982017 ‘The New Standards Compan: Wireless Charging - News
The New Standards Competition: Wireless
Charging
6 hours ago by Chantelle Dubois (/author/chantelle-dubois)
Wireless charging is the next natural step for mobile
electronics. However, there is an ongoing race among a
variety of charging standards, making it this
generation's Betamax vs VHS.
The struggle of finding a charging outlet is a struggle of the modern
world. Mobile phones, laptops, and wearable devices have changed the
way we work, live, and play—but the convenience is still tethered to the
nearest electrical socket. The increasing computational capability of our
devices, the lag in rechargeable battery capacity to keep up, and the
increasing dependency on technology in our everyday lives certainly
makes quick and efficient power charging highly desired.
Furthermore, the frustration of every other device requiring its own
proprietary charging interface makes the experience of powering our
electronics frustrating at times. Having to carry multiple charging cables
can be cumbersome because they're easily lost and sometimes difficult
(or expensive) to replace.
Currently, there is no universal charging standard, although the
European Union did pass a bill in 2014 requiring all phones to use a
common charger by 2017 (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-
2580597/All-mobile-phones-EU-charger-European-Parliament-votes-
law-attempt-cut-electronic-clutter.html). (This was not put forth as a way
to increase convenience but rather as an effort to reduce electronic
acta \
nitpsihwwllaboucircits,cominewsithe-new-standards-compelition-wireless-charging! w982017
‘The New Standards Compan: Wireless Charging - News
wast.)
With wireless charging, ubiquitous and common charging interfaces will
be the way of the future—a very attractive prospect enabling more
mobility, less dependance, and increased convenience.
Wireless charging is the natural next step in the mobile electronics
world, but although the technology is available, it has yet to really catch
on. IHS Markit, a technology analytics organization, reported that 25%
of consumers have actually used wireless
(http://technology.ins.com/581520/one-in-four-consumers-adopts-
wireless-charging-on-mobile-devices)charging
(http://technology.ihs.com/581520/one-in-four-consumers-adopts-
wireless-charging-on-mobile-devices) and that 80% of consumers have
heard of it. In 2014, only 36% had been reported of knowing about
wireless charging and, in 2015, 76%.
One of the major hurdles is the current standard battle occurring among
several competitors. This isn’t the first standard battle to occur in
technology history. Betamax vs VHS, cassette vs 8-track, HD vs Bluray
—every generation has one. It may very well be that until one standard
becomes king, ubiquitous wireless charging will remain on standby.
However, each standard has its own pros and cons. Regardless of the
standard’s technical specifications, efficiency, or range, what will make
a standard successful is its successful wide-scale implementation,
along with ease of use. The first standard to become widely available
the quickest will likely emerge victorious, and so mass efforts in
partnerships and implementation are certainly underway by all the
companies and organizations involved.
HOW STANDARDS, PR PROLIFERATE:
(Gee: A/c CHARGERS, CHARACTER ENGODNKGS, INSTANT MESSACNG, ec)
W442! RIDICULOUS! SOON:
WE NEED To DEVELOP
em vnrenat |] ONE UNIVERSAL STANDARD |] ere anennte
nitpsihwwllaboucircits,cominewsithe-new-standards-compelition-wireless-charging!
a982017 ‘The New Standards Compan: Wireless Charging - News
DHUAUN: 1) Tuer COVERS EVERYONES QUUAIUN.
THERE ARE USE CASES. Yenu! THERE ARE
14 COMPETING \ O x 15 COMPETING
STANDARDS. STANDARDS.
Image courtesy of xkcd (https://xked.com/927/).
Here is a brief overview of some of the current available standards, in
alphabetical order.
AirFuel Alliance
Charging method: Resonant, inductive, and uncoupled (RF,
ultrasound, laser)
Charging delivery: Contactless, contact
Max. charging distance: 15 feet (uncoupled)
Multiple devices: Yes
Orientation-specific: No
Contact required: No (resonant), yes (inductive), no (uncoupled)
AirFuel Alliance was created from the merging of the Power Matters
Alliance (PMA) and the Alliance For Wireless Power (A4WP). While the
PMA specification is quite similar to Qi's using inductive charging, which
requires contact and has a short range (but is more efficient), A4WP
utilized a different charging method via resonant charging. This allowed
for longer distance between charging transmitters and receivers.
