Wireless Power Consortium
Encyclopedia
The Wireless Power Consortium is a business alliance
of more than 60 firms to develop open standard
s for inductive charging
.
standard so that electronic products and charging stations using the same standard will recognize each other and charge. Different brands and different devices can then re-charge using the same charging station.
In 2009, the Consortium announced it was about to launch its proposed "Qi" standard for wireless charging. The name "Qi" comes from the "qi
" concept of energy flow from Chinese medicine, and is pronounced "chee".
Two products using Qi were launched in 2010. The standard was finalized in July 2010.
In 2011, the Wireless Power Consortium started to extend the Qi specification to