AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Continued pressure for higher-performance mobile devices is causing the industry to consider alternative methods for battery charging. Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL) today announced three reference designs for wireless charging that could change the way consumers power their energy-hungry devices.
IMS Research projects that shipments of devices with wireless power will surpass 100 million in 2015, and the wireless power market will grow to nearly $5 billion by 2016. Electronics manufacturers are studying ways to implement wireless charging technology and the associated infrastructure necessary in locations including automobiles, coffee houses, airports and other public areas to support today’s computing-intensive mobile devices, such as smart phones, tablets, portable medical devices, gaming and audio accessories, and much more.
“Wireless charging frequently tops the lists of ‘hot’ features for future smart phones,” said Geoff Lees, vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Industrial & Multi-Market MCU business. “Our three new reference designs offer wireless charging solutions for a range of battery-powered devices. Once wireless charging is broadly deployed in the public infrastructure, charging could become an afterthought for users.”
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“Though wireless power is still in its infancy, there is massive potential for use in consumer applications,” said Jason dePreaux, research manager at IMS Research. “The availability of specialized components for wireless power is a critical step in the evolution of this market by making the technology easier to implement while also driving down cost.”
Wireless charging reference design for tablets
Freescale is introducing an integrated wireless charging platform to address consumer and industrial tablet applications, as well as portable healthcare devices. The reference design consists of two main components: a transmitter mat and a receiver embedded inside the back cover of the tablet. This reference design leverages Freescale’s Smart Application Blueprint for Rapid Engineering (SABRE) platform for tablets with an i.MX53 applications processor; however, it can be scaled to most tablet designs. The receiver seamlessly interfaces with the input power of the tablet’s power management sub-system. Tablets that use Freescale wireless charging technology benefit from the ability to create an intelligent software-based charging system, charging efficiencies that match conventional technologies and exceptional convenience to the consumer.
Wireless charging reference design for smart phones
Freescale is introducing a wireless charging reference design to address the needs of the smart phone market, which is rapidly adopting wireless charging technology. For the technology to become truly pervasive, an industry standard that will scale across all platforms is necessary. Freescale supports the Qi standard, developed by the Wireless Power Consortium.
Freescale’s reference design for smart phones consists of a Qi-based transmitter with an embedded coil array to allow for maximum positioning freedom. The transmitter has been designed to optimize the bill of materials and lower overall system cost, creating more value for product designers. The Qi receiver is designed to support all types of smart phones and offers a true five-volt output to the phone’s power management sub-system.
Wireless charging reference designs for multi-cell battery packs
Freescale is introducing a wireless charging reference design for high-capacity, single- and multi-cell battery packs. Target applications include power tools, handheld radios and various industrial applications. The reference design charges four Li-Ion battery packs simultaneously to deliver a total of 120 watts of power. The reference design consists of two main components: a transmitter mat and a receiver embedded into the battery packs.
The receiver manages and converts the incoming power and then transfers the power to the battery by implementing a charging algorithm. Each transmitter channel adjusts its energy transfer independently by responding to commands from the receiver embedded in the battery pack. This intelligent charging method is software-controlled and has the ability to dynamically adjust the power transfer. Benefits of this type of charging system for battery packs include the elimination of environmental impact due to exposed electrical contacts, intelligent charge management via software control and the ability to charge various types of batteries and associated chemistries on a common platform.
Standards interoperability and compatibility
Freescale offers flexibility with its inductive charging technology that addresses the wide range of charging requirements, from industry-compliant turnkey to fully customizable solutions. By offering customizable solutions, Freescale helps customers focus on their core businesses and accelerate their time-to-market. Customers can be confident knowing their wireless charging products are designed to be compatible with other devices and infrastructure based on the Qi standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium, the leading industry group for wireless charging.
“Our customers require a wireless charging product that offers good power transfer efficiencies as well as low power consumption,” said Roger Lin, vice president and head of the business unit at Primax Electronics LTD. “By leveraging Freescale’s wireless charging reference designs and in-house expertise, Primax is able to build in additional value that can be realized in our smart phone charging accessories products.”
Partnership
Freescale has partnered with Fulton Innovation, a leader in wireless power and inductive charging technology, to create comprehensive solutions for wireless charging that address the performance needs of the market. Fulton developed eCoupled technology to bring wireless power capabilities to virtually any electronic power system, and has built a portfolio of over 700 patents in the field.
“Fulton is pleased to work with Freescale as it creates products to enable wireless power devices that support the Qi standard,” said Bret Lewis, director of Fulton Innovation. “We’ll continue to expand the capabilities of eCoupled technology and work with Freescale to support the every-changing needs of the consumer electronics market.”
Availability
The three wireless charging reference designs are now available from Freescale for evaluation. For more information, visit www.freescale.com/wirelesscharging.
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About the Freescale Technology Forum
Created to drive innovation and collaboration, the Freescale Technology Forum (FTF) has become one of the developer events of the year for the embedded systems industry. The Forum has drawn more than 48,000 attendees at FTF events worldwide since its inception in 2005. Our annual flagship event, FTF Americas, takes place June 18-21, 2012, in San Antonio, Texas.
About Freescale Semiconductor
Freescale Semiconductor is a global leader in embedded processing solutions, providing industry leading products that are advancing the automotive, consumer, industrial and networking markets. From microprocessors and microcontrollers to sensors, analog integrated circuits and connectivity - our technologies are the foundation for the innovations that make our world greener, safer, healthier and more connected. Some of our key applications and end-markets include automotive safety, hybrid and all-electric vehicles, next generation wireless infrastructure, smart energy management, portable medical devices, consumer appliances and smart mobile devices.
The company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing and sales operations around the world. http://www.freescale.com.
Freescale and the Freescale logo are trademarks of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © 2012 Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
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