Orientation-free wireless charging bowl for consumer devices
This technology is a wireless charging system built into a bowl-shaped receptacle that can charge electronic devices no matter how they are oriented or placed inside it. It uses multiple coils arranged around the inside of the bowl, each connected to its own resonant circuit, and a controller that selectively activates different coils at different power levels to create a charging field that surrounds the device from multiple directions simultaneously. The underlying physics relies on near-field magnetic resonance — the same principle used in Qi wireless charging — but extended to work in three dimensions rather than requiring flat, precise alignment. This solves the frustrating real-world limitation of conventional wireless chargers that only work when a device is placed flat and centered on a pad.
What you could build
A consumer or commercial charging bowl that powers smartphones, earbuds, smartwatches, and IoT devices regardless of how they are dropped in — sold to consumer electronics brands, hotel and hospitality suppliers, or automotive interior designers for center consoles.
Who in Virginia should care
Northern Virginia consumer electronics distributors, defense contractors integrating wireless power into field equipment, or hospitality and facility management companies headquartered in the region.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Junjie Feng, Qiang Li, Fred C. Lee, Minfan Fu
- Granted
- June 25, 2019
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10333353
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.