Today it is already hard for us to imagine our life without mobile gadgets. This has led to the accumulation of a huge number of wires near household outlets, among which it is not so easy to find the necessary "charging". In this case, a wireless charger can help solve the problem. The principle of its operation is very simple - just place the gadget on a special panel to charge it. The accessory is based on the principle of operation of an induction coil. This technology is called Qi. It has become very popular lately. In 2015, the globally popular brand began selling furniture that will have a built-in wireless charging module. Today, all flagship smartphones support Qi. It is expected that soon transmitters or, in other words, modules can be found in airports, restaurants, cinemas, fast food, shopping malls, which will allow phones and tablets to be charged at any time. In fact, it will make life easier for users of mobile gadgets. We're entering a new era where we don't have to carry around for all the devices we use.
Wireless chargers for gadgets with Qi technology
The wireless power standard is called Qi. In Russian, the word is pronounced as "Tsi". The standard is named after the term of Eastern philosophy. It is developed by the WPC Wireless Electromagnetic Energy Consortium. This organization brings together global manufacturers of electronics and sets itself an important task - to standardize the process of charging gadgets by the induction method.
In the near future, all devices can be charged without being connected to the network. It's incredibly convenient. Each of us at least once faced a situation when. We have to urgently look for a way out. Soon, wireless charging modules will appear in all public places, as well as at every user's home. At home, you can simply place the module in a convenient place, and it will never get lost, unlike wired "charging". It is enough just to put a gadget on it and wait a little while the battery capacity is replenished.
The principle of operation of wireless "charging" is based on the properties of an induction coil to transmit electric current. In the school physics course, we were taught that when an induction coil is connected to a power source, a magnetic field arises in it, perpendicular to the turns of the coil. Thus, if you place two coils within the range of a magnetic field and at the same time connect one of them to a power source, then a voltage will appear in the second coil. It is important to take into account the fact that the two induction coils must never touch each other. This is a simple principle behind the work of wireless chargers that support Qi technology.
There are two flavors of the Qi standard. The first assumes charging at low power - 5 watts, and the second - at high power - 120 watts. High power Qi is currently not produced by manufacturers due to objective factors. With the 120 watt Qi, you can charge your laptop. The 5 watt Qi is used to refill the battery and phones. It should be noted that different amperage is required for the tablet and smartphone. The wireless charger for the phone generates 1 ampere of current, and for the tablet computer - 2 amperes. When choosing an accessory, be sure to pay attention to these characteristics.
Energy efficiency of Qi standard
A modern wireless charger has two components. One of them is built directly into the gadget that supports Qi and is called a wireless charging receiver. Basically, it is a receiver that conducts electrical current to the battery. The second component is called a transmitter. If the purchase of a wireless "charging" is meant, we are talking about the transmitter. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Mostly circular and rectangular transmitters are common.
To better understand how wireless charging works, it should be borne in mind that the magnetic field is capable of transmitting not only electric current, but also data about bytes and bits, which the developers of the Qi standard took into account. Interaction between the coils will occur only at the moment when a gadget with a built-in transmitter is close to the transmitter.
If the accessory for charging the gadget operates in the background, then the pulse sent every 0.4 seconds by the transmitter will not change the voltage in the coil built into the transmitter. It can be concluded that a modern accessory is able to recognize in which mode to function. As soon as a smartphone is nearby at a distance of several centimeters, the voltage in the induction coil will drop sharply, and the device will switch to active operation. As soon as the smartphone battery is charged, the corresponding signal will put the charger into the background. It can be concluded that modern wireless battery recharge accessories are energy efficient.
Is Qi technology safe?
Some users mistakenly believe that the Qi wireless charging function may be harmful to health. The point is that magnetic radiation is not ionizing. In its effect on the body, it is similar to a mobile communication signal, a radio signal. In this case, the signal of the mobile network, which comes from the tower, is stronger and has a continuous character, while the electromagnetic radiation disappears immediately after charging the smartphone's battery.
