleration and/or movement of the system  100  and provides related input to the processor  122 . Still further, the system  100  may include an audio receiver/microphone that provides input from the microphone to the processor  122  based on audio that is detected, such as via a user providing audible input to the microphone. The system  100  may also include a camera that gathers one or more images and provides the images and related input to the processor  122 . The camera may be a thermal imaging camera, an infrared (IR) camera, a digital camera such as a webcam, a three-dimensional (3D) camera, and/or a camera otherwise integrated into the system  100  and controllable by the processor  122  to gather still images and/or video. Also, the system  100  may include a global positioning system (GPS) transceiver that is configured to communicate with at least one satellite to receive/identify geographic position information and provide the geographic position information to the processor  122 . However, it is to be understood that another suitable position receiver other than a GPS receiver may be used in accordance with present principles to determine the location of the system  100 . 
     It is to be understood that an example client device or other machine/computer may include fewer or more features than shown on the system  100  of  FIG.  1   . In any case, it is to be understood at least based on the foregoing that the system  100  is configured to undertake present principles. 
     Turning now to  FIG.  2   , example devices are shown communicating over a network  200  such as the Internet in accordance with present principles. It is to be understood that each of the devices described in reference to  FIG.  2    may include at least some of the features, components, and/or elements of the system  100  described above. Indeed, any of the devices disclosed herein may include at least some of the features, components, and/or elements of the system  100  described above. 
       FIG.  2    shows a notebook computer and/or convertible computer  202 , a desktop computer  204 , a wearable device  206  such as a smart watch, a smart television (TV)  208 , a smart phone  210 , a tablet computer  212 , a wireless charging device/wireless charger  216 , and a server  214  such as an Internet server that may provide cloud storage accessible to the devices  202 - 212 ,  216 . It is to be understood that the devices  202 - 216  may be configured to communicate with each other over the network  200  to undertake present principles. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  3   , it shows a top plan view of an example wireless charging device/wireless charger  300  consistent with present principles. The charger  300  may incorporate one or more of the features of the wireless charger  193  described above, including a coil and circuit for wireless charging. As also shown in  FIG.  3   , the charger  300  may include a charging surface  302  onto which another device (such as a smartphone or tablet) may be placed for wireless charging of the other device, with the surface  302  establishing part of a housing  304  of the charger  300 . 
     Additionally, the housing  304  of the charger  300  as shown in the example of  FIG.  3    may be a hexagonal prism, with an X-Y dimension on top and bottom faces as shown in the top plan view of  FIG.  3    being hexagons. However, note that other 3D shapes and profiles may also be used for the housing  304  depending on desired implementation, such as cube and boxed-shaped housings, cylindrical-shaped housings, and triangular prism housings etc. 
     As also shown in  FIG.  3   , extending from one or more edges of the top and bottom faces of the charger  300 , and/or extending from sidewalls of the charger  300 , may be one or more connectors  306  providing electrical paths for connecting the charger  300  to other wireless chargers consistent with present principles. The connectors  306  may be male connectors as shown (e.g., that may have just a wire, just a plug, or both a wire and a plug at the distal end). The connectors  306  may use universal serial bus (USB) communication and hardware standards (e.g., USB cables), though other types of communication protocols and hardware configurations may also be used. For example, the connectors  306  may not be male (or female) per se but may be universal connectors in that any connector  306  may connect to any other connector of similar or same type on another wireless charger (e.g., rather than having a male connector plug into a reciprocal female connector/port on another charger). In any event, as indicated above the connectors  306  may extend from a portion of the top charging surface  302 , or from a sidewall of the hexagonal prism-shaped housing  304  along the Z dimension, so that, in either case, a respective connector  306  extends from each side of the housing  304  to connect to another respective wireless charger on each side of the charger  300  as described further below. 
       FIG.  4    shows another example of a wireless charging device/wireless charger  400  that may be used consistent with present principles. The charger  400  may be similar in many respects to the charger  300  as already described above, save for the housing  404  being box-shaped rather than hexagonal prism-shaped. Thus, the charger  400  may have a charging surface  402  on top as shown according to the top plan view of  FIG.  4   , as well as one or more connectors  406  that may be similar to the connectors  306  and that may extend from each side of the housing  404  similar to as described above in reference to  FIG.  3   . 
