Patent ID: 8169185

Claim:
A system for inductive powering and/or charging of portable devices or batteries, comprising: a base unit such as a charger or power supply, which includes one or more primary coils generally having a plane or curved surface, wherein each of the primary coils can be activated to generate an inductive field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane or curved surface of the coil, for use in powering or charging one or more portable devices or batteries, wherein the base unit can provide power to one or more receiver units associated with one or more portable devices or batteries to be powered or charged, each of which receiver units includes a receiver coil, wherein the receiver unit is coupled to or incorporated into a portable device or battery, or case, skin, or other accessory for use therewith, and wherein the receiver unit receives energy inductively via its receiver coil from the primary coil and uses the energy to power or charge the portable device or battery; and one or more features within the base unit for allowing that assist in providing position independence of the portable devices or batteries on the base unit, including detecting the presence of one or more portable devices or batteries, and then selectively activating appropriate one or more primary coils so that the base unit can charge or power the one or more portable devices or batteries so detected.