Wireless Charging System
Apple and Samsung are gearing up to provide wireless
charging technology for future mobile devices. In fact, they could arrive this year (2013),
according to Digitimes.
Samsung is expected to adopt Qi
wireless charging technology run by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) for its
next flagship model, the Galaxy S IV, the sources indicated. However, Samsung's adoption of the Qi
standards may drive the technology to become mainstream for smartphones,
outperforming those promoted by the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) and
Power Matters Alliance (PMA). In
addition to Samsung, other major brands including Nokia, HTC, LG, Motorola
Mobility and Sony Mobile Communications are all members of the WPC, the sources
noted.
Apple is likely to adopt the
wireless charging technology developed internally, but it remains unknown if
the next-generation iPhone will come with built-in wireless charging capability
or with other attached accessories, said the sources. In the past few years, we have heard a lot
about wireless charging technology as it relates to Apple. In mid-2012, Apple has received a Granted
Patent relating to circuits, methods, and apparatus for adapters, such as
inserts and cable adapters, and docking stations.
The figure illustrates a docking station that includes a
reradiating antenna and an inductive charging circuit for inductively charging
a handheld device. As shown, the dock
housing is configured to receive a handheld device. The dock housing is further configured to
enable charging the battery of the handheld device through an inductive charge
coupling mechanism.
Apple is investigating the “realistic” wireless charging
technology, according to AppleInsider. A
new patent application reveals Apple's interest in a "realistic and
practical approach" to wireless power, providing over-the-air electricity
to low-power devices within a distance of one meter. Apple's filing notes that transferring power
wirelessly has historically been successful only in fairly limited
applications. Specifically, the technology requires a power source and receiver
located very close to each other.
It's nice to see that both Apple and Samsung will be using similar technologies, rather than suing each other for who has the right to use it. It will be interesting to see if these wireless charging technologies have the same abilities as outlet chargers (ie: will it take the same amount of time to charge the phone?)
ReplyDeleteIt would be awesome to see this kind of technology implemented into smartphones. I know there have always been times I wished I had a wireless charger, but they are just too expensive and not mainstream enough (yet).
ReplyDeleteHopefully this technology will be implemented soon even with affordable phone plans. I've actually never seen a wireless charger...
ReplyDeleteThis will probably be one of many heated patent lawsuits filed between smartphone makers in the coming years.
This is really interesting technology, but I don't really see the immediate advantage of it over traditional "wire" charging, especially given the distance restrictions. To me, the main advantage of wireless charging is mobility, not the cross-standardization that Qi sometimes advocates. Nonetheless, I think it's a really cool idea to charge wirelessly through induction.
ReplyDeleteI feel that it would take a lot longer to charge your phone with wireless charging since less electricity is being transferred to the phone. If this is the case, I would definitely enjoy carrying around a cord charger
ReplyDelete