Patent ID: 7514899

Claim:
An optical charger comprising: a first light source operable to emit first light; and a reflective proximity sensor comparison a light receiver and a detection circuit, the sensor being coupled to the first light source and configured to detect a portable device in proximity to the first light source, the detection circuit comprising a band-pass filter configured to discriminate between: (a) a first light orginating from the light source reflected from the portable electronic device and (b) second ambient light originating from other light sources; wherein the first light source is activated to emit first light configured to fall on a photovoltaic cell of the portable device when the portable electronic device is proximity to the first light source; //a solar cell operable to receive ambient second light; a charge storage device; and a charge converter coupled to the solar cell and operable to charge the charge storage device; wherein the first light source is powered by the charge storage device.