Samsung patent application hints at wireless charging case for AR glasses

Samsung could be working on a wireless charging case for augmented reality (AR) glasses, according to a recently published patent filing. While there isn’t much information about the AR headset, the patent filing sheds some light on how the wireless charging case would work. If the company does launch a device described in the patent, users would be required to place their AR glasses into the rectangular case in order to charge the headset when the battery runs low.

A patent application filed by Samsung earlier this year was recently published on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) website (via 91Mobile phones). The description of the invention, entitled ‘Wireless power transfer device’, states that it relates to a charging device for AR glasses.

In the various diagrams in the patent document, Samsung describes the use of magnetic coils to transfer power to a receiving device that also has a magnetic coil for wireless charging. These coils are aligned with the lenses of the AR glasses in Fig. 9a, in a horizontal orientation.

Figure 2 shows the charging case with a rectangular box-shaped design, with a hinge that flips open to reveal the storage compartment for the AR glasses. Figures 3a and 3b show the wearable in the case while folded, with the arms at the bottom.

Figure 9a (left) and Figure 8
Photo credit: WIPO/Samsung

Meanwhile, Figures 12a and 12b show the AR glasses placed in the charging case with the frame positioned vertically. The side coils (clearly shown in Figure 8) are perpendicular to the bottom of the charging case and are placed on both sides of the lenses of the AR glasses.

While the patent filing isn’t a clear indication whether Samsung plans to introduce AR glasses with wireless charging support, the introduction of wireless charging could make such a device much more convenient by eliminating the need to remember to charge your AR headset. The glasses would also be fully charged when taken out of the charging case, much like true wireless stereo (TWS) headsets today.