SECURE CHARGING STATIONS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING THE SAME

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A secure charging station for portable electronic devices from a public location, having at least one charging sub-station comprising:
at least one sensing area associated with each charging sub-station for sensing the presence of a respective portable electronic device; 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 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.