Wireless charging pod and charging pod rack for game devices with rechargeable batteries

• US 10,862,350 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2019
• Issued: 12/08/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DD Sports, Inc., Shottracker, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DD Sports, Inc.
• Inventors: Keeley, Thomas J., Ianni, Bruce C., Ross, Davyeon D., Kahler, Clint A., Maziarz, Michael, Herron, Patrick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henze-Gongola, David V
• Application Number:
  US16/367,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20190305567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/00 Devices for handling or treating balls , e.g. for holding or carrying balls
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/21 for calibration; for correcting measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses

Abstract

A wireless charging pod and charging pod rack for sports equipment and game devices, which automatically detects nearby authorized game devices with rechargeable batteries, and automatically initiate and manage charging operations for authorized game devices, and automatically deactivates the charging operations when the rechargeable batteries are fully charged, or the authorized game devices are moved out of wireless charging range.

Claims

1. A wireless charging pod for automatically charging a rechargeable battery in a game device, comprising:

a) a device receptacle configured to hold the game device;

b) a proximity sensor configured to continuously detect whether an object is on or near the receptacle;

c) a memory for storing a charge control program, a received signal strength threshold (RSST) and a nearby device status table;

d) a wireless charging transmitting circuit;

e) a radio frequency transceiver; and

f) a microcontroller;

g) wherein the charge control program includes program instructions that, when executed by the microcontroller, will cause the microcontroller to

(i) activate the radio frequency transceiver to continuously detect and receive a plurality of advertising packets broadcasted by a plurality of game devices within range of the radio frequency transceiver, each advertising packet including a universal unique identifier (UUID) and a media access control (MAC) address,

(ii) for each advertising packet received from a game device, determine based on the UUID whether the game device is authorized for recharging, calculate a current received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the game device, and store the MAC address and the current RSSI for the game device in the nearby device status table,

(iii) responsive to a detection by the proximity sensor that an object is on or near the receptacle, automatically identify a closest game device based on the current RSSI recorded in the nearby device status table for said closest game device,

(iv) activate the radio frequency transceiver to use the MAC address recorded in the nearby device status table for said closest game device to establish a one-to-one radio frequency data communications link with said closest game device;

(v) activate the wireless charging transmitting circuit to produce an electromagnetic field in a zone adjacent to the receptacle;

(vi) receive via the one-to-one radio frequency communications link a charging confirmation message transmitted by said closest game device, the charging confirmation message indicating that said closest game device is detecting said electromagnetic field, and

(vii) deactivate the wireless charging transmission circuit,

(viii) send to said closest game device, via the one-to-one radio frequency communications link, a request for the closest game device to transmit a deactivation verification message, the deactivation verification message indicating that said closest game device detected the deactivation of the electromagnetic field, and

(ix) reactivate the wireless charging transmission circuit if the deactivation verification message is received from the closest game device over said one-to-one radio frequency data communications link after the wireless charging transmission circuit is deactivated;

h) whereby the electromagnetic field produced by the reactivation of the wireless charging transmission circuit energizes a corresponding wireless charging receiving circuit in the closest game device to start recharging the rechargeable battery in said closet game device.

2. The wireless charging pod of claim 1, further comprising:

a) a received signal strength threshold (RSST) stored in the memory; and

b) wherein the program instructions in the charge control program will not permit the microcontroller and radio frequency transceiver to establish the one-to-one radio frequency data communications link with the closet game device unless the current received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for said closest game device meets or exceeds the received signal strength threshold (RSST) in the memory.

3. The wireless charging pod of claim 1, further comprising:

a) a received signal strength threshold (RSST) stored in the memory; and

b) wherein the program instructions in the charge control program will not permit the microcontroller to activate the wireless charging transmitting circuit to start recharging the rechargeable battery in said closest game device unless the current received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for said closest game device meets or exceeds the received signal strength threshold (RSST) in the memory.

4. The wireless charging pod of claim 1, wherein the charge control program further comprises program instructions configured to cause the microcontroller to:

a) receive via the one-to-one radio frequency communications link an alignment status message transmitted by said closest game device, the alignment status message indicating a measure of alignment between the wireless charging transmitting circuit and the wireless charging receiving circuit of said closest game device;

b) retrieve an alignment threshold from the memory; and

c) deactivate the wireless charging transmission circuit if the measure of alignment received from the game device over the one-to-one radio frequency data communications link does not meet or exceed the alignment threshold.