The power of the wireless chargers is 5 watts. It is not enough to have an effect on the human body. We can only speak of a negative impact when the power of such devices equals 120 watts. But such models are not produced on an industrial scale. This explains the lack of wireless laptop chargers. It is important to know that wireless battery charging technology has long been used in many models of electric shavers and electric toothbrushes, which once again proves its safety.
Which smartphones support the wireless charging function?
First of all, we want to note that not all gadgets today support the wireless charging function. Apple deliberately markets products that are incompatible with Qi. In this case, we recommend purchasing a special case with a built-in induction coil.
Flagship devices mostly always support Qi technology. These include such popular smartphone models as Samsung Galaxy S6, Sony Xperia Z4v, Samsung Galaxy S6 Active, Google Nexus 6, Motorola Droid Turbo, Nokia Lumia 930, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. Already, dozens of models from a wide variety of manufacturers can be charged using a wireless accessory, which provides maximum convenience for users.
Can I make a wireless charger myself?
Wireless chargers are quite expensive considering that they are a conventional induction coil. The question arises: "How to make a module with your own hands?" Basically, if you have knowledge of the basics of physics and special equipment for measuring the strength and power of an electric current, this will not be a big problem. Fans of radio electronics are capable of assembling not such simple devices, but we do not recommend conducting such experiments for ordinary users.
On aliexpress.com you can find separate wireless receivers for some smartphone models, including the Google Nexus line. It is easy enough to install it into your phone. Under the cover of the device there are two contacts that provide a positive and negative pole. It is enough to buy and connect the receiver, after which you can conduct a wireless charging test. This output is optimal if you somehow got a wireless charger, for example, you were presented with a gift, and your gadget model does not yet support the Qi function.
Wireless battery charging technology is gaining popularity in today's world. In the future, it will be possible to refill the battery capacity in many public places. It is expected that stadiums, parks, restaurants, cinemas, fast foods will be equipped with wireless chargers. When buying smartphones, we recommend that you pay borrowing to support the Qi function, which is present in all flagship models of 2015.
If you are hearing about wireless charging technology for the first time, we strongly recommend that you read the material here.
On a string to the world
So, at MWC 2013 (Mobile World Congress, if anything), the presentation of wireless chargers looked somewhat generalized compared to the previous year. And, it seems, we have already seen this.
As a reminder, in 2012, Duracell dedicated a separate stand to wireless chargers, showing entire sets of devices for no more than $ 130 (US price). Among the new products, the company also introduced the Wireless Charging Card, a special insert that could be placed under the cover of almost every mobile device without harming the strength of the case. With a thickness of less than 1 mm, the liner does not lead to the formation of backlashes or loose fit of the lid to the body of the smartphone. The Wireless Charging Card has many analogues today, and this development was not the first of its kind.
In addition to Duracell, the wireless charging stand was also prepared by the Wireless Power Consortium, which, by the way, came up with the idea of \u200b\u200bstandardizing wireless charging technology (later called Qi, read as "qi"). The WPC includes dozens of the largest companies from around the world. Offhand, among others, Energizer, Samsung, LG, Philips, Nokia, Sony and, more recently, the same Duracell appear. In addition to Qi, the Association has earned another fat plus in karma, making all its certified products compatible. Those. The Qi-charger from Nokia can charge not only its own smartphones of this brand, but also any other gadget that meets the generally accepted standard. And if you suddenly carry a smartphone with a Duracell insert in your pocket, you can also charge your mobile at any of the Qi-supported bases.
There was only one stand this year. Technologically, the developments did not go far, but a couple of innovations nevertheless appeared: firstly, in 2012 it was possible to charge mobile communication devices using Qi, and nothing more. the maximum power of 5 watts was the maximum for this. The 35 watt charging prototype, also presented at the World Congress, did not look very confident, so the consultants immediately hinted that the device was still under development. At the current MWC, devices with a capacity of up to 120 watts have already been presented, which is enough to charge tablets.
