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Texas Instruments to push wireless power technology forward

Catwell

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Sitting around anjoying some wireless power (via Alliance for Wireless Power)

 

I am sure your have noticed the innovations that are slowly making our world wireless. First go the file transfer cables and now, a tech giant is leading two major wireless power organizations into the tether free frontier.

 

 

Texas Instrument, the self proclaimed leading provider of power management integrated circuits, battery management and power supply tech, has announced they will join the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP). TI was already member of the Wireless Power Consortium Qi (WPC), and now they are joining Samsung and Qualcomm in the new organization forged April of this year.

 

 

TI will continue to develop its bqTesla wireless power receiver and transmitter, the bq51050B single-chip receiver and the bq500410A 3-coil transmitter, both compliant with WPC Qi standards. However, TI also wants to expand business and further the agenda of wireless power by developing projects that use the A4WP’s magnetic resonance specifications.

 

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Wireless power transfer concept (via TI)

 

Google Nexus 4 is already being sold and soon, a "Charging Orb" will be released for it. This phone and the Nokia 8 series follow WPC Qi standards. However, the A4WP seems to suggest their devices will be slightly different than the Qi devices which must be placed on charging pads at all times. A4WP says they want to achieve “spatial freedom” although they have not clarified the meaning of that phrase. Perhaps in the future these “orbs” will allow users to change multiple devices at some small distance away. Stay tuned for more.

 

 

This all may sound like innovation, but the Palm/HP Pre, Pixi, and Touchpad product lines all featured wireless charging. Some could argue that so called wireless charging still has a charging base that is wired. In Palm/HP's case, the "touchstone charger block," and the Google Charging Orb is a complete copy of that idea. Perhaps the patents on the subject are relaxing. Or HP is collecting some royalties. Either way, it's great to see some work in this area.

 

 

Now, how about Magnetic Resonance Power transfer? Or maybe some wireless power for medical implants?

 

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

  • Hi Cabe.

     

    I agree that wireless power is not new, but I think the evolving technology is beginning to mature enough for the idea to become more widespread.

     

    The recent TI road test is a clear example of enabling people to experiment and discuss the current strengths and limitations of the technology.  Those who followed the different projects learned a lot about where things stand and picked up ideas about what could develop next.

     

    You just never know when someone gets an epiphany and comes up with a really cool implementation.

     

    Plus, Tesla may get reincarnated and show us all how to go to the next level.

     

    Just my opinion,

    DAB