Patent Publication Number: US-2023146913-A1

Title: Apparatus and methods for charging a device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/277,743, filed on Nov. 10, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a charger, and more particularly to a charger that is pivotably attached to a base and configured to continuously charge a number of device types. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wireless transceivers, transmitters, and wireless microphones (collectively, “wireless devices”) generally feature batteries that must be occasionally charged. The batteries of the wireless devices may be removable. In certain instances, these wireless devices or their batteries may be charged in one housing and transported or stored in another housing. Further, in some instances, a charging housing may be configured to charge wireless devices in upright orientations. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure or to delineate the scope of the disclosure. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below. 
     In one aspect, an example charging apparatus may include a device holder that is configured to continuously supply a charging current to a wireless device and a battery holder that is configured to continuously supply a charging current to a battery. The device holder may continuously supply a charging current to a wireless device while the device holder is in a plurality of positions, which may afford the charging apparatus a lower overall profile and may enhance the storability of the charging apparatus while the charging apparatus charges at least one device and/or device battery. In one example, the charging apparatus may simultaneously charge a wireless device and a battery of the same type of wireless device. Other aspects of the disclosure herein may relate to methods of charging a wireless device and a wireless device battery. 
     These as well as other novel advantages, details, embodiments, features and objects of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosure, the attached claims and accompanying drawings, listed herein, which are useful in explaining the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present disclosure and the advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description in consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an example charging apparatus made in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2   a    is a perspective view of an example device holder isolated from the charging apparatus of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  2   b    is a perspective view of an example device holder isolated from the charging apparatus of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  2   c    is a perspective view of an example electrical contact and cable assembly isolated from the example device holder of  FIGS.  2   a    and  2   b;    
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the charging apparatus of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the charging apparatus of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the charging apparatus of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the charging apparatus of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  7   a    is a perspective view of an example battery that may be used with the charging apparatus of  FIG.  1   ; and 
         FIG.  7   b    is a perspective view of example battery holders isolated from the charging apparatus of  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description of the various examples, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various examples in which aspects may be practiced. References to “embodiment,” “example,” and the like indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) of the disclosure so described may include particular features, structures, or characteristics, but not every embodiment or example necessarily includes the particular features, structures, or characteristics. Further, it is contemplated that certain embodiments or examples may have some, all, or none of the features described for other examples. And it is to be understood that other embodiments and examples may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Unless otherwise specified, the use of the serial adjectives, such as, “first,” “second,” “third,” and the like that are used to describe components, are used only to indicate different components, which can be similar components. But the use of such serial adjectives are not intended to imply that the components must be provided in given order, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other way. 
     Also, while the terms “front,” “back,” “side,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, for example, based on the example orientations shown in the figures and/or the orientations in typical use. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional or spatial orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of the claims. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , the present disclosure includes, in one example, a charging base  100  that may be configured to charge wireless transceivers, wireless transmitters, and wireless microphones (collectively, “devices”) and batteries of the devices, or a combination thereof. The base  100  may include an input terminal for receiving external power and an ethernet input terminal (not shown). The base  100  may include an internal printed circuit board (PCB) (not shown) that may be electrically connected to the input terminal and may be configured as the motherboard of the base  100 . In one example, the motherboard may include an AC/DC converter. In another example, the AC/DC converter may be external to the base  100 . The motherboard may include a computing device. The base  100  may include a slot (or cavity)  102  and a slot (or cavity)  103  that each define a cavity along the length of the base. Alternatively, the base  100  may only include slot  102 . The slots  102  and  103  may be configured such that the cavities defined by slots  102  and  103  extend through the forward face of the base  100 . It is to be understood that slots  102  and  103  are substantially similar in all respects. Base  100  may include a front face  112  and top surface  114 . 
