Secure charging stations and methods for operating the same

Abstract

A secure charging station for portable electronic devices (PEDs) may include plurality of individual charging sub-stations, each with an associated charging port, PED sensing area and authentication system. The PED sensing area includes one or more sensors sensing the presence and/or absence of the PED. The authentication system permits a PED owner to enter authentication information, such as a four-digit code via keypad, or information on a credit card, to initiate a secure mode in which unauthorized removal of the PED will trigger an alarm. When in the secure mode, the charging station may display a signal to notify unauthorized persons that tampering or removal of a corresponding PED from the sensing area will trigger an alarm. When charging is complete, or when the owner desires to remove the PED from the secure sensing area, he or she again enters authentication information via the authentication system to cause the PED sensing area to assume an unsecure mode, which permits removal of the PED without the sounding of an alarm.

1 . A secure charging station for charging portable electronic devices in a public location, having at least one charging sub-station comprising:
 at least one sensing area associated with each charging sub-station and having a sensing area sensing surface for sensing the presence of a respective portable electronic device on the sensing surface;   an authentication device associated with each charging sub-station for permitting a user to input authenticating information;   a processing logic for activating the at least one sensing area sensing surface to sense removal or tampering of the at least one portable electronic device in response to an owner entering authenticating information via the authentication device.   
     
     
         2 . The secure charging station of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication device is a keypad adapted to receive a code input by an owner of the respective portable electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The secure charging station of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication device is a credit card reader. 
     
     
         4 . The secure charging station of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication device is a biometric input device. 
     
     
         5 . The secure charging station of  claim 1 , further comprising a secure mode indicator for indicating that the sensing area is in a secure mode of operation. 
     
     
         6 . The secure charging station of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking device for locking the at least one portable electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A process for operating a secure charging station comprising;
 receiving authentication information from an owner of a portable electronic device;   activating a sensing area having a sensing surface on the secure charging station in response to receiving the authentication information;   sensing the presence of the portable electronic device using the sensing area sensing surface to secure the portable electronic device relative to the charging station; and   monitoring the sensing area sensing surface to detect movement or tampering with the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of activating a secure mode indicator in response to receiving authentication information from an owner and in response to determining that the personal electronic device is in a secure location on the sensing area sensing surface. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of deactivating the sensing area in response to receiving authentication information from the owner. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of receiving authentication information from a keypad. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of receiving the authentication information from a credit card reader. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of sounding an alarm in response to unauthorized removal or tampering with the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         16 . A secure charging station for charging portable electronic devices in a public location comprising:
 at least one respective sensing area sensing surface defined on the charging station and having a secure mode in which the at least one sensing area sensing surface detects a portable electronic device;   a respective authentication device cooperatively associated with the at least one respective sensing area sensing surface for receiving authentication information from an owner of the portable electronic device;   a secure mode indicator associated with the at least one sensing area sensing surface for indicating that the at least one sensing area sensing surface is in a respective secure mode;   an alarm associated with the at least one respective sensing area sensing surface; and   processing logic operable to:
 a) activate the secure mode and the secure mode indicator of the at least one sensing area sensing surface in response to the authentication device receiving authentication information from the owner; 
 b) selectively trigger the alarm associated with the at least one sensing area sensing surface if removal of the portable electronic device from the sensing area sensing surface is detected while the sensing area sensing surface is in the secure mode. 
   
     
     
         17 . The secure charging station of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one power port for receiving a charging adapter for the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The secure charging station of  claim 16 , further comprising indicia on the sensing surface defining the sensing area. 
     
     
         19 . The secure charging station of  claim 16 , further comprising a weight sensor associated with the at least one sensing area sensing surface for sensing the weight of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . The secure charging station of  claim 16 , wherein the authentication device comprises a credit card reader.