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Apple wireless charging patent describes ability to prioritize devices
Two patent applications published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office give us a peek into what kind of mobile device charging options Apple may be giving us in the future. As VentureBeat reports, the two applications were both filed in June though neither have been approved yet.
FCC approves first wireless 'power-at-a-distance' charging system
Charging your mobile device wirelessly is certainly less of a hassle than plugging it in, but still requires the device be in physical contact with its station to actually work. That's about to change now that the Federal Communications Commission has approved the first wireless charger that works from up to three feet away.
True wireless charging is almost ready
Three years running, I've visited Energous at CES to be pitched on its wireless vision for the future of charging. This time, things are a little different. It's not announcing a manufacturing milestone or touting independent verification of its WattUp charging tech. Instead, it's actually launching some products. If you've never heard of Energous, it's a startup that uses RF to charge devices at a distance. There are a few different types of transmitters, but the basic tech involves a WattUp charging station sending out RF waves in a focused beam toward a compatible device. A chip in the gadget then converts the waves into direct-current electricity. This "rectification" process isn't new, but Energous' claim is it's able to do it efficiently enough to make sense for charging small devices like wearables and phones. In the long run, Energous will offer wireless charging at 15 feet. For the first batch of products, though, it's the less-impressive microsolution -- capable of charging at a distance of just a few inches. It's basically a replacement to the wireless charging you'll find on existing wearables, but with a few benefits.
Energous has a solution for wirelessly charging wearables
Energous' wireless charging tech WattUp made a splash at CES 2015, promising to charge your devices from 15 feet away with an "energy router." After winning two Best of CES awards, though, it dropped off the radar. And as is so often the case with CES innovations, a year has passed and there's nothing with the tech inside on the shelves. This year, it's back at the trade show explaining why that's happened, and how things will change in 2016.
Best of CES 2015 Awards, Connected Home: Energous WattUp
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-132892{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-132892, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-132892{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-132892").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Our connected home future depends on devices -- be they lightbulbs, blenders or smartphones -- speaking to one another. And in order to do that, they need to have power. Energous WattUp' wireless charging solution delivers that power wirelessly, so not only do you never have to charge up your laptop or tablet, you might not ever need to replace the batteries in your smart smoke detector either. That's just one of many reasons Energous walked home with a Best of CES award in the Connected Home category as well as one for Disruptive Tech.
Best of CES 2015 Awards, Disruptive Tech: Energous WattUp
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-629182{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-629182, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-629182{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-629182").style.display="none";}catch(e){} We like our wireless routers here at Engadget, but a wireless router that can charge your devices too? And one that can do so, well, wirelessly? If that sounds like a pipe dream, well, it isn't. Energous' WattUp solution promises to do exactly that. No longer would you have to plug in your laptop or charge up your smartwatch when you're in the house. Seems like an innovation winner to us.
CES 2015: The home of the future, available today
We've been hearing about the promise of the connected home, or the "Internet of Things," for years. At this CES, one thing became clear: The connected home of the future is achievable today. Qualcomm's smart home, for example, was a mock-up showing how tech could change the way we live. Unlike past years, however, the vast majority of "things" on show were off-the-shelf products you could buy and install in your apartment right now.
CES 2015: Energous WattUp wireless charging
"Wireless charging" for Apple devices at this point usually consists of wrapping your iPhone or iPad in a special case or attaching a special dongle to the Lightning port and then placing the device on some sort of inductive charging pad (the Qi charging standard from the Wireless Power Consortium is a perfect example of this). How would you like to be able to have your devices charge up automatically whenever you're within range of a special wireless transmitter? That's the premise behind the Energous Corporation WattUp product demoed at CES this year. WattUp is a Bluetooth and RF-enabled transmitter (that black device in the image at the top of this post) that uses Wi-Fi bands to deliver what the company calls "intelligent, scalable power" to devices that require 10 watts or less of power. Up to 12 receiving devices can be charged by one WattUp transmitter at any time, and the company has an app for controlling the order and preference of charges. For example, smartphones or tablets could start charging whenever you walk into your home, while keyboards and remotes might charge at night. Energous wants to license WattUp to manufacturers of wearables, smartphones, and tablets, so we can only hope that the company has approached Apple. I, for one, would love to use a system like this for constant trickle charging of an Apple Watch.
This router can power your devices wirelessly from 15 feet away
Wireless charging hasn't really set the world on fire. Since the Palm Pre first introduced us to the idea at CES 2009, a few companies have added similar functionality to their phones and smartwatches. Power without wires is undoubtedly useful, but none of the solutions have ever set our devices free from a charging pad, which is tantamount to plugging them in, really. Energous is one of a handful of companies hoping to change that. It claims its technology can charge your phone and wearable from up to 15 feet away, no wires required.
Could your washer really charge your smartphone from across the room?
Wireless charging is a little bit more convenient than plugging your device in, but was picking up a microUSB lead ever that much of a chore in the first place? White goods and TV supremos Haier believe so, which is why it's signed a development pact with wireless charging outfit Energous. The latter company's WattUp technology promises to deliver power over the same radio bands as a WiFi router and is apparently able to charge a smartphone from distances of up to 15 feet. The idea, at this early stage, is to cram these power transmitters into Haier's refrigerators, washing machines and microwaves, so that you can re-juice your phone while you wait for your dinner and do your laundry.
