Patent attributes
Charging systems (10, 70) are disclosed that generally employ forces generated by at least one magnet (16–22) or (76–82) to guide and urge a rechargeable, portable or mobile electronic device (12, 72) toward a charging position with respect to a charging base (14, 74) therefor. By using magnetic forces to guide or urge the device (12, 72) to the charging position, substantially frictionless charging systems (10, 70) can be provided herein for shifting the device (12, 72) to its charging position. Either repulsion or attraction forces can be employed. Accordingly, depending on which magnetic force is used to urge the device (12, 72) to its charging position, an opposite magnetic force is preferably provided to provide the user a tactile indication of improper alignment of the device (12, 72) and charging base (14, 74). Preferably, pairs of opposite single pole magnets are used so that there is one pair (16, 18) or (76, 78) associated with the device (12, 72) and another pair (20, 22) or (80, 82) associated with the base (14, 74).