       FIG.  5    shows a side elevational view of a device  500  that may include a piece of furniture  502  such as a desk or table as shown. However, the furniture included as part of the device  500  may be another type as well, such as a kitchen counter, bathroom counter, lab counter, dresser, chest, hutch, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the furniture  502  may have a surface  504  onto which objects are placeable for wireless charging and other purposes. Thus, beneath the surface  504  in a hollow chamber  506  may be plural wireless chargers (such as the chargers  300 ,  400  described above) that are electrically connected to each other in series and/or in parallel in order to transfer power from a power source between them for any one or more of the chargers to wirelessly charge another device. Thus, when a computing device such as a laptop computer, smartphone, or tablet is placed on the surface  504 , one or more of the wireless chargers in the chamber  506  may charge the battery of the computing device as resting/placed on the surface  504 . Accordingly, it is to be understood that the surface  504  may be made of a material that does not block wireless charging, such as a composite, laminate, wood/plywood, plastic, or polymer like ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     As for the power source itself, it may include a power supply unit (PSU)  508  and/or alternating current (AC) power source  510  such as a wall outlet connected to a public electrical grid. The PSU  508  may convert AC power from the wall outlet as received via a connector/power cord  512  to direct current (DC) power to supply the DC power to the wireless chargers in the chamber  506  to power them for wireless charging. Accordingly, in addition to the connector  512  from the wall outlet  510  to the PSU  508 , the device  500  may include another connector  514  from the PSU  508  to circuitry of the chamber  506 , with the circuitry of the camber  506  connecting to one or more of the wireless chargers via one or more connectors of the wireless chargers themselves (e.g., connectors  306 ,  406 ) so that power may ultimately be routed from the outlet  510  to any/all connected wireless chargers within the chamber  506 . Similarly, another power source  516  that may be a DC power source like a battery or battery pack may also be used to power the wireless chargers in the chamber  506  via a connector  518  between the DC source  516  and circuitry of the chamber  506 . For example, the DC power source  516  may be a wiredly-connected laptop battery or even a dedicated battery incorporated into the device  500  as shown in  FIG.  5    itself. The connectors  512 ,  514 ,  518  themselves may be established by power lines, wires, cables, etc. 
     For completeness, note that the device  500  of  FIG.  5    may include one or more additional components, including any of those described above with respect to the system  100  of  FIG.  1   . For example, the device  500  may include its own RAM  520 , non-transitory persistent storage  522  (such as hard disk drive, solid state drive, persistent flash memory, etc.), and one or more processors  524  (such as a central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), microprocessor, FPGA, ASIC, etc.). Thus, software code stored in the storage  522  may be loaded into the RAM  520  for execution by the processor  524 , including software code for executing the logic of  FIG.  9    as will be described later. 
     However, reference is first made to  FIG.  6   , which shows a top plan view of a grid array  601  of plural box-shaped wireless charging devices/wireless chargers  600  that may each be established by the wireless charger  400  of  FIG.  4   . The grid array  601  may be arranged in the chamber  506  of  FIG.  5   , for example. 
     As shown, each charger  600  may include a respective charging surface  602  as well as respective connectors  604  extending from each side/sidewall. In certain examples, each connector  604  may be flippable in an interference fit between a retracted configuration in which the connector  604  sits in a bay of the wireless charger&#39;s housing (and flush with surrounding portions of the housing) and an extended configuration for connecting to a respective connector of another wireless charger on that respective side of the housing. 
     As also shown in  FIG.  6   , connectors  604  for respectively adjacent chargers  600  have been connected to each other to establish the grid array  601  so that power may be transferred from a power source between and among any/all of the chargers  600 . Note that while two rows and four columns of electrically interconnected chargers  600  are shown, more or less rows and columns may be used. But it is to nonetheless be understood that in various examples, a grid array consistent with present principles may result in at least some of the wireless chargers  600  being electrically connected both in series and in parallel to exchange power. 
     Thus, the grid array  601  of  FIG.  6    may be established by an end-user or manufacturer accessing the chamber  506  of the device  500  and connecting (or replacing) adjacent wireless chargers  600  to each other via their respective connectors  604  (e.g., once flipped into their extended configurations). Once the grid array  601  is established and the surface  504  again covers the chamber  506 , a computing device such as a laptop or smartphone may then be placed on any portion of the surface  504  above one or more of the chargers  600  for its own battery to be charged by one or more of the chargers  600  through the surface  504 . 