The induction charging principle has not yet allowed manufacturers to change the shape of the dispensing and receiving parts of the device. Wireless charging, in fact, is two coils - sending and receiving - between which a magnetic field arises. Often, we don't see the simple internal structure of the charger, but some manufacturers have managed to beat it. So, the special joy was caused by the ring-shaped PowerKiss adapters, thanks to which even phones without a built-in Qi module can be recharged.
PowerKiss, due to the release in several modifications of the USB connector, can be connected to absolutely any phone or smartphone, lay the gadget flat on the station and enjoy wireless charging. They are released in different colors, which can also add to the treasury of useful characteristics of the device.
At MWC 2013, PowerKiss was shown again, and with them several very intelligent transmitter adaptation solutions. They propose to make it not in the form of a free-standing object, but, for example, discreetly adapt it to a specific interior: instead of the usual mat or stand, the base can be located in the handle of your sofa, in the cover of the multimedia center or speakers.
The latter option has already found its embodiment in the products of TDK: Wireless Charging Speaker Q35 looks stylish, and, in addition to its direct purpose, it also charges your cell phones.
Issue price
Unfortunately, none of the listed devices fell into our hands, therefore we will limit ourselves only to general specifications and, in fact, price tags.
Devices that support wireless charging technology can be divided into two categories. Those in which this feature is still incorporated by the manufacturer are called "Qi Integrated". Phones out of the box that can handle Qi will be slightly larger than the rest. But you do not have to glue inserts under the cover or connect any other parts built into the case. You will need to buy a distributing base and that is, in fact, all.
The "Qi Ready" category includes devices that are Qi predisposed, but require a technological upgrade to ensure the full operation of the technology. In this case, both the transmitter and the receiver will appear in the shopping list.
True, you most likely will not find either the first or the second designation on the box of the device. Manufacturers often simply limit themselves to mentioning the possibility of connecting a smartphone or tablet to Qi. What kind of phone you got, you can find out only by opening the package. Or, say, from detailed reviews of this model.
See below for a table of Qi-enabled phones. Here are the compatible models released as of early 2013.
On sale, as you might have guessed, you can find both a Qi-charging kit, and a base and a receiver separately. For example, the Philips DLP7210B kit is a cover for the back of the device with a coil for receiving energy, as well as a base for transferring charge. The Qi charging kit for the Samsung Galaxy S4 is made on a similar basis.
Manufacturing subtleties
With Qi, the charger market has expanded significantly. Judge for yourself: if earlier we somehow did not find fault with the performance of adapters, now we have the right to twist our nose a little. The consumer chooses the device according to the shape, color and principle of attachment to the phone. At the same time, not limited to the offers of only one brand that has released a consumer-owned gadget.
Perhaps the easiest option is to place the receiver chip under the body of the device, if your smartphone or tablet did not initially receive one. This, firstly, will not affect the external condition of the phone: it will still be hidden under the cover! And secondly, it will not significantly affect the weight of the gadget.
The cost of the receiver plate is low: for example, a plate that is universal for all Samsung smartphones can be bought from $ 11 starting. A complete set (base and receiver) will cost about $ 62.
Another "inconspicuous" option for connecting a phone to Qi is a removable back cover with a built-in receiver. Such, as we have already said, are also in the catalogs of Nokia, Philips and Samsung.
The advantage of the back cover with a Qi-receiver is that, even though it somewhat thickens the body of the device, it also serves to protect the gadget. Such gadgets have no armor-piercing properties, but, in theory, the phone will be so whole.
A branded cover for Nokia Lumia phones will cost about $ 27. Note that the manufacturer produces them in several colors.
Another form of the receiver is the PowerKiss USB port. It costs about $ 34 / pc. (in the USA). This project is interesting in that it is focused, rather, not for individual, but for mass use: furniture with built-in Qi bases, as well as PowerKiss rings scattered over the surface, may soon appear at airports, railway stations, cafes, libraries, etc. other public places where such an innovation will deservedly receive popular recognition.
PowerKiss, by the way, solves the problem of connecting smartphones to Qi bases, which, in the presence of a non-removable back cover, did not receive the corresponding wireless charging module during production. Removable panels with a Qi module can still be attached to such smartphones. But when buying a kit, you need to carefully deduct the specifications of the device: not all receivers are capable of efficiently transmitting energy through the cover. And PowerKiss provides direct communication with the device's battery, therefore, there will be a chance to charge the battery faster with just such a “ring”.