     Device holders  104  and  105  may be disposed within slot  102  and  103 , respectively. In some examples, device holders  104  and  105  may be configured to receive, maintain, and charge devices  108  and  109 , respectively. Devices  108  and  109  may be a number of device types, including but not limited to a wireless transceiver, a wireless transmitter, or a wireless microphone. Device  109  may be the same device type as device  108  or a different device type. For simplicity, certain examples will be described with respect to device holder  104 , device  108 , and the relationship between device holder  104  and device  108 , or with respect to device holder  105 , device  109 , and the relationship between device holder  105  and device  109 . It is to be understood that device holders  104  and  105  are substantially similar in all respects and that device holders  104  and  105  may include all features discussed with respect to the other. Further, while device  109  may be a different device type than device  108 , its relationship to device holder  105  may be substantially similar to that of device  108  with device holder  104 . 
     The device holder  104  may be pivotably fixed to the base. The device holder  104  may be configured to allow a user to rotate the device holder  104  from a first position (i.e. an “open” position) to a second position (i.e. a “closed position) while continuously providing a charging current to device  108 . In one example, the device holder  104  may be configured to pivot about an axis that is parallel to the length of the slot  102 . In another example, the device holder  104  may be configured to pivot about an axis that is perpendicular to the length of slot  102 . In one example, the device holder  104  can be configured to rotate 90°. But it is also contemplated that the device holder can be configured to rotate more or less than 90° to for example, 45° 180°, 270°, 360°, etc. 
       FIG.  1    depicts the device holder  104  in the open position. In this position, the receiving face (or engaging face)  111  of the device holder  104  (shown only with respect to device holder  104 ) may be at zero degrees relative to normal, may be substantially parallel with the top surface  114  of the base  100 , and may be substantially flush with the top surface  114  of the base  100 . When device holder  104  is in the open position, a user may place device  108  into the device holder  104  and into contact with the charging element. 
       FIG.  2   a    illustrates an example device holder  104  removed from the base  100 . Device holder  104  may include a charging element that may include an electrical contact  202  attached to a sidewall of the device holder  104 , configured to engage with a complementary charging input terminal on the device  108  (not shown), thus supplying a charging current to device  108 . In one example, the electrical contact  202  may be magnetically coupled to a sidewall of device holder  104 . The electrical contact  202  may be electrically connected to a PCB  206  (shown in  FIG.  2   c   ). The PCB  206  may be electrically connected to the motherboard (not shown) of base  100  via a flexible cable  204  such as a ribbon cable or flex strip. The cable  204  may be disposed underneath each device holder and may include sufficient slack to remain connected to each respective charging element as each device holder pivots from the open position to the closed position. In one example, the output terminals of the electrical contact  202  may be configured as a 5-pin arrangement wherein pins  202   a  may be allocated for supplying power to the device  108 , pin  202   b  may register the internal battery temperature of device  108 , and pins  202   c  may monitor the charging status and battery health of the device  108 . The cable  204  may be electrically connected to the motherboard (not shown) of the base  100 . In some examples, the base  100  may be configured to provide an internal power supply. In another example, the electrical contact  202  and device  108  may each be configured to enable inductive charging of device  108 . 
       FIG.  2   b    illustrates an example device holder  105  removed from the base  100 , and further illustrates an example configuration of cable  204  coupled to the charging element of device holder  105 . In some examples, a substantial majority of the length of cable  204  may be disposed underneath device holder  105  in a cavity between the bottom of device holder  105  and above the base  100 . Cable  204  may be configured to rest in said cavity while remaining electrically coupled to the motherboard and PCB  206  (shown in  FIG.  2   c   ) while the device holder  105  rotates from an open to a closed position, and vice versa. For example, a substantial portion of cable  204  may be configured to rest in a serpentine manner in said cavity and may possess such slack as to allow device holder  105  to rotate from an open position to a closed position, and vice versa, while remaining electrically coupled to the motherboard and PCB  206  (shown in  FIG.  2   c   ). In some examples, end A of the cable  204  may be disposed within the base and connected to the motherboard. In some examples, the device holder  105  may include a protruding member  210 . Member  210  may be integrally molded to the device holder  105  and may be configured in a variety of shapes. Member  210  may be configured to direct the cable  204  towards and along the bottom of device holder  105 . For example, member  210  may engage with cable  204  and may cause the cable  204  to conform to the inner slope of member  210  such that the cable  204  is upwardly redirected towards the bottom of the device holder  105 . A portion of the cable  204  proximal to end A′ may run along the bottom of device holder  105 . The portion of the cable  204  running along the bottom of device holder  105  may be adhesively fixed to the device holder. In some examples, device holder  105  may include an aperture  208  disposed on the bottom side of the device holder  105 . The aperture  208  may be configured to allow end A′ of the cable  204  to pass through aperture  208  and consequently electrically couple with the PCB  206  (shown in  FIG.  2   c   ). 
