MediaTek Reinvents Charging with Multimode Wireless Charger

TechWeez ^ | 14 Jan 2014 | Carlos Ageng'o

[mandaladon]

MediaTek currently has a differentiated resonance power solution in the market but the manufacturer wants to introduce a new product agnostic charging platform to device owners. Multimode wireless charging allows users to charge devices anywhere, anytime on a specific pad or surface. An added advantage of MediaTek’s new solution is that it can charge over long distances. According to IHS analyst, Ryan Sanderson – “2013 saw 20M wireless charging receivers shipped into the market, the majority of which were integrated into mobile phones and tablets, enabling and supporting wireless charging straight out of the box. IHS forecasts this number to grow to 700M by 2018.” However the growing demand for wireless charging is met with the challenge of competing specifications on how to implement the solution. Nokia, Samsung, LG and Verizon support inductive (tightly coupled) wireless power solutions. Another camp consisting Google, AT&T, Protcor and TI support resonance (loosely coupled) wireless power solutions.

[mandaladon]

Retail businesses, such as Starbucks, are providing resonant charging technology as a convenience to customers. With the multimode charger, these businesses are will therefore benefit from increased revenue streams. ......................Excellent invention

[mandaladon]

[rarestia]

One drawback: heat. I have coworkers who use the wireless chargers on their desks. One of them already had to replace the battery on his HTC phone. The heat caused the battery cells to rupture and bulge. His phone wouldn’t hold a charge.

They recommend you only charge your phone to ~80% and then take it off the charger to prevent heat damage. Otherwise, it’s a cool invention.

[DaxtonBrown]

Next question, could you run a drone with this? Remote spy camera?

[catman67]

This gives the Chevy Volt unlimited mileage!!! /sarc

[Gaffer]

This is by induction - near, near field in the evanescent region. To charge a drone, distance is involved and there is the pesky R^2 problem of spherical dispersion (throw in a 4XPi there, too for steradian surface area). Couple that with the antenna gain introduction and you bring in wavelength. Physics is a bitch.

[Moltke]

allows users to charge devices anywhere, anytime on a specific pad or surface.

Which pad/surface is connected to a mains outlet...just cut out the 'middleman' and you can (drum roll!) charge your phone "anywhere, anytime" with a simple length of cable...which would also be a lot cheaper for the mentioned 'retail business' to provide! The price for just one of those pads/surfaces will buy a lot of cable...