5. The wireless charging pod of claim 1, wherein the charge control program further comprises program instructions configured to cause the microprocessor to:

a) receive over the one-to-one radio frequency communications link a battery full confirmation message transmitted by said closest game device, the battery full confirmation message indicating that the level of charge in the rechargeable battery of said closest game device is at 100% charge capacity; and

b) deactivate the wireless charging transmission circuit if the battery full confirmation message is received from said closest game device over said one-to-one radio frequency data communications link.

6. A wireless charging pod for automatically charging a rechargeable battery in a game device, comprising:

a) a device receptacle configured to hold the game device;

b) a proximity sensor configured to continuously detect whether an object is on or near the receptacle;

c) a memory for storing a charge control program, a received signal strength threshold (RSST) and a nearby device status table;

d) a wireless charging transmitting circuit;

e) a radio frequency transceiver;

f) a microcontroller;

g) a concavity on an upper surface of the receptacle, the concavity being configured to receive and support a semi-spherical shaped bottom surface on said closest game device while said closest game device is located on the receptacle;

h) a printed circuit board located beneath the upper surface of the receptacle, the printed circuit board having a hole of sufficient size and shape so that at least a portion of the concavity on the upper surface of the receptacle extends through the hole in the printed circuit board;

i) a charge transmission coil located on the printed circuit board and surrounding the circumference of the hole in the printed circuit board, the charge transmission coil being connected to the wireless charging transmission circuit in the wireless charging pod;

j) wherein the concavity on the receptacle, the hole in the printed circuit board and charge transmitting coil on the printed circuit board are arranged to permit at least a portion of said closest game device to be seated below the plane of hole in the printed circuit board, and thereby decrease the distance between the charge transmission coil and a charge receiving coil located in the closest game device; and

wherein the charge control program includes program instructions that, when executed by the microcontroller, will cause the microcontroller to

(i) activate the radio frequency transceiver to continuously detect and receive a plurality of advertising packets broadcasted by a plurality of game devices within range of the radio frequency transceiver, each advertising packet including a universal unique identifier (UUID) and a media access control (MAC) address,

(ii) for each advertising packet received from a game device, determine based on the UUID that the game device is authorized for recharging, calculate a current received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the game device, and store the MAC address and the current received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the game device in the nearby device status table,

(iii) responsive to a detection by the proximity sensor that an object is on or near the receptacle, automatically identify a closest game device based on the current received signal strength indicator (RSSI) recorded in the nearby device status table for said closest game device,

(iv) activate the radio frequency transceiver to use the MAC address recorded in the nearby device status table for said closest game device to establish a one-to-one radio frequency data communications link with said closest game device, and

(v) activate the wireless charging transmitting circuit to produce an electromagnetic field in a zone adjacent to the receptacle;

k) whereby the electromagnetic field energizes a corresponding wireless charging receiving circuit in the closest game device to start recharging the rechargeable battery in said closet game device.

7. The wireless charging pod of claim 6, wherein the charge control program further comprises program instructions configured to cause the microcontroller to:

(a) deactivate and reactivate the charging coil in a pre-specified or random pattern; and

(b) deactivate the charging coil if the microcontroller does not receive, via the one-to-one radio frequency communications link, a verification message from the closest game device indicating that the closest game device detected the electromagnetic field being deactivated and reactivated in said pre-specified or random pattern.

8. The wireless charging pod of claim 6, further comprising:

(a) a proximity sensor offset stored in the memory;

(b) wherein the charge control program further comprises program instructions configured to cause the microcontroller to (i) periodically check a sample value generated by the proximity sensor, (ii) periodically check the current received signal strength indicator for the closest game device, and (iii) automatically recalibrate the proximity sensor offset if the sample value of the proximity sensor indicates that the closest game device is on or near the receptacle when the current received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the closest game device does not meet or exceed the received signal strength threshold (RSST).

9. A wireless charging pod for a game device (GD-1), the game device (GD-1) having a rechargeable battery (RBT), a first microcontroller unit (MCU-1), a first radio frequency transceiver (RFT-1) and a wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC-1) electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery (RBT) so that energizing the wireless charging receiving circuit (RC-1) will increase a charge (V) stored in the rechargeable battery (RBT), the wireless charging pod comprising:

a) a memory;

b) a received signal strength threshold (RSST) stored in the memory;

c) a device receptacle (R1) configured to hold the game device (GD-1);

d) a wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1), connected to the device receptacle (R1), that produces an electromagnetic field (EF-1) that will energize the wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC-1) if the wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1) is activated while the wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC-1) is within range of the electromagnetic field (EF-1);

e) a second radio frequency transceiver (RFT-2) configured to (A) establish a first data communications link (L1) for exchanging messages with the first radio frequency transceiver (RFT-1) on the game device (GD-1), and (B) receive, via the first data communications link (L1), a first message (M1) transmitted by the first radio frequency transceiver (RFT-1) on the game device (GD-1);

f) a second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) that controls activation and deactivation of the wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1); and

g) a charge control program in the memory, the charge control program containing program instructions that, when executed by the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2), causes the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) to