     In one example, device holder  105  may include a cylindrical appendage  212  that extends outwards from the device holder. The appendage  212  may be integrally molded to the sidewall  214  (as shown in  FIG.  2   a   ) or sidewall  216 . The cylindrical appendages may be rotatably coupled or pivotably fixed to an axle (not shown) disposed in the corresponding interior sidewall of base  100  via aperture  218 . In this example, a user may freely rotate the device holder  105  from the open position to the closed position, and vice versa. 
       FIG.  2   c    illustrates an example configuration of the electrical contact  202  and cable  204  assembly isolated from device holder  105 . As mentioned, cable  204  may be electrically coupled to PCB  206  and may be configured to remain coupled to PCB  206  as the device holder rotates throughout open, closed, and intermediate positions. In one example, cable  204  may be soldered onto PCB  206 . In another example, cable  204  may include an output port disposed on side A′ of cable  204 . Cable  204  may mechanically couple to a complementary input port on PCB  206 . 
       FIGS.  3  and  4    depict the device holder  104  positioned in an intermediate position and a closed position, respectively. In the intermediate position, the receiving face  111  of the device holder  104  may be between zero degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to normal. When the device holder  104  is in an intermediate position, a user may either place device  108  into the device holder  104  and the base  100  may begin charging the device(s)  108 , or the user may remove the device  108  from one the device holders  104  to use the device  108 . In the closed position, the receiving face  111  the device holder  104  may be 90 degrees relative to normal and may be substantially perpendicular to the top of the base  100 . When device holders  104  and  105  are in the closed position, the devices  108  and  109  may exhibit a height that is lower than when holders  104  and  105  are in the open position, which may enable a user to securely store the base  100  in, for example, a three-rack unit cabinet (not shown) when the devices  108  and/or  109  are not in use, are being charged, or are being transported or stored. 
     Referring again to  FIG.  3   , the device holder  104  may be configured such that it may remain in various incremental positions throughout rotation from the first position to the second position. In one example, this may be accomplished with a ratchet hinge assembly. As mentioned with respect to  FIG.  2   b   , the device holder  104  may include a molded appendage  212  on a sidewall of device holder  104  that extends outwards from the device holder. The appendage  212  may include integrally molded teeth that may be evenly spaced in a radial arrangement about the appendage  212 . A ball plunger may be disposed within the corresponding sidewall of base  100 . The ball plunger may be configured as a standard ball plunger, a press-fit ball plunger, or a self-retaining ball plunger. In one example, the ball plunger may be configured as a spring-loaded plunger. During operation, the teeth of appendage  212  may slide over the ball plunger as the device holder is rotated to a desired position, whereupon the ball plunger engages with a gap between given teeth and the hinge locks. Pressure on the device holder may force the ball plunger out of engagement with the ratchet assembly and the device holder  104  may be further rotated to another desired position. In another example, appendage  212  may include an integrally molded disk that constantly engages with the ball plunger. In this example, the ball plunger may provide a continual a biasing force on the device holder  104  such that it may remain in various incremental positions throughout rotation from the first position to the second position. Alternatively, an elastic member composed of a resilient material may be disposed along the sidewall of base  100  and may engage with appendage  212  and provide a biasing force against appendage  212  as device holder  104  is rotated from an open position, through several intermediate positions, to a closed position, and vice versa. Additionally, as mentioned, when the device holders  104  and/or  105  are rotated from the open position to the closed position (and vice versa), and throughout rotation from the first position to the second position (i.e. to various incremental or intermediate positions), the respective electrical contacts may be configured to maintain contact with devices  108  and  109  and to supply a continuous charging current to the devices  108  and  109 . 