     Accordingly, it may be appreciated that there need not be a designated, relatively small spot on a corner of the surface  504  onto which the end-user must place the computing device to charge it wirelessly. Instead, the user may place the computing device at a variety of locations on the surface  504  for wireless charging since various locations of the surface  504  are each above a respective wireless charger  600  of the grid array  601 . This might be particularly useful where the user wishes to still use the computing device while it charges. 
     What&#39;s more, since the chargers  600  may be connected in series and in parallel, even if one of the chargers  600  fails or malfunctions, power for wireless charging may still reach a respective charger  600  beneath the computing device itself via another electrical path. Thus, even if one of the chargers  600  fails or malfunctions, a user drills a hole through the surface  504  and through one of the chargers  600  of the array  601 , or another situation occurs resulting in one of the chargers  600  becoming inoperable, the end-user may still be afforded wide latitude in options/locations for charging their computing device since power can be transferred through other chargers  600  of the array  601  that are still operational. 
       FIG.  7    shows another example grid array  701  including plural wireless charging devices/wireless chargers  700  that may be similar to the hexagonal prism-shaped chargers  300  of  FIG.  3   . However, rather than showing a grid array in isolation for clarity as in  FIG.  6   , here the grid array  701  is shown as disposed within a chamber  703  that may be similar to the chamber  506  of  FIG.  5   . Additionally, note that perforated lines  706  indicate the bounds of a door forming part of an upper surface such as the surface  504 , with the door being connected to other portions of the furniture/device via one or more hinges  708  for opening and closing the door to access the chamber  703 . Thus, the user may lift up the door itself to access the chamber  703  to establish the grid array  701 , add wireless chargers to the array  701 , and/or replace wireless chargers in the array  701 . 
     Also, for completeness again note that each charger  700  may have a charging surface  702  onto which computing devices may be directly placed for charging, though the computing devices may also be placed onto another surface above the surface  702  such as the surface  504  of  FIG.  5    consistent with present principles. In any case, each charger  700  may also include respective connectors (not shown) as described above in reference to  FIG.  3    to establish the grid array  701  of interconnected chargers  700  arranged in series and in parallel. The connectors of  FIG.  7    may also be flippable as described above in reference to  FIG.  6   . 
     Still in reference to  FIG.  7   , note that in some examples the wireless chargers  700  need not all be the same size or have the same charging capacity. For example, smaller wireless chargers  700  around the periphery of the array  701  and/or proximate to edges of the array  701 /surface  504  along the X-Y plane of the array  701 /surface  504  may be configured for charging at a first power level (e.g., below 100 watts) for relatively low power charging, such as for stand-alone microphones, Bluetooth speakers, or even smartphones. But as also shown in  FIG.  7   , one or more of the chargers  700  that are located more centrally on the array  701 /surface  504  relative to the X-Y plane may have larger charging surfaces  702  as shown (designated as surfaces  710 ). These larger chargers may be configured for charging at a second power level that is greater than the first power level (e.g., above 100 watts) and that the smaller chargers are not configured to charge at. The second power level may be more appropriate for fast or even regular charging of a larger battery that might be included in a laptop computer or other relatively larger device, for example. 
     Accordingly, by arranging the larger chargers  700  capable of charging at the second power level more centrally in the array  701 , a laptop that might be placed above one of those central locations for use by an end-user may still be charged at a sufficient rate while it is being used, all while a smartphone or other smaller device might concurrently rest on the surface  504  but more to the side and still receive an appropriate charge itself. However, further note that additional wireless chargers configured for charging at additional power levels beyond the first and second levels may also be used in any appropriate combination. 
     Furthermore, note in relation to the grid arrays of  FIGS.  6  and  7    (and any other grid arrays that a user might establish using wireless chargers as described herein) that the wireless chargers may be synchronized with each other so that their respective wireless charging fields are in phase with each other/oscillate in unison at the same time. This may be done so that even if a computing device that is to be charged does not have its own wireless charging coil placed directly over one of the wireless chargers in the furniture itself, fields from the coils of off-center wireless chargers may still be used to charge the computing device without any sort of destructive interference or other issues arising from the fields of the different wireless chargers being out of phase. 
     Accordingly, it is to be further understood that in some examples the connectors between the wireless chargers themselves may be used not just to exchange power but to also exchange data. The exchanged data may include timing data to sync the wireless chargers for the field of each wireless charger to be in phase with the fields of the other wireless chargers. The syncing, and hence exchange of timing information, may occur at all times that an AC or DC power source is available, or may occur responsive to one of the wireless chargers detecting a draw resulting from a computing device receiving a wireless charge off of it. A processor such as the processor  524  may act as coordinator to establish the timing information, or the wireless charger that first detected the draw may be elected for its timing information to be copied by other wireless chargers. 