Speaking of efficiency. Most wireless chargers are less than 80% efficient. This does not mean that your phone will not receive something, it is just that the technology is still imperfect and you need to carefully follow the instructions in the operating instructions in order to increase the level of Qi performance in each specific case.
Rarely, but sometimes especially honest manufacturers admit that their device will not be able to work to its maximum, no matter how hard you try. For example, in the description of METRANS Wireless Transmitting Terminal MWT02 it is clearly stated: the maximum operating efficiency is 73%. At almost $ 78, this is a pretty clear warning.
If Qi, as can be seen in the example of PowerKiss, is only planning to be integrated into the interior, especially enterprising owners of wireless chargers manage to independently place the charging bases under the lids of bedside tables or coffee tables. The following video demonstrates how easily the latest technology lends itself to such creative experiments.
Now a little about the forms of the distributing bases.
The most common variant is a pad-shaped base, i.e. coasters.
Recall that in order to wirelessly charge a gadget, it must be close to the base. The maximum distance that the device can be lifted today for continuous power transmission is only 4 cm!
Below you can see a test of Nokia's Qi system a la "charging with obstructions".
The horizontal position of the smartphone, on the one hand, is the most convenient for a typical scenario: he came in, threw the phone on the table. On the other hand, it is much more convenient to use a smartphone while recharging when the same platform has a certain angle of rise: not enough for the smartphone to slide off, but making it easier to work with the device if it suddenly becomes necessary.
Strictly horizontal bases can be found in the directories:
- Zens (charges $ 65 for one smartphone);
- Energizer (the Dual Inductive Charger base allows you to charge up to three devices: two - via Qi, and the third - via a standard USB port; the case of the model is slightly inclined, which is much better for an office charging option than a flat version; it costs $ 89);
- Duracell (the silver Powermat pad costs $ 34 and is designed to charge one smartphone, has a nice square shape with rounded edges);
- Nokia (DT-900 base is no bigger than a computer mouse; not only suitable for Nokia phones; price $ 47).
Another "flat", but non-standard version is presented by TDK: Q35 Qi Wireless Charging Speaker costs $ 199 and represents the speakers placed in a modern cube case, on the top of which, in fact, the distribution coil is mounted.
Modern technology, especially in the field of electronics, is developing very quickly.
What seemed a few years ago something fantastic, nowadays takes on very real outlines. The famous furniture company IKEA has been selling furniture for about a year now, which has built-in panels for recharging the phone. With each passing day, the wireless transmission of electricity is becoming more real and easier to use. And more and more people want a wireless charger, as it can greatly facilitate the process of charging a smartphone.
What is the technology of transmission of electricity by air?
At the moment, there are quite a large number of different ones that allow the transmission of electricity through the air. To perform this operation, a laser, a sound wave, and many other physical phenomena can be used. Despite such a wide variety of ways of transmitting electricity through air, there is only one technology that is used commercially. This technology builds on the research of Tesla and Faraday, who worked towards transmitting electricity through the air through electromagnetic induction.
It is thanks to the improvement of their designs and ideas that wireless charging for the phone and many other devices that use electricity transmitted through the air in their work can work today.
As in any other area, air transmission has its own standards. The most common standard for this technology is a standard that has been developed by the Wireless Power Consortium for 7 years. The standard itself is usually called the Chinese word “Qi”, but if you try to pronounce it in English, it will sound something like “chee”, as for the Russian language, then the most correct pronunciation would be “Qi”.
This standard is good because it is supported by almost all modern smartphone manufacturers, with the exception of rare cases. Already, many airports, restaurants, train stations and other similar establishments are equipped with special charging stations that allow everyone to charge their smartphone. This applies more to developed countries, however, as you know, modern technologies are rapidly conquering the whole world, and therefore, soon such charging stations can be found even in the most remote corners of the planet.