     In one example, device holder  104  may be configured to rotate independently of device holder  105 . In some examples, a user may wish to charge device  108  in slot  102  while charging a battery  510  in slot  103 . In another example, a user may wish to charge device  109  in slot  103  while charging a battery  510  in slot  102 . Thus, a user may rotate device holder  104  to the closed position while leaving the device holder  105  in the open position. This configuration may allow a user to charge a battery  510  in battery holder  106  while allowing the user to charge device  109  in the device holder  105 , and vice versa. In another example, the device holders  104  and  105  may be configured to rotate in unison, such that rotation of each device holder causes the equivalent rotation of the other device holder. In this configuration, a user may either charge devices  108  and  109  in device holders  104  and  105 , respectively, or two batteries  510  at a given time in battery holders  106  and  107 . 
     In one example, the base  100  may include connection terminals  110  that may enable several bases to be mechanically and electrically coupled together. The connection terminals  110  may include a central power pass-through terminal that may supply the additional bases with power. Up to four bases may share one power supply. The bases may be connected by aligning the corresponding terminals  110  and inserting set screws to fasten the bases together. The terminals  110  may also include an outer contact ring that may be configured to collect information among the bases including, but not limited to, the device types being charged in each respective base, the charging status of each device, the battery health of each device, and the like. The base  100  may relay said information to an external processor via an ethernet connection. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , the charging element on the device holder  104  may be configured to provide a continuous charging current to device  108  when the device holder  104  is in the closed position. When the device holder  104  is in the closed position, the device  108  may exhibit a height that is lower than when holder  104  is in the open position, which may enable a user to securely store the base  100  in, for example, a three-rack unit cabinet when the device  108  is not in use. The device  108  may include a plurality of antennas  402  that extend past the forward wall of the base  100 . The slot  102  may be configured such that the cavity it defines extends through the forward face of the base  100 . In this way, a device  108  with antenna  402  may be charged while the device holder  104  is in the closed position without requiring a user to remove the antennas  402  from the device  108 . Alternatively, the slot  102  may be configured such that the cavity it defines does not extend through the forward wall of the base  100 . 
     In one example, device  108  may engage with slot  102  horizontally along the length of base  100 . In this example, the base  100  may or may not include rotating device holder  104 . Slot  102  may include a charging element (not shown), such as an electrical contact, substantially similar to charging element  202  (as shown in  FIG.  2   a   ) disposed in the sidewall of slot  102  and configured to engage with the charging input port (not shown) of device  108 . The slot  102  may be configured such that the cavity it defines provides clearance for the antenna  402  to extend along the length of base  100  while device  108  is docked in slot  102 . In this way, a device  108  with antenna  402  may be charged while the device  108  is horizontally docked in base  100  without requiring a user to remove the antennas  402  from the device  108 . In one example, the length of the base  100  and slot  102  may correspond to the total length of the device  108  and antennas  402 . In another example, the front face  112  of base  100  may include an opening  102  to allow antennas  402  to extend past the front face  112  of base  100 . Slot  102  may be further configured to help reduce the vertical footprint of the device  108  when docked in base  100 . For example, slot  102  may be configured with a depth such that the side  404  of device  108  may be substantially flush with the top surface  114  of the base when device  108  is horizontally docked in base  100 . 
       FIG.  5    depicts device holders  104  and  105  in the closed position without a device  108  and  109 , respectively, maintained therein. Battery holders  106  and  107  may be disposed within slot  102  and  103 , respectively, forwardly adjacent to the device holders  104  and  105 . In some examples, the battery holders  106  and  107  may be configured to receive, maintain, and charge a battery  510 . The battery  510  may be a battery of the same device type as that of device  108  and/or  109 . In another example, the battery  510  may be a battery of a different device type than that of device  108  and/or  109 . 
