wireless charger

[krystian]

I had an idea last evening which I want to share. Maybe dumb. We are all seeing new wireless charging solutions everywhere. They may be wireless but they are still not contactless. You need to put your phone on something eventually. Why not make a mat with grid of metal squares connected to some 3 state buffers. And on a phone, two of its down edges, make them conductive. So when phone is placed on the mat, inputs connected to the pads are searching for a phone and deciding which pads should be connected to power.

And we have literally wireless charging and it does not matter how you put your phone on the mat, just throw it on the table (like we all do) with mat on it and it will charge up. Easier than positioning phone exactly over the coil

Its a metal to metal connection so we can charge at high currents, even phone cases wouldn't be a problem if they start to make them with conductive edges

exposed conductive pads on a phone can lead to some problems, electrostatic protection etc.

What do you think about my idea?

[Halcyon]

Could you design an ultra-fast charger compatible with induction cooktops? ;-)

[Assafl]

Good idea. You can maintain pressure by using magnets.

Problem is always the same - compatibility. It makes sense if the laptop and Kindle and phone etc. all worked with the same charger. If Amazon won't work with an Apple sanctioned device and Google Phone - what is the use? Up to now - only USB seems to be universal - except for apple which seem to be too taxing for engineering to have a USB...

There is a company working on a laser charger. Walk into a bar and it directs a few watts at your phone. Safe when used as directed.