The new furniture from IKEA is a prime example of how this technology is being actively implemented. The furniture contains special panels that allow very fast charging through the technology of electricity transmission through the air. Purchasing such furniture can make charging the phone much easier for everyone. Qi wireless charging is actively moving around the world, Apple could not even refuse it, which, as you know, always prefers to stay on the sidelines and offer its customers only a unique and unlikely product.
How does wireless charging work? Surely this question interests many people, it should be noted that the principle of its operation at first glance is quite simple and understandable. Charging according to the WPC standard implies the presence of special induction coils both in the smartphone itself and in the charging station. Each of these coils has its own role: one of them is supposed to act as a receiver, while the other is used as a transmitter of wireless electricity. In the event that the charging station is connected to the network, a certain voltage will appear in it, and a magnetic field will appear in the range of the coil, which is engaged in the transmission of electricity. If the smartphone gets into the resulting magnetic field, it receives the energy it needs from it by converting electromagnetic waves in its receiving coil into electricity.
Thanks to wireless charging, there is no need to connect a special cable to your smartphone
The WPC standard allows the distance between the wireless charger and the smartphone itself to be no more than 3-5 cm.Thus, we can say that you should put the phone on the charger, in this case the efficiency of such charging will be 75-80%, which is slightly less than the efficiency wired charging. Therefore, if you need, for example, a good wireless charger for your iPhone, be prepared for the fact that you always have to put your smartphone in a special place where it can recharge quite quickly.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Wireless Charging
For the average user, the only and most important advantage of using a wireless charger for a phone is that there is no need to connect a special cable to a smartphone. Despite the fact that this type of charging a mobile device is called wireless, in any case, you cannot get rid of the wire, since the charger itself is connected to the outlet.
As for the shortcomings, you need to remember that such charges are usually more expensive than cable ones, and charging a smartphone with them takes about 2-3 times longer. However, as a new and interesting technology, as well as a solution in some unusual cases (for example, car wireless charging), this method of recharging a smartphone can be a very interesting and practical solution.
Charging a smartphone using wireless charging takes approximately 2-3 times longer
Is wireless charging harmful to health?
Every time a new technology appears, more and more people are interested in how harmful it is to health. It should be noted that a huge number of myths circulate around new technologies, even in our time there are many people who believe that mobile phones are capable of causing enormous harm, and the computer generally kills 10 people every day. In fact, these are myths that have no real foundation. And this can be proved from the point of view of elementary logic, since if this were actually so, no one would have lived on our planet for a long time, probably. And since there are more and more people every day, and they use electronics more and more often in their daily life, its harm is clearly exaggerated.
However, every electronic device in one way or another affects our body, this also applies to a wireless charger. Let's try to figure out how strong this influence can be.
Wireless charging won't hurt your health
It should be noted that most smartphone manufacturers say that the WPC standard does not pose any danger to health. The developer of the standard himself, the Wireless Power Consortium, says approximately the same. They are actively joined by manufacturers of electric toothbrushes and electric shavers, which use similar charging principles in their devices.
Such opinions look very convincing, let's try to speculate on that topic. Electromagnetic waves, which are actively used in the wireless charger, are in the spectrum of non-ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation is characterized by a much lower wavelength than, for example, dangerous X-rays. Non-ionizing radiation is generally considered completely safe and is used in many modern devices. Such radiation is used to transmit a Wi-Fi signal, it is also used for mobile communications and in many other cases. Thus, a huge number of waves of this spectrum pass through a person every day, even if he does not use electronic devices. Moreover, they almost always passed through a person, since the Sun emits a fairly large number of just such waves every day.
That is why clear evidence of harm to health from the WPC has not yet been found, and, as practice shows, if a person starts using a wireless charger, he does not faint the next day, and his health does not deteriorate over time. Therefore, you can safely start using such devices, wireless charging for iPhone 6 will not harm your health in any way.
Modern devices that support Qi wireless charging
As mentioned above, almost all modern smartphones support the WPC standard. Also, this standard is supported by some other devices, if you want to know the details and specifics on this issue, then you can always find a list of all devices that support this standard on the official website of the Wireless Power Consortium.