     In one example, the device holders  104  and/or  105  may be configured such that only a device  108  and/or  109  or only a battery  510  may be charged in slot  102  and/or  103  at a given time. This may ensure that the base  100  can adequately supply power to either the device  108  and/or  109  or batteries  510  without degrading either. This may also prevent current overload due to simultaneous charging of a device  108  and battery  510  in slot  102 , or simultaneous charging of device  109  and battery  510  in slot  103 , for example. As shown in  FIG.  6   , the device holder  104  and/or device holder  105  may be configured such that the length of the device holders  104  and/or  105  mechanically prevents a user from inserting a battery into contact with the battery holders  106  and/or  107  when the device holders  104  and/or  105  are in the open position. In one example, a forward edge  602  of the receiving face  111  of the device holder  105  may extend into the cavity defined by the battery holder  107 , preventing mechanical and electrical coupling of the battery  510  to the battery holder  107 . As  FIG.  6    further illustrates, when a user positions the device holder  104  in the closed position, battery  510  may be inserted into battery holder  106 , consequently allowing battery  510  to come into contact with the electrical contact  516  (shown in  FIG.  7   b   ) of the battery holder  106 . 
     In some examples, the base  100  may include an indicator  512  that displays information to a user regarding the charging status of devices  108  and  109  and/or a battery  510 . The indicator  512  may be electrically connected to the motherboard of base  100 . For example, the indicator  512  may be a plurality of LED lights. The LED lights may be arranged in rows to correspond with the matrix of device holders  104  and  105  and battery holders  106  and  107 . The indicator  512  may display an array of signals indicative of charging status, battery health, and the like. For example, a red LED light may indicate that the devices  108  and/or  109  or battery  510  is charging. A yellow LED light may indicate that the device  108  and/or  109  or battery  510  cannot be charged and may need to undergo maintenance. A green LED light may indicate that the device  108  and/or  109  or battery  510  has fully charged and is ready for use. 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   a   , battery  510  may include a charging input terminal  714 . The input terminal  714  may be disposed on the side of battery  510 .  FIG.  7   b    illustrates example battery holders  106  and  107  isolated from slots  102  and  103 , respectively. In one example, the battery holders  106  and  107  may each include an electrical contact  716  that may be attached to an upper portion of the sidewall of the battery holders  106  and  107 . The electrical contact  716  may be electrically connected to the motherboard of base  100 . The electrical contact  716  may be configured to engage with the complementary charging input terminal  714  of battery  510 , thus supplying a charging current to battery  510 . The battery holders  106  and  107  may be configured such that the battery  510  rests substantially flush to the top surface  114  of the base  100  while the battery  510  is maintained in the battery holders  106  and/or  107 . 
     A charging apparatus may comprise a base. The base may comprise at least one cavity. At least one device holder may be disposed within the at least one cavity and may be pivotably fixed to the base. The at least one device holder may be configured to receive, maintain, and charge a first device type when the device holder is in a plurality of positions. The at least one device holder may further comprise an engaging face and a first electrical contact disposed within the at least one device holder configured to provide a charging current to the first device type. The engaging face may be parallel to the upper surface of the base and substantially flush with the upper surface of the base in a first position and the engaging face may be perpendicular to the upper surface of the base in a second position. The at least one cavity may further comprise at least one cavity electrical contact adjacent to the at least one device holder and is configured to engage and charge a second device type. The at least one device holder may comprise a width that precludes the at least one cavity electrical contact from engaging and charging the second device type when the at least one device holder is in the first position. The base may further comprise a first side and a second side, the first and second sides each comprising a plurality of connection terminals for mechanical and communicative attachment to a plurality of bases. The base may comprise a second cavity adjacent and parallel to the at least one cavity. The second cavity may comprise a second device holder disposed within the second cavity, which may be pivotably fixed to the base, independently pivotable from the at least one charging element, and configured to receive, maintain, and charge the first device type when the device holder is in a plurality of positions. The at least one device holder may further comprise an engaging face and a second electrical contact that may be disposed within the at least one device holder configured to provide a charging current to the first device type and a second cavity electrical contact that may be adjacent to the second device holder and may be configured to receive and charge the second device type. The at least one device holder may comprise a height when in the second position that is compatible with use in a 3-rack unit drawer. The first device type may be a transceiver and the second device type may be a battery for the transceiver. 
