The era of wireless charging is coming

Many years ago people started dreaming of wireless charging through the air, now the dream is coming.

 

The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), founded on December 17, 2008, is a collaboration of independent companies from around the world. More than 400 companies from various industries, including Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, LG, Philips, Nokia, Sony, Sanyo, Nokia, Texas Instruments, Wisepower, etc., have joined the WPC Consortium.

 

The mission of WPC:

The mission of WPC is to create and promote the widespread market adoption of Qi, the international wireless charging standard that is compatible with all rechargeable electronic devices.

 

Qi (pronounced “chee”) is the world’s de facto wireless charging standard for providing 5-15 watts of power to small personal electronics. Though it is primarily used to charge smartphones, the standard can also apply and easily be used to provide power for a growing number of consumer devices. With more than 3,700 Qi-Certified products on the market today, Qi delivers a positive and safe wireless charging experience. The Wireless Power Consortium and its 400+ member companies are committed to continuing to grow this market by delivering differentiated and affordable products.

 

We enjoy the feeling of being tethered and ready to connect. Transmission is simple over short distances without connectors, although long distance transmission is still a challenge.

Short distance power transmission has been applied to a wide range of products, toothbrushes, LED candles, remote controls, power tools, digital cameras, cell phones, audio and video players, computer accessories, toys, game consoles, medical devices and personal care devices.

Laptop and tablet computers typically charge at 30 to 60 watts. WPC members are working to increase the power profile for the Qi standard to safely accommodate these higher power levels and allow consumers to use the same technology to charge both their laptops and mobile phones.

 

We all love wireless products, but we don‘t want incompatible charging cradles filling our desks and houses. We need chargers that are compatible with products from different companies, even with future products.

The wireless charging standard will have a charging duration equal to that of existing wired charger technology and will meet key international radiation safety regulations and emission standards. The Consortium will first set international standards for devices of 5 watts and below, and will later develop international standards for higher power devices and equipment.

 

The transmission of electricity over short distances is generally performed based on the principle of electromagnetic induction. With this technology, the receiver transmits electricity only when it is in the vicinity of the transmitter. Due to its simplicity, efficiency and safety, it has been used in various electronic devices for many years.

 

By ensuring that all Qi-Certified devices work together, regardless of manufacturer, country of origin, version of the standard used, or other factors, the Qi standard ensures a consistent and simple user experience, where a Qi-Certified device placed on a Qi-Certified charger will simply work.

Are you aware of the safety limits for human exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic fields? Government regulations set limits on power levels that humans may be exposed to. The regulations are usually based on ICNIRP  tables of selective absorption rates. These regulations limit the maximum output power and, indirectly, limit the achievable transmission distance.

Electromagnetic fields generated by one product can interfere with other products. You don’t want a wireless charger in the room to interfere with a person’s pacemakers in the room. That’s an obvious risk, but it’s also relatively easy to deal with because pacemakers are well-protected against interference. Less obvious and more difficult to deal with is RFI with NFC receivers, Wi-Fi reception, mobile phone base stations and car electronics. The choice of operating frequency used for power transfer can help: choosing a higher frequency (such as 6.78MHz or 5 GHz) makes the problem harder.

 

Qi represents the only wireless power technology that truly has moved from demo to mass market deployment in consumer commercially sold chargers. Today, between 50 and 100 million Qi chargers have been sold, with more than 150 million smartphones have a Qi receiver inside. The prime reasons for this is because Qi is proven to be safe, efficient, does not interfere with sensitive car electronics, and can be implemented at the right price point.

In the near future, the ability to easily charge devices via "Qi" will quickly become an important consideration for consumers when purchasing new electronics. Perhaps someday you will see Qi charging stations in offices, hotels, airports and train stations, providing wireless charging anywhere, anytime as part of the infrastructure. This is Qi, a new modern way of living.