However, typically the trade off in long-distance charging is that
charging will occur much more slowly. However, AirFuel Alliance also
has RF charging implementations underway, bridging the gap between
charging range and efficiency. With the merging of PMA and A4WP,
nitpsihwwllaboucircits,cominewsithe-new-standards-compelition-wireless-charging! a7982017 ‘The New Standards Compan: Wireless Charging - News
Alrruel Alliance now nas the aavantage oT potn stanaaras.
PMA has already been implemented in Starbucks across the USA as of
2015, and AirFuel Alliance is undergoing wide-scale implementation of
wireless charging stations across in Shenzhen, China. Resonant
charging will allow multiple devices to be charged at once, while in
motion, without the need for charging pads.
AirFuel Alliance is currently used by Dell, Samsung, LG, Motorola, and
Kyocera.
Inductive charging diagram. Image courtesy of AirFuel Alliance
(http://www airfuel.org/technologies/inductive)
Humavox
Charging method: RF
g delivery: NEST cradle
Multiple Devices: Yes
Max. Charging Distance: Within NEST cradle
Orientation Specific: No
nitpsihwwllaboucircits,commewsithe-new-standards-compelition-wirless-charging!982017
‘The New Standards Compan: Wireless Charging - News
vortact Required: NU
Humavox is an Israeli-based company that was founded in 2010. It has
established itself in the wearables and small medical device wireless
charging market using RF charging, providing large charging ranges
while remaining highly efficient. The company calls its wireless charging
standard ETERNA, a standard which allows flexibility for manufacturers
in how it is implemented in their products.
ETERNA is comprised of a charging NEST in which a device, which
would have a built-in charging receiver, is placed and charged. The
NEST can be integrated into any enclosed environment, such as purses
or desk drawers.
Humavox is trying to make it easy for manufacturers to implement their
technology via out-of-the-box components. ThunderLink is a 2mm
wireless charging receiver which can be used with a variety of
consumer electronics, which can be easily integrated into devices.
INTEGRATE our Thundeslink
Humavox's wireless charging ecosystem. Image courtesy of Humavox
(http://www.humavox.com).
Qi
Charging method: Inductive-resonant coupling
Charging delivery: Charging pad
nitpsihwwllaboucircits,commewsithe-new-standards-compelition-wirless-charging!982017
‘The New Standards Compan: Wireless Charging - News
Max. charging distance: 40 mm
Multiple devices: Depending on implementation
Contact required: Yes
Orientation specific: Depending on implementation
Pronounced “chee”, Qi was founded in 2008 and has had a bit of a
head start in the wireless charging world. The standard is already used
by a variety of mobile phone manufacturers, including Samsung, HTC,
ASUS, Huawei, Blackberry, Sony, and LG with a variety of aftermarket
charging pads available for consumers.
Qi can be used in both orientation and orientation-less configurations.
In orientation-based platforms, a single inductive transceiver is used. In
orientation-less configurations, a variety of methods is implemented by
using inductive transceiver bundles, transceivers which can orient
themselves into place or through an array of variable configuration
transceivers.
Qi plans to roll out wireless charging stations, called "Qi hotspots", in
coffee shops, restaurants, airports, and libraries, so that wireless
charging is available the same way Wi-Fi is. The first airports to
implement Qi hotspots are expected to be London Heathrow
Airport and New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Qj also is developing aftermarket wireless charging products for
automotives, preparing for the shift to electric vehicles in the future.
Mobile Device
i sesstg conn
Power Pick-up Communications
Unit & Control Unit
nitpsihwwllaboucircits,cominewsithe-new-standards-compelition-wireless-charging! ar982017 ‘The New Standards Compan: Wireless Charging - News
- ner nevewes |
Power Transmitter ane Power Transmitter
saci
Power | Communications Power __.| Communications
Conversion Unit & Control Unit Conversion unit & Control Unit,
TE =
System Unit
Base Station
Qi wireless charging diagram. Image courtesy of Qi (http:/wvww.qiwireless.com).
Featured image courtesy of Samsung (http:/www.samsung.com).
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