Wireless power standard launched
1 min read
The Wireless Power Consortium has launched the Qi 1.0 standard which enables consumer electronic brands and device manufacturers to bring interoperable wireless inductive charging devices to market. The Consortium has also announced the first products certified with Qi.
Qi ensures interoperability between Qi devices from different companies to power and charge on any Qi charging station. According to the Consortium, interoperability for the wireless charging market has the potential to scale up the market for wireless battery charging from 100,000 units to 100million units annually. The standard is said to empower mobile phone manufacturers to integrate wireless power receivers, the semiconductor industry to incorporate the functionality into its chip sets, and infrastructure providers to build chargers in homes, offices, automobiles, hotels and furniture.
"Qi can now be integrated into products, said Menno Treffers, chairman of the Wireless Power Consortium. "All ingredients for growing the market are now on the table. It took us only 18 months to develop the Qi standard, and less than one month to see the first products certified. Qi is now the industry's choice for wireless power."
The 55+ members of the Wireless Power Consortium include industry leaders in mobile phones, consumer electronics, batteries, semiconductors, components and wireless power technology.The Consortium says it now plans to start work on a wireless power standard for medium power devices including netbooks, laptops, tablet computers, and power tools.