Do not forget: in order to wirelessly charge a device, you must have both an energy receiver (the device itself supports the WPC standard) and an energy transmitter. Most modern phones already have special charging modules, which are energy receivers, therefore, the only thing that is required from the user of such a device is to choose a high-quality wireless panel, which is the transmitter of energy to the device.
Almost all modern smartphones support the WPC standard
In the event that a particular phone or other wearable device does not support the WPC standard, then this can be very easily dealt with. The simplest solution in this case may be to buy a special attachment or case that contains a charging module. Such a charging module can be connected to any phone using a conventional charging connector. For example, this may be necessary if you are interested in wireless charging for iphone or for some other device that does not support the WPC standard.
The most popular wireless chargers
At the moment, there are quite a number of wireless chargers manufactured by various companies. Let's take a quick look at which chargers are currently the most popular among owners of smartphones and other wearable devices.
Samsung Wireless Charging Pad charges the smartphone almost regardless of its position on the panel itself
One of the latest Samsung inventions. This almost universal wireless charger has gained popularity due to the fact that it charges the smartphone almost regardless of its position on the panel itself. It should be noted that this device is capable of supporting not only the WPC standard, but also some other less popular wireless charging standards, such as AW4P and PMA. Thus, even if your particular phone does not support the WPC standard, this charger is still capable of charging it, and this can be done without any additional modules and everything else.
This charging is a very good solution in a number of cases, the average cost of such a device is about $ 50.
Judging by the reviews on Amazon, this is the best wireless charger, which has a number of advantages and at the same time has a very low price. Of the features of this device, we can note the included USB cable, which allows you to connect the charger to a laptop. The average cost of this charger is around $ 10-15. At the same time, the model is very reliable and can serve for a fairly long time. Smartphones with wireless charging that use this device for recharging will charge fairly quickly without experiencing any problems.
PowerBot is the best wireless charger that has many advantages and at the same time has a very low price.
So far, smartphones and other Apple devices do not support many wireless technologies. Therefore, in order for wireless charging for iphone 5s to be possible, you need to use all kinds of additional devices, such as cases and various connectors. One of the most interesting solutions in this case can be the iQi receiver card, which can be hidden under any ordinary smartphone case.
This solution allows you to fully cope with the problem of lack of support for wireless charging from Apple technology. Such a card is quite inexpensive, usually its price is about 35 dollars, while it demonstrates very good, long and reliable performance. Therefore, if you are the owner of Apple technology, such a card can be very useful to you.
Nokia DT-910 allows you to charge smartphones very quickly
This wireless charger is very popular. It has a very affordable price, while it allows you to charge smartphones very quickly. In addition to all its advantages, nokia wireless charging also has a number of additional features that make it work even better and better. Therefore, this option (taking into account all its strengths) can be more useful than ever in a number of cases.
Whether or not to use a wireless charger is up to you, of course. Some believe that this should be done, since this type of charging a smartphone is more convenient, and in general, this is the future. This opinion is quite reasonable, since according to all forecasts, powerful charging wireless stations should appear in the near future that will be able to charge not only a smartphone, but almost all other devices in the house, while there will be no need to put this or that device on a special panel, since the charging itself will charge everything in a certain, rather large radius.
If such technologies appear in the near future, then many modern wireless chargers, such as the note 4 wireless charging, can very quickly become a thing of the past, as a much more universal solution will appear.
iQi Wireless Charging Receivers demonstrate very good, long and reliable performance
It should also be noted that the technology of wireless electricity itself is not as complex as it might seem. That is why many people can do wireless charging with their own hands, as it is very interesting to do something like this on their own. And, as practice shows, many people really succeed in doing this, which allows them not to spend money on buying wireless chargers at all, but to make everything completely independently.
Wireless charging basics was last modified: April 29th, 2016 by Ekaterina
Today, a person without a smartphone is a person cut off from life. It is hard to imagine that a few years ago a mobile phone was used only for communication. Now this little assistant gives us access to the Internet and a variety of applications, and wakes us up in the morning. The list of benefits provided by a smartphone is endless. It is not surprising that a large number of gadgets have been invented for modern phones. One of them is a wireless charger, which we would like to talk about in more detail.
