Magnetic coils to enable wireless smartphone charging?
Looking to meet the expected demand for wireless charging, TDK Corporation is using its magnetic materials technology to create power transfer solutions for smartphones and mobile devices.
The company has already created an ultra thin 0.57mm wireless power transfer coil unit which is lightweight and resistant to shock. The design is said to minimise any tendency towards rising resistance, allowing it to achieve a power transfer efficiency that meets the requirements of the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) Qi standard.
Driven by the increasing power consumption of mobile devices, the WPC is working towards the standardisation of wireless power transfer and establishing an infrastructure environment. TDK says the technology it is developing will complement these efforts.
Output current for the 0.57mm coil is on the order of 0.5 to 06A, but a thinner 0.50mm coil is also in development by TDK which could achieve equal or better output current. Mass production is due to begin in 2013.