     Now describing  FIG.  8   , it shows an example flow chart of steps that may be taken to configure a wireless charging device/wireless charger consistent with present principles, e.g., during manufacture or by an end-user during home assembly. Beginning at block  800 , a first wireless charger may be configured with a first connector for connecting to other wireless chargers for the wireless chargers to exchange power. This may include connecting electrical paths and circuits, installing a male or female connector, etc. The logic may then move to block  802  where the first wireless charger may be similarly configured with a second connector for connecting to other wireless chargers for the wireless chargers to exchange power. 
     Thus, the different first and second connectors may be subsequently connected to second and third wireless chargers via the respective first and second connectors to establish a grid array as described above. Again, note consistent with the disclosure above that the first and second connectors may include male wires and/or plugs protruding from a housing of the first wireless charger, and/or female ports extending into the housing. 
     Continuing the detailed description in reference to  FIG.  9   , it shows example logic consistent with present principles that may be executed by a first device such as the system  100 , device  500 , or even one of the wireless charging devices/wireless charges themselves if elected or designated as coordinating device. Note that while the logic of  FIG.  9    is shown in flow chart format, other suitable logic may also be used. Also note that the logic of  FIG.  9    may be executed so that wireless charging may still be accomplished in the event of an AC power loss. 
     Accordingly, beginning at block  900  the first device may wait to or actually wirelessly charge a second device using power from an AC power source consistent with present principles. From block  900  the logic may then proceed to decision diamond  902  where the first device may determine whether power from the AC power source is currently unavailable. This might occur due to a power outage, an issue with the electrical system in the building in which the first device is disposed, the first device being unplugged from the AC power source, etc. The determination itself may be made based on the first device identifying, via its circuitry, a drop or loss in current being provided from the AC source. 
     A negative determination at diamond  902  may cause the logic to revert back to block  900  and proceed again from there. However, an affirmative determination may instead cause the logic to proceed to block  904 , where one or more other actions may be taken by the first device. 
     For example, responsive to an affirmative determination at diamond  902 , at block  904  the first device may control its circuitry (e.g., operate an electrical switch) to begin transferring or drawing power from an alternate DC power source such as the battery  516  from above to power wireless chargers on the first device to charge the second device. 
     As another example, responsive to an affirmative determination at diamond  902 , at block  904  the first device may control its circuitry to switch one of the wireless chargers from provider mode to receiver mode to begin drawing power wirelessly from a third device such as a laptop computer resting on the first device&#39;s surface (e.g., surface  504 ). To draw the power, the first device may electronically notify the laptop to begin providing a wireless charge and then the first device may determine which wireless charger to place in receiver mode based on which wireless charger senses the laptop&#39;s wireless charging field the strongest. Power that is then wirelessly received from the laptop (via the wireless charger in receiver mode) may then be transferred through the circuitry of the first device (including other wireless chargers in series and/or parallel) to another one of the wireless chargers in the grid array in order to charge the second device via the other wireless charger and power drawn from the third device itself. 
     Now in reference to  FIG.  10   , another example embodiment of a generally hexagonal prism-shaped wireless charging device/wireless charger  1000  is shown, though the housing of the charger  1000  may also be another 3D shape as also described above. Further note that the charger  1000  may be similar to the charger  300  described above save for the following difference. 
     As shown in  FIG.  10   , three connectors  1002  are male connectors, but three other connectors  1004  are female connectors/ports for receiving a reciprocal male connector of another wireless charger (like one of the connectors  1002  shown). For example, the male and female connectors may be USB-based reciprocal connectors so that a male connector from one wireless charger may be plugged into a female connector of another wireless charger to establish an electrical path between the two consistent with present principles. 
       FIG.  11    shows yet another example of connectors that may be used for connecting wireless chargers with each other. Here again a hexagonal prism-shaped wireless charger  1100  is shown but note once more than a wireless charger of another shape might also be used. In any case, as shown in  FIG.  11    the charger  1100  includes respective male connectors  1102  that each include a wire protruding from the housing of the wireless charger  1100  and a male plug at a distal end thereof to connect to another wireless charger via a reciprocal plug, female port, etc. 