How can I tell if my phone supports wireless charging?
From the name it is clear that this is a gadget that allows you to charge your smartphone without using wires. It is a small stand connected to the network. Inside is an induction coil that creates a small magnetic field around itself. If there is a smartphone within the radius of this field, it will receive electricity in the literal sense of the word through the air. But there is one caveat - an induction coil must also be built into the smartphone. It will serve as a kind of energy receiver from the charger.
The goal of this device was to get rid of modern smartphones from the charger connectors, as well as to allow all devices in the house to be charged from one platform. The idea was a success, but why then do we not see this technology in every home and do not use it ourselves? The answer is simple - despite all the advantages, this miracle device also has disadvantages.
Pros and cons of a wireless charger
Wireless charging has enough pros, but they all have their cornerstone.
Lack of wires
Without a doubt, this is a big plus. Wires have always been a weak point in charging. With frequent bends, the wire was easily damaged and tangled. Frequent recharging would loosen up the USB port on the phone, and sooner or later, repairs were required. But there is also a downside to the coin. The rejection of wires reduced the efficiency (efficiency) from 90% to 60–75%. Simply put, when using wireless charging, your smartphone will charge approximately 2-3 times longer.
Range of use
It would seem that there are no wires - there are no restrictions, and you can charge the phone simply while in the apartment. But no - the range of use of the wireless charger is very modest (3-5 cm) and the phone will have to be placed on the stand. Another significant drawback will be the inability to use the smartphone while charging.
Price
The cost of the charger is quite variable, but it will always be more expensive than the usual charging.
Standards
I would like to tell you about the standards thanks to which the use of technology for the transmission of electricity by air has become possible.
Qi ("Qi", after the term of Eastern philosophy) was developed by the WPC (Wireless Power Consortium). It is the most widespread and supported by such giants of the mobile industry as Asus, Motorola, HTC, Huawei, LG, Nokia, Samsung, Blackberry, Sony and others. You can find out more about the standard and the list of supported devices on their official website.
The PMA standard also uses the principle of electromagnetic induction, but cannot boast as many manufacturers that support their technology as Qi. It was developed by Powermat, which is currently trying to fight unhealthy competition from Qi.
This standard uses Rezence technology, which is fundamentally different from PMA and Qi. The strange thing is that the most unpopular standard has many advantages over its competitors. The pluses include:
- the ability to charge through interference (if you put the book between the smartphone and the charger, nothing will change);
- one platform can power multiple devices;
- work in close proximity to metal objects, etc.
For a complete list of smartphones that can use wireless charging right out of the box, visit the official website https://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com. I would like to note that most of the manufacturers have made sure that their product supports the use of this technology.
What if your smartphone is not on the list of supported devices, but you need to use wireless charging? If you have such a question, then most likely you are a happy user of Apple products. The iPhone is not yet capable of receiving electromagnetic signals. However, there is an alternative - the purchase of an auxiliary accessory that will do this for your phone. It fits under a standard case and does not cause any discomfort.
Is wireless charging harmful to health
As with any new technology, the wireless charger raises many questions. One of the most acute is whether it is harmful to health. Let's dispel this far-fetched myth right away. It will do you no more harm than an electronic razor using the same technology. The developers of the WPC standard assert the same.
For better charging and faster data transfer, I would like to tell you about a technology that should help us get rid of wires as a class. As you might have guessed, we will talk about wireless charging standards for smartphones and other gadgets. We will find out how they differ from each other, and, most importantly, how they work. Let's figure it out!
Let's start from scratch just in case. Wireless charging, as the name suggests, is a method of transferring power without using any contact surfaces. Those. not only the absence of wires is meant, but also of any connectors or pins.
Today, wireless chargers are not as popular as we would like. Manufacturers are reluctant to embed such technology into their devices, and there is no mass appearance of charging stations in public places either. One of the problems, as in general, and in most electronics industries, is the lack of uniformity of standards. And it is about them that we will talk.