     A charging apparatus may comprise a first device holder configured to receive a first device type and a first electrical contact configured for providing a charging current to the first device type. The first device holder may be configured to rotate from a first position to a second position within a first slot of the charging apparatus while holding the first device type. The first electrical contact may be configured to maintain contact with the first device type in the first position, the second position, and throughout rotation from the first position to the second position such that the first electrical contact continuously provides current to the first device type so as to charge a battery of the first device type. The first device type may be configured to extend to a first height in the first position and in the second position the first device type may extend to a second height that is lower than the first height. The first cavity may further comprise a first cavity electrical contact configured to provide a charging current to a second device type. The first device holder, when in the second position, may allow the second device type to be inserted into contact with the first cavity electrical contact. The first device holder, when in the first position, may prevent the second device type to be inserted into contact with the first cavity electrical contact. The charging apparatus may further comprise a second device holder, configured to receive the first device type, and a second electrical contact configured for providing current to the first device type. The second electrical contact may be disposed within the second device holder. The second device holder may be configured to rotate from a first position to a second position within a second cavity. The second electrical contact may be configured to maintain contact with the first device type in the first position, the second position, and throughout rotation from the first position to the second position such that the second electrical contact may continuously provide current to the first device type. The first device type, in the first position, may be configured to extend to the first height and in the second position the first device type may extend to the second height that is lower than the first height. The second cavity may further comprise a second cavity electrical contact configured to provide a charging current to the second device type. The second device holder, when in the second position, may allow the second device type to be inserted into contact with the second cavity electrical contact. The second device holder, when in the first position, may prevent the second device type to be inserted into contact with the second cavity electrical contact. The first device holder and the second device holder may be configured to rotate in unison. The first device holder and the second device holder may be configured to rotate separately. The first device type may be a transceiver and the second device type may be a battery for the transceiver. 
     A method of charging a device may comprise configuring a first device holder to receive a first device type and to rotate from a first position to a second position within a first cavity of a charging apparatus while holding the first device type such that the first device type extends to a first height in the first position and a second height in the second position that is lower than the first height. The method may further comprise providing a first device holder electrical contact configured for maintaining contact with the first device and for supplying a charging current to the first device type in the first position, the second position, and throughout rotation from the first position to the second position such that the first holder electrical contact continuously provides current to the first device type so as to charge the first device type. The method may further comprise providing a first slot electrical contact in the first slot configured to supply a charging current to a second device type and configuring the first holder to allow the second device type to be inserted into contact with the first slot electrical contact when the first holder is in the second position and preventing the second device type to be inserted into contact with the first slot electrical contact when the first holder is in the first position. The method may further comprise providing a second device holder configured to receive the first device type and a second holder electrical contact configured for providing current to the first device type wherein the second holder electrical contact is disposed within the second holder. The second holder may be configured to rotate from a first position to a second position within a second slot. The second electrical contact may be configured to maintain contact with the first device type in the first position, the second position, and throughout rotation from the first position to the second position such that the second holder electrical contact continuously provides current to the first device type. In the first position, the first device type may be configured to extend to the first height and in the second position the first device type may be configured to extent to the second height that is lower than the first height. The method may further comprise providing a second slot electrical contact in the second slot configured to supply a charging current to the second device type and configuring the second holder to allow the second device type to be inserted into contact with the second slot electrical contact when the second holder is in the second position and preventing the second device type to be inserted into contact with the second slot electrical contact when the second holder is in the first position. The method may further comprise configuring the first device holder and the second device holder to rotate independently. The first device type may be a transceiver and the second device type may be a battery for the transceiver. 
     A charging apparatus may comprise a base. The base may comprise at least one cavity configured to receive a first device type. The charging apparatus may comprise an electrical contact disposed within the at least one cavity configured for providing a charging current to the first device type. The device may comprise at least one antenna. The cavity may be configured to provide clearance for the at least one antenna to extend along the length of the base while the first device type is engaged with a wall defining the at least one cavity. The at least one cavity may comprise a depth sufficient to enable a side edge of the first device type to be substantially flush with a top surface of the base when the first device type is engaged with the wall defining the at least one cavity. A front face of the base may be configured to provide clearance for the at least one antenna to extend past the front face of the base. The front face may be provided with an opening to allow the at least one antenna to extend past the front face of the base. 
     In the foregoing specification, the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. Although the disclosure has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications, embodiments or variations of the disclosure can be practiced within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, therefore, to be regarded in an illustrated rather than restrictive sense. Accordingly, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited except as may be necessary in view of the appended claims.