     Now in reference to  FIG.  12   , it shows an example graphical user interface (GUI)  1200  that may be presented on a display of a device such as the system  100 , device  500 , or another connected/paired device such as a user&#39;s smart phone. The GUI  1200  may be used to configure one or more settings of the device to operate consistent with present principles for wireless charging. Note that in the example shown, each option or sub-option may be selected by directing touch or cursor input to the corresponding check box adjacent to the respective option. 
     Accordingly, as shown the GUI  1200  may include a first option  1202  that may be selectable to set or configure the device to undertake present principles. For example, the option  1202  may be selected a single time to set or enable the device to use multiple wireless chargers operating in concert to wirelessly charge another device, to execute the logic of  FIG.  9    in the future for multiple different charging instances, and/or to perform other functions described herein. 
     The GUI  1200  may also include a sub-option  1204  that may be selectable to specifically set or enable the device to use power received wirelessly from another device to charge yet another device as described above in reference to block  904  in the event of an AC power loss. Similarly, sub-option  1206  may be selectable to set or enable the device to use the device&#39;s own DC power supply (e.g., the battery  516 ) to wirelessly charge another device in the event of an AC power loss. 
     Also note that in some examples the GUI  1200  may include an option  1208 . The option  1208  may be selected to set or enable the device to sync wireless charging among the various wireless chargers of its grid array to charge another device using two chargers that are concurrently providing power as described above in reference to  FIGS.  6  and  7    (e.g., in instances where the other device&#39;s wireless charge receiver is not placed directly over one of the chargers but is still able to receive at least some wireless charge from plural different off-center wireless chargers in the array). 
     Turning now to  FIG.  13   , another example grid array  1300  of wireless chargers consistent with present principles is shown. As may be appreciated from  FIG.  13   , the array includes hexagonal prism-shaped wireless chargers as described above, all of the same size in this example. However, also according to this example the internals of the wireless chargers may still be different from each other based on how much power the respective wireless charger is to transmit. For example, one charger might be a 5 w charger, another may be a 10 w charger, and other may be a 15 w charger. 
     As also shown in  FIG.  13   , a power source adapter or “feeder bar”  1302  may be used as part of the array  1300  for connection to all the wireless chargers of the array  1300 . The adapter  1302  may be connected to an external power source like an AC wall outlet and/or connected to a battery. Additionally, high output wireless chargers  1304  may form part of the array  1300  and may be positioned in the center of the surface/array where devices requiring more power are more likely to be sitting. The high output chargers  1304  may still be the same size as other chargers but with different internals allowing them to transmit higher power. 
     However, in other examples high output chargers such as the charger  1404  of  FIG.  14    may be alternative sizes which are compatible with the smaller sizes of other chargers, as shown by the box-shaped wireless charger example grid array  1400  of  FIG.  14    that also has its own power source adapter or “feeder bar”  1402 . But regardless of size, each charger in some examples may house two or more of standard power transceivers. 
     Referring back to  FIG.  13   , note that chargers  1306  (or chargers  1406  per  FIG.  14   ) may be standard or uniform powered versions of wireless chargers. This does not necessarily mean they are low powered since one array might include a whole desk surface using high power versions of the charger. 
     Housing/device  1308  as also shown in  FIG.  13    (or housing/device  1408  per  FIG.  14   ) may be a “filler” device used to provide the same structural integrity as the other chargers themselves from a weight-bearing perspective, but may not contain a charging transceiver itself. Thus, a desk manufacturer who wanted a cord passthrough in the surface could align the hole to be drilled in the center of the device  1308 . 
     Moving on from  FIGS.  13  and  14   , note that example wireless chargers may be a transmitter and/or transceiver depending on implementation. Thus, in the example of a “reflective surface” grid array where the array of chargers may not be actively powered by a wired power source (wall or battery) and instead simply transfer power from one device to another nearby devices also sitting on the same surface (such as a laptop on a desk powering a smartphone near it as described above), the charger can both transmit and receive wireless power. 
     It may now be appreciated that present principles provide for an improved computer-based user interface that increases the functionality, wireless charge availability, and ease of use of the devices disclosed herein. The disclosed concepts are rooted in computer technology for computers to carry out their functions. 
     It is to be understood that whilst present principals have been described with reference to some example embodiments, these are not intended to be limiting, and that various alternative arrangements may be used to implement the subject matter claimed herein. Components included in one embodiment can be used in other embodiments in any appropriate combination. For example, any of the various components described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged, or excluded from other embodiments.