Wireless charging: past and future

Wireless charging has long been supposed to release gadgets from unnecessary wires, but even today it is not a very common solution, and the vast majority of mobile devices still can not do without recharging from the network. So what is the reason for the reluctance of manufacturers to switch to the mass production of such popular devices?

Lucky Devices with Wireless Charging Technology

The ability to charge the battery without wires today have mostly flagship Models of different generations. Among them, Nexus 7 tablet , Nexus 4 and 5 smartphones, Motorola G2, Droid Maxx from Motorola, Lumia 920 and 1020 models from Nokia, as well as Samsung Galaxy S4 - this model offers optional wireless charging, which costs about $ 90 . Of course, the number of such lucky gadgets increases day by day, but they all belong to the premium class and can not afford to every buyer. And the theme of "feeding" the battery without wires is also interested in owners of budget mobile phones, and they are ready to buy even products from little-known developers.

Everyone pulls the blanket over

One of the reasons for the shortage of wireless chargers on the market is the incompatibility of standards. Today, there are only three basic standards of b / c charging. And they are independent of each other, so manufacturers of mobile devices have to choose one of them. The most famous standard is promoted by the company Wireless Power Consortium, engaged in technology Qi. With this company cooperate more than 200 manufacturers, and wireless charging WPC is available approximately 400 models. The second place in popularity is the company Power Matters Alliance with its technology Powermat. Her carpets for charging are equipped with McDonald's and Starbucks. And the third manufacturer is Alliance for Wireless Power, founded by the famous company Qualcomm.

Reason for incompatibility of standards

The basic function of wireless charging of all existing standards does not differ - it is based on the transmission of electricity through a magnetic field, which creates two copper coils, one of which is equipped with a telephone, and the second - a charging mat. The latter connects to a charger that works from the network. The rug generates a magnetic field, and the coil in the mobile device perceives it, converting it back into electricity. This universal scheme worked on devices and charging mats of the first generations. However, modern standards can identify a gadget that needs wireless charging. Producers explain this ecology, say "smart" charging mat in vain to spend energy to generate a magnetic field will not.

A small radius is a huge minus

Another reason for the small spread of this technology is the very limited distance of the charging mats. That is, the gadget can be stored with energy, only lying directly on the rug. In fact, such wireless charging is still wired, with the only difference that the plug does not need to be inserted into the phone jack. Over the possibility of charging in the distance now works Alliance for Wireless Power, and Cota has already increased the range of up to several meters and the launch of such devices is planned for 2015.