Qi
At the moment, the most common wireless charging standard is Qi. It is developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). It is the Qi standard that many manufacturers of smartphones and tablets support, among which there are such monsters as Asus, Motorola, HTC, Huawei, LG, Nokia, Samsung, Blackberry, Sony and others.
Power transfer occurs from the transmitter to the plate inside the device. For successful charging, the plate must lie (be in a parallel plane) with the transmitter, and the distance between them must not exceed 4 cm. The charging process itself occurs due to electromagnetic induction. The current passing through the primary coil in the transmitter creates oscillations of the electromagnetic field, which in turn creates a current in the secondary coil located in the plate of the receiver device.
The main difference from competitors, which also use the principle of electromagnetic induction, is the frequency of operation. In the case of Qi, it is 100-205 kHz.
PMA
Another standard that also uses the principle of electromagnetic induction is called PMA. Introduced by Powermat in 2012. It may not boast such broad support from device manufacturers as Qi, but it still has its trump cards up its sleeve. The thing is, there are two parts to charging, and PMA decided to focus on the transmitter rather than the receiver.
It was recently announced that popular coffee chain Starbucks will introduce PMA wireless chargers to all of its U.S. locations by the end of 2015. You can find out more about this in one of the pages on our website. As you know, all sorts of hipsters love to flock to Starbucks, so that is how PMA can gain popularity.
So far, the standard is fighting exclusively in the United States. In particular, local telecom operators use it as a tool for healthy and not very competitive competition. So AT & T is promoting PMA, cutting out wireless charging of other standards in its operator devices.
Although PMA uses a physical principle of charging similar to the Qi standard, electromagnetic induction, there are still differences. As already mentioned, they consist in the frequency of operation, which for PMA is 277-357 kHz.
At the moment, PMA is losing quite a lot to Qi in popularity, and mobile devices that have this standard preinstalled can be counted on one hand. Still, the forces behind the advancement of PMA are quite large, so it's too early to write it off completely.
The standard created by A4WP (Alliance for Wireless Power) uses Rezence technology. It is even less popular than PMA, but it is worth mentioning if only because it uses a different power transmission technology.
The creators position the technology as "the next step", because it can be used to charge devices at a much greater distance than in the case of electromagnetic induction, and items such as books or other household items will not become an obstacle. Also, several devices can be charged from one station at once, creating a so-called smart charging zone around the dock.
The principle itself is based on the effect of magnetic resonance. This is what allows you to significantly expand the charging area from one dock, as well as charge several devices at once. The transmitted power can reach 50 watts, which can be quite enough for a laptop. At the same time, the “rug” itself, unlike Qi or PMA, does not need to be installed in tables, if, for example, you want to implement such stations in your cafe. It is enough to fix them under the tables, it will not become an obstacle for Rezence.
Despite all the coolness of the technology, Rezence cannot boast of great success yet. The technology is supported by such monsters as Qualcomm, LG, Intel, HTC and others, but so far it has not come to commercial samples. However, not so long ago A4WP signed a cooperation agreement with PMA, so it is quite possible that Rezence or its next incarnation could become the second generation of wireless chargers.
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Personally, using wireless charging would allow me to almost completely abandon cables when using a smartphone, because I now use them exclusively for recharging the battery. The function of data transfer was taken over by cloud services, Pushbullet, Airdrop and their analogues.
At the moment, any of the standards is still quite far from the mass implementation. Although Qi is now installed in most devices that support wireless charging, its meaning is often offset by the lack of a widespread network of "rugs" and their high cost. Those. in fact, charging can only be used on a home / work mat, which by definition lies in one place. Or you will have to carry this "rug" with you, but you still have to plug it into a power outlet with a wire, so all the charm of wireless charging disappears.
The potential rejection of wires, including those that not only transmit information, but also energy for batteries, is not so far away. The industry develops, standards appear and improve, so someday we still have to come to a world without wires. In the end, Elon Musk himself is developing this direction, and he does not like to throw words to the wind.
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