(i) send a signal to the second radio frequency transceiver (RFT-2) that causes the second radio frequency transceiver (RFT-2) to (A) establish a first data communications link (L1) for exchanging messages with the first radio frequency transceiver (RFT-1) on the game device (GD-1), and (B) receive, via the first data communications link (L1), a first message M1 transmitted by the first radio frequency transceiver (RFT-1) on the game device (GD-1);

ii determine a received signal strength indication (RSSI) for the first data communications link (L1) based on the first message (M1),

(iii) compare the received signal strength indication (RSSI) to the received signal strength threshold (RSST),

(iv) activate the wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1) connected to the device receptacle (R1) when the received signal strength indication (RSSI) is greater than or equal to the received signal strength threshold (RSST),

(v) deactivate the wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1,

(vi) send to said game device (GD-1), via the first data communications link (L-1), a request for the game device (GD-1) to transmit a deactivation verification message, the deactivation verification message indicating that the game device (GD-1) detected the electromagnetic field (EF-1) being deactivated, and

(vii) reactivate the wireless charging transmission circuit (WCTC-1) if the deactivation verification message is received from the game device (GD-1) over said first data communications link (L-1) after the wireless charging transmission circuit (WCTC-1) is deactivated;

h) whereby the electromagnetic field (EF-1) produced by the reactivation of the wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1) energizes the wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC-1), thereby increasing the charge (V) stored in the rechargeable battery (RBT) connected to the game device (GD-1).

10. The wireless charging pod of claim 9, wherein the charge control program further comprises program instructions that, when executed by the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) on the wireless charging pod, prevent activation of the wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1) connected to the receptacle (R1) when the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) determines that the received signal strength indication (RSSI) for the first data communications link (L1) is less than the received signal strength threshold (RSST).

11. The wireless charging pod of claim 9, wherein:

a) the memory on the wireless charging pod stores an authorized device identifier;

b) the first message (M1) received by the second radio frequency transceiver (RFT-2) further includes a unique user identifier (UUID) for the game device (GD-1); and

c) the charge control program further comprises program instructions that, when executed by the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) on the wireless charging pod, causes the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) to (i) compare the unique user identifier (UUID) to the authorized device code, and (ii) activate the wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1) connected to the receptacle (R1) only when the unique user identifier (UUID) matches the authorized device identifier.

12. The wireless charging pod of claim 9, wherein:

a) the second radio frequency transceiver (RFT-2) receives and stores in the memory an end-of-charge message transmitted over the first data communications link (L1) by the first radio frequency transceiver (RFT-1); and

b) the charge control program further comprises program instructions that, when executed by the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) on the wireless charging pod, will cause the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) to deactivate the wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1) connected to the receptacle (R1) in response to the receipt of the end-of-charge message,

c) whereby the deactivation of the wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1) by the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) removes the electromagnetic field energizing the wireless charging receiving circuit, and thereby stops increasing the charge (V) stored in the rechargeable battery (RB) connected to the game device (GD-1).

13. The wireless charging pod of claim 9, wherein:

a) the second radio frequency transceiver (RFT-2) is configured to periodically receive, via the first data communications link (L1), a charging status indication transmitted by the first radio frequency transceiver (RFT-1); and

b) the charge control program further comprises program instructions that, when executed by the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) on the wireless charging pod, will cause the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) to (ii) monitor the periodically received charging status indication while the second wireless charging circuit is activated, and (ii) deactivate the second wireless charging circuit connected to the receptacle when the periodically received charging status indication indicates that rechargeable battery (RBT) connected to the game device (GD-1) is not charging;

c) whereby the deactivation of the wireless charging transmission circuit (WCTC-1) eliminates the electromagnetic field (EF-1) produced by the wireless charging transmission circuit (WCTC-1) and stops increasing the charge (V) stored in the rechargeable battery (RBT) connected to the game device (GD-1).

