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FCC approves first wireless 'power-at-a-distance' charging system
Charging your mobile device wirelessly is certainly less of a hassle than plugging it in, but still requires the device be in physical contact with its station to actually work. That's about to change now that the Federal Communications Commission has approved the first wireless charger that works from up to three feet away.
San Jose-based startup, Energous, announced on Tuesday that it has received the first such FCC certification for power-at-a-distance wireless charging with its WattUp Mid Field transmitter. The transmitter converts electricity into radio frequencies, then beams the energy to nearby devices outfitted with a corresponding receiver. This differs from the resonant induction method that the Pi wireless charging system relies upon and offers a greater range than the Belkin and Mophie chargers that require physical contact with the device.
Also at Ubergizmo.
(Score: 1) by anubi on Thursday December 28 2017, @08:40AM (2 children)
I would also be interested in the power transfer ratio.... how many joules do I have to feed the thing to get a joule out at the charger and into the battery?
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 2) by coolgopher on Thursday December 28 2017, @09:45AM
Indeed. And they were throwing around both "directional" and "can charge multiple devices simultaneously", so knowing just how many beams they can form would also be useful. Oh, and do the charge beams track moving devices?
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 28 2017, @01:38PM
The FCC docs show it uses 4W at 913 MHz. There's also a 'stay out' zone within 20cm that is monitored for movement - the RF is shut off if movement is detected.