Magnetically coupled wireless charging system for mobile device

Abstract

A wireless charging system including a protective case for a mobile device configured for wireless charging. The protective case includes a first plurality of magnets and a wireless charger having a first front side and a first back side. The wireless charger further includes a charging pad and a second plurality of magnets on the first front side wherein the second plurality of magnets are magnetically coupled to the first plurality of magnets. The first plurality of magnets and the second plurality of magnets are arranged so that the wireless charger self-aligns in a desired position when attached to the protective case and transmits energy through the protective case into the mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless charging system, comprising:
 a protective case for a mobile device configured for wireless charging, the protective case including a first plurality of magnets;   a wireless charger having a first front side and a first back side, the wireless charger further including a charging pad and a second plurality of magnets on the first front side wherein the second plurality of magnets are magnetically coupled to the first plurality of magnets;   wherein the first plurality of magnets and the second plurality of magnets are arranged so that the wireless charger self-aligns in a desired position when attached to the protective case and transmits energy through the protective case into the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality magnets are arranged around coils of the wireless charger when the wireless charger is attached to the protective case. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the protective case may be configured in one of a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation relative to the wireless charger. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality of magnets are embedded within the protective case. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least a first magnet of the first plurality of magnets is attracted to a corresponding second magnet of the second plurality of magnets. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least a first magnet of the first plurality of magnets having an outwardly-facing north pole is attracted to a corresponding magnet of the second plurality of magnets having an outwardly-facing south pole. 
     
     
         7 . A wireless charging system, comprising:
 a protective case for a mobile device having coils for wireless charging, the protective case including a first plurality of alternating polarity magnets;   a wireless charger having a first front side and a first back side, the wireless charger further having coils and a second plurality of alternating polarity magnets on the first front side wherein the second plurality of alternating polarity magnets are magnetically coupled to the first plurality of alternating polarity magnets;   wherein the first plurality of alternating polarity magnets and the second plurality of alternating polarity magnets are arranged so that when the wireless charger becomes connected to the protective case the coils of the wireless charger align with the coils of the mobile device so that energy may be transmitted through the protective case and into the mobile device.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a distance L between the coils of the wireless charger and the second plurality of alternating polarity magnets is substantially identical to a distance L′ between the coils of the mobile device and the first plurality of alternating polarity magnets when the mobile device is disposed within the protective case. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  further including:
 a third plurality of alternating polarity magnets on the first back side;
 an accessory device having a second front side and a second back side, the accessory device having a fourth plurality of alternating polarity magnets on the second front side and a fifth plurality of alternating polarity magnets on the second back side wherein the fourth plurality of alternating polarity magnets are magnetically coupled to the third plurality of alternating polarity magnets. 
 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the second plurality of magnets are configured to mirror an arrangement of the first plurality of magnets. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the first plurality of magnets are embedded within the protective case. 
     
     
         12 . A case apparatus, comprising:
 a protective case configured to contain a mobile device configured for wireless charging;   a first plurality of magnets included within the protective case wherein the first plurality of magnets are configured to be magnetically coupled to a second plurality of magnets of a wireless charger so that the wireless charger self-aligns in a desired position when magnetically attached to the protective case, the first plurality of magnets being arranged so as to be disposed around a periphery of a charging pad of the wireless device when the wireless charger is magnetically attached to the protective case.   
     
     
         13 . The case apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the protective case may be configured in one of a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation relative to the wireless charger. 
     
     
         14 . The case apparatus of  claim 12  wherein at least a first magnet of the first plurality of magnets is attracted to a corresponding second magnet of the second plurality of magnets. 
     
     
         15 . A case apparatus, comprising:
 a protective case configured to contain a mobile device having coils for wireless charging;   a first plurality of alternating polarity magnets included within the protective case, the first plurality of magnets being arranged within the protective case so that when the mobile device is disposed within the protective case the first plurality of magnets are disposed around a periphery of the coils;   wherein the first plurality of alternating polarity magnets are arranged so that when the protective case becomes connected to a wireless charger having a second plurality of alternating polarity magnets, the coils of the mobile device align with coils of the wireless charger align with so that energy may be transmitted through the protective case and into the mobile device to recharge a battery of the mobile device.   
     
     
         16 . The case apparatus of  claim 15  wherein a distance L between the coils of the wireless charger and the second plurality of alternating polarity magnets is substantially identical to a distance L′ between the coils of the mobile device and the first plurality of alternating polarity magnets when the mobile device is disposed within the protective case. 
     
     
         17 . The case apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the second plurality of magnets are configured to mirror an arrangement of the first plurality of magnets.