14. The wireless charging pod of claim 9, wherein:

a) the second radio frequency transceiver (RFT-2) is further configured to receive, via the first data communications link (L1), a second message (M2) transmitted by the first radio frequency transceiver (RFT-1) on the game device (GD-1); and

b) the charge control program further comprises program instructions that, when executed by the second microcontroller unit on the wireless charging pod, will cause the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) to

(i) calculate an updated received signal strength indication (URSSI) based on the second message (M2) received from the game device (GD-1),

(ii) compare the updated received signal strength indication (URSSI) to the received signal strength threshold (RSST), and

(iii) deactivate the wireless charging transmission circuit (WCTC-1) connected to the receptacle (R1) when the updated received signal strength indication (URSSI) is less than the received signal strength threshold (RSST);

c) whereby the deactivation of the wireless charging transmission circuit (WCTC-1) eliminates the electromagnetic field (EF-1) produced by the wireless charging transmission circuit (WCTC-1) and stops increasing the charge (V) stored in the rechargeable battery RBT connected to the game device (GD-1).

15. A wireless charging pod rack for two or more game devices, the two or more game devices each having a rechargeable battery (RBT), a device microcontroller unit (DMCU), a device radio frequency transceiver (DRFT) and a wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC) electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery (RB) such that energizing the wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC) will increase a charge (V) stored in the rechargeable battery (RBT), the wireless charging pod rack comprising:

a) a first wireless charging pod comprising a first memory, a first received signal strength threshold (RSST-1) stored in the first memory, and a first receptacle (R1) configured to hold a first game device (GD-1);

b) a first wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1), connected to the first device receptacle (R1), which produces a first electromagnetic field (EF-1) that will energize a first wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC-1) of the first game device (GD-1) if the first wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1) is activated while the first wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC-1) of the first game device (GD-1) is within range of the first electromagnetic field (EF-1);

c) a first radio frequency transceiver (RFT-1), connected to the first wireless charging pod, configured to (A) establish a first data communications link (L1) for exchanging messages with a first device radio frequency transceiver (DRFT-1) on the first game device (GD-1), and (B) receive, via the first data communications link (L1), a first message M1 transmitted by the first game device (GD-1);

d) a first microcontroller unit (MCU-1) that controls activation and deactivation of the first wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1) of the first receptacle (R1);

e) a second wireless charging pod comprising a second memory, a second received signal strength threshold (RSST-2) stored in the second memory, a second receptacle (R2) configured to hold a second game device (GD-2);

f) a second wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-2), connected to the second ball receptacle (R2), which produces a second electromagnetic field (EF-2) that will energize a second wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC-2) of the second game device (GD-2) if the second wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-2) is activated while the second wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC-2) of the second game device (GD-2) is within range of the second electromagnetic field (EF-2);

g) a second radio frequency transceiver (RFT-2), connected to the second wireless charging pod, configured to (A) establish a second data communications link (L2) for exchanging messages with a second device radio frequency transceiver (DRFT-2) on the second game device (GD-2), and (B) receive, via the second data communications link (L2), a second message (M2) transmitted by the second game device (GD-2);

h) a second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) that controls activation and deactivation of the second wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-2) connected to the second receptacle (R2);

i) a first charge control program in the first memory, the first charge control program comprising program instructions that, when executed by the first microcontroller unit (MCU-1) unit, causes the first microcontroller unit (MCU-1) to

(i) determine a first received signal strength indication (RSSI-1) for the first data communications link (L1) based on the first message (M1),

(ii) compare the first received signal strength indication (RSSI-1) to the first received signal strength threshold (RSST-1), and

(iii) activate the first wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1) connected to the first receptacle (R1) when the first received signal strength indication (RSSI-1) is greater than or equal to the first received signal strength threshold (RSST-1); and

j) a second charge control program in the second memory, the second charge control program comprising program instructions that, when executed by the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) unit or the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2), causes the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) to

(i) determine a second received signal strength indication (RSSI-2) for the second data communications link (L2) based on the second message (M2),

(ii) compare the second received signal strength indication (RSSI-2) to the second received signal strength threshold (RSST-2), and

(iii) activate the second wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-2) connected to the second receptacle (R2) when the second received signal strength indication (RSSI-2) is greater than or equal to the second received signal strength threshold (RSST-2);

k) deactivate the first wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1);

(l) send to said first game device (GD-1), via the first data communications link (L-1), a first request for the first game device (GD-1) to transmit a first deactivation verification message, the first deactivation verification message indicating that the first game device (GD-1) detected the first electromagnetic field (EF-1) being deactivated;

l) deactivate the second wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-2);

