Wireless Charging Cabinet

Managing device charging across a classroom of 30 laptops is a daily operational burden. Traditional charging carts depend on manual plug-in for every device, and can lead to tangled cables, unreliable connections, and instructional time lost to the kind of low-stakes logistics that shouldn't require a teacher's attention. For the client, the solution was clear in concept: a cabinet using Power by Contact™ surface-based charging technology that could charge an entire classroom of Chromebooks simultaneously, without a single cable.

The engineering challenge was significant. Power by Contact™ was a patented reference technology and not a plug-and-play system. Integrating it into a certified, classroom-ready product required custom hardware, firmware, and a full path through UL and FCC certification. The client needed an engineering team that could own that full scope.

The Solution 

Device Solutions took ownership of the full engineering scope. They adapted the Power by Contact™ reference design through hardware development, firmware, and certification, ultimately delivering a classroom-ready product the client could manufacture and deploy with confidence. The team implemented the following:

1.) Charge System Management Designed the hardware and software to intelligently deliver and regulate power to up to 30 Chromebook laptops simultaneously, with automatic device detection and power allocation across all charging positions.

2.) Custom Receiver Board & Sleeve Developed a custom receiver board and protective sleeve to interface each Chromebook with the surface-based charging system via USB-C, with automatic polarity and voltage negotiation eliminating the need for manual configuration.

3.) Power by Contact™ Integration Adapted the Energysquare reference design into a durable, flexible contact tile system engineered for the demands of daily classroom use.

4.) UL and FCC Certification Led the product through full regulatory certification, ensuring the system met safety and compliance standards required for deployment in school environments.

The Results 

The client brought a first-of-its-kind classroom charging product to market. The product was certified, manufacturable, and ready for school deployment. What began as a patented reference technology with no clear path to a finished product became a UL and FCC certified system capable of charging 30 Chromebooks simultaneously without a single cable.

The outcomes delivered against each element of the original challenge:

• Cable management eliminated entirely through surface-based Power by Contact™ charging across all 30 positions

• Automatic polarity and voltage negotiation removed the manual configuration burden from teachers and IT staff

• Full UL and FCC certification achieved, meeting the safety and compliance requirements of school procurement

• Product recognized by the International Society for Technology in Education

The Summary 

Technologies & Services

• USB-C power negotiation and delivery

• Custom receiver board design

• Power by Contact™ integration and adaptation

• Embedded hardware and firmware development

• UL and FCC certification

Recognition & Outcomes

• 30-device simultaneous wireless charging achieved without cables

• UL and FCC certified for school deployment

• International Society for Technology in Education award recipient