Wireless charging receptacle

Abstract

An apparatus for a wireless charging receptacle is provided in the illustrative embodiments. An enclosure having a shape and a plurality of sides is formed to at least partially enclose a device while charging a rechargeable power source in the device. An opening is formed in the enclosure. the opening is located on a first side from the plurality of sides. The first side has a surface area less than a second surface area of a second side in the plurality of sides, the second surface area being largest of all surface areas of all sides in the plurality of sides. A wireless charging mechanism is configured relative to at least one of (i) the second side and (ii) a third side of the enclosure, wherein the wireless charging mechanism wirelessly supplies energy to a second wireless charging mechanism coupled with the device.

1 . A wireless charging receptacle apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 an enclosure having a shape and a plurality of sides to at least partially enclose a device while charging a rechargeable power source in the device;   an opening in the enclosure, wherein the opening is located on a first side from the plurality of sides, wherein the first side has a surface area less than a second surface area of a second side in the plurality of sides, the second surface area being largest of all surface areas of all sides in the plurality of sides; and   a wireless charging mechanism configured relative to at least one of (i) the second side and (ii) a third side of the enclosure, wherein the wireless charging mechanism wirelessly supplies energy to a second wireless charging mechanism coupled with the device.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is positioned relative to a surface in a vehicle such that the first side with the opening is positioned on the surface and other sides in the plurality of sides are obscured by the surface. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the surface is a substantially horizontal surface in the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the surface is a substantially vertical surface in the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a guiding mechanism, wherein the guiding mechanism guides the device into a position at least partially within the receptacle, wherein the position places the second wireless charging mechanism within a threshold distance from the wireless charging mechanism.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the guiding mechanism comprises a protrusion from a side in the plurality of sides. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the guiding mechanism comprises an indentation in a side in the plurality of sides. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a restraining mechanism, wherein the restraining mechanism holds the device in a position within the receptacle, wherein the position places the second wireless charging mechanism within a threshold distance from the wireless charging mechanism.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the restraining mechanism comprises a movable structure associated with a side in the plurality of sides. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a height adjustment mechanism, wherein the height adjustment mechanism holds the device in a position at a certain depth in the enclosure, wherein the position places the second wireless charging mechanism within a threshold distance from the wireless charging mechanism.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cooling mechanism, wherein the cooling mechanism removes from the receptacle a heat byproduct of wirelessly charging the device in the receptacle.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the cooling mechanism comprises a venting structure associated with a side in the plurality of sides, wherein the venting structure allows a cooling fluid to flow into the enclosure, contact the device, and flow out of the enclosure. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the cooling mechanism comprises structure to direct a cooling fluid to flow adjacent to a side in the plurality of sides, wherein the venting structure allows the cooling fluid to indirectly remove the heat byproduct by cooling the side. 
     
     
         14 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . An article of manufacture which, when operated, cause a machine to carry out steps of a method for forming a wireless charging receptacle apparatus, the method comprising:
 forming an enclosure having a shape and a plurality of sides to at least partially enclose a device while charging a rechargeable power source in the device;   forming an opening in the enclosure, wherein the opening is located on a first side from the plurality of sides, wherein the first side has a surface area less than a second surface area of a second side in the plurality of sides, the second surface area being largest of all surface areas of all sides in the plurality of sides; and   configuring a wireless charging mechanism relative to at least one of (i) the second side and (ii) a third side of the enclosure, wherein the wireless charging mechanism wirelessly supplies energy to a second wireless charging mechanism coupled with the device.