(m) send to said second game device (GD-2), via the second data communications link (L-2), a second request for the second game device (GD-2) to transmit a second deactivation verification message, the second deactivation verification message indicating that the second game device (GD-2) detected the second electromagnetic field (EF-2) being deactivated;

n) reactivate the first wireless charging transmission circuit (WCTC-1) if the first deactivation verification message is received from the first game device (GD-1) over said first data communications link (L-1) after the first wireless charging transmission circuit (WCTC-1) is deactivated; and

o) reactivate the second wireless charging transmission circuit (WCTC-2) if the second deactivation verification message is received from the second game device (GD-2) over said second data communications link (L-2) after the second wireless charging transmission circuit (WCTC-2) is deactivated;

p) whereby

(i) the first wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC-1) of the first game device (GD-1) is energized by the first electromagnetic field (EF-1) produced by the first wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1) of the first wireless charging pod, thereby increasing a charge (V1) stored in a first rechargeable battery (RBT-1) connected to the first game device (GD-1), and

(ii) the second wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC-2) of the second game device (GD-2) is energized by the second electromagnetic field (EF-2) produced by the second wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-2) of the second wireless charging pod, thereby increasing a charge (V2) stored in a second rechargeable battery (RBT-2) connected to the second game device (GD-2).

16. The wireless charging pod rack of claim 15, wherein the first received signal strength threshold (RSST-1) and the second received signal strength threshold (RSST-2) are of equal value.

17. The wireless charging pod rack of claim 15, wherein:

a) the first electromagnetic field (EF-1) will energize the second wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC-2) of the second game device (GD-2) if the first wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-1) is activated while the second wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC-2) of the second game device (GD-2) is within range of the first electromagnetic field (EF-1); and

b) the second electromagnetic field (EF-2) will energize the first wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC-1) of the first game device (GD-1) if the second wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-2) is activated while the first wireless charging receiving circuit (WCRC-1) of the first game device (GD-1) is within range of the second electromagnetic field (EF-2).

18. The wireless charging pod rack of claim 17, wherein the first charge control program further comprises program instructions that, when executed by the first microcontroller unit (MCU-1) on the first wireless charging pod, prevent activation of the first wireless charging circuit (WCTC-1) connected to the first receptacle (R1) when the first microcontroller unit (MCU-1) determines that the first received signal strength indication (RSSI-1) for the first data communications link (L1) is less than the first received signal strength threshold (RSST-1).

19. The wireless charging pod rack of claim 17, wherein the second charge control program further comprises program instructions that, when executed by the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) on the second wireless charging pod, prevent activation of the second wireless charging transmitting circuit (WCTC-2) connected to the second receptacle (R2) when the second microcontroller unit (MCU-2) determines that that the second received signal strength indication (RSSI-2) for the second data communications link (L2) is less than the second received signal strength threshold (RSST-2).

20. A method for automatically charging a rechargeable battery in a game device using a wireless charging pod, the method comprising:

a) activating a radio frequency transceiver on the wireless charging pod to continuously detect and receive a plurality of advertising packets broadcasted by a plurality of game devices within range of the radio frequency transceiver, each advertising packet including a universal unique identifier (UUID) and a media access control (MAC) address,

b) for each advertising packet received from a game device, determining based on the UUID that the game device is authorized for recharging, calculate a current received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the game device;

c) storing the MAC address and the current RSSI for the game device in a nearby device status table in a memory of the wireless charging pod;

d) detecting with a proximity sensor on the wireless charging pod that an object is on or near a receptacle on the wireless charging pod, the receptacle being configured to hold and support the game device;

e) responsive to said detection of the object by the proximity sensor, automatically identifying a closest game device based on the current RSSI stored in the nearby device status table for said closest game device;

f) causing a radio frequency transceiver on the wireless charging pod to use the MAC address recorded in the nearby device status table for said closest game device to establish a one-to-one radio frequency data communications link with said closest game device;

g) activating a wireless charging transmitting circuit on the wireless charging pod to produce an electromagnetic field in a zone adjacent to the receptacle;

(h) deactivating the wireless charging transmitting;

(i) sending to said closest game device, via the one-to-one radio frequency communications link, a request for the closest game device to transmit a deactivation verification message indicating that the closest game device detected the electromagnetic field being deactivated; and

j) reactivating the wireless charging transmission circuit if the deactivation verification message is received from the closest game device over said one-to-one radio frequency data communications link after the wireless charging transmission circuit is deactivated;

(k) whereby the electromagnetic field produced by said reactivation of the wireless charging transmission circuit energizes a corresponding wireless charging receiving circuit in the closest game device to start recharging the rechargeable battery in said closest game device.