Wireless power is ready to be incorporated into our daily lives. Transmitters can be placed in furniture, walls, floors, to efficiently and economically power or charge our electronic and electrical devices.
Magnetic resonance technology is the key to ubiquitous implementation – enabling large surface area transmission, spatial freedom for placement of receiving devices, and the ability to power multiple devices simultaneously.
(excerpt courtesy of Efficient Power Conversion Corp.)
Fundamental keys to ubiquitous wireless powered devices
So the electric toothbrushes and smart phones started with MI, magnetic induction, the 1st sign of ubiquitous wireless powered devices. It’s a good sign and a very exciting advancement (and awareness) in people’s use of wireless power in their daily lives. But this is still far from the full potential of what wireless power can do to transform the way we live, work and play. While the 2 major wireless standards, WPC and Airfuel, are still having their current reference designs focusing on how to increase A. power and B. distance that can be delivered by the wireless power transceivers. JJPlus has already taken the steps to form a strategic alliance with Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) to enter into the development of large-surface-area wireless power. Which we see as the 3rd and missing key element for ubiquitous wireless powered devices – C. increase in power area.
A whole different ball game now for the wireless power solution providers
A point-to-point, one-to-one, short distance and closely coupled charging limitation of MI wireless power is about as good as the laws of physics can allow now. The dominant Qi standard is ever under competition from other efforts such as MR (Magnetic Resonance) and RF (Radio Frequency) wireless power unless Resonant Qi can come into play. Clearly, MR and RF are the key technologies to break the barrier of spatial limitation of MI providing a natural, seamless and convenient use of wireless power in the x-y-z directions for ubiquitous adoption. Currently, MR is demonstrating a more realistic case in terms of the amount of power that can be delivered at a distance/area while RF is still with limited results so far which just can’t meet the power hungry demands of today’s devices while the power transfer efficiency is still way below acceptable level.
Transition from charging base to surface-area wireless power system
With a breakthrough in the design of antenna and power amplification circuit in the wireless power transmitter, this demonstration of surface-area MR wireless power system by JJPlus and EPC is intended for furniture makers and hotel chains for their consideration of a possible wireless powered bedside table – A wood veneer measuring 21 by 11 inches fitted, underneath, is JJPlus WCTP401 Airefuel Class 4 PTU with a flat-area antenna spanning the width of the wood which forms part of the resonator circuit driven by an advanced power amplification circuit with a total 30w of resonant power. Multiple devices, fitted with MR receivers, can be powered at the same time with arbitrary placement on the surface of the wood. A lamp, a baby monitor, an alarm clock, a speaker, a smart watch (and a phone which has just been taken off) are the examples of the possibilities. (note: WCTP401 can also be packaged as a “surface-area power pad” for applications such as a gaming pad or a work-desk power pad. Creating a wireless powered hotel suite is now one step closer to reality!
Get a load of WCTP401’s antenna!
In order to provide resonant power to a large surface area without interference to the surrounding devices, the magnetic field has to be confined within about 2 inches from the surface while spreading across the surface evenly. With precise calculation and simulations, the interlocking honeycomb antenna design manipulated the magnetic field perfectly providing 100% spatial freedom for multiple devices “drop-and-power” users experiences.
Transition to large-surface-area wireless power system
With interlocking honeycomb antenna design, a large, flat antenna can be built into surfaces of many sizes and shapes. As the surface size gets larger, more power is needed to juice up the devices that we all use in our daily lives. This is where the importance of power amplification switching circuit design come into play in an MR based transmitter where the operating frequency is at typical MHz range imposing a heavy toll on the components used. At the core of JJPlus’ design are EPC’s eGaN® FETs and ICs operating at 6.78 MHz frequency, meeting the AirFuel Alliance standard and resulting in maximum wireless power system efficiency and reliability.
Imaging a completely wireless powered home or office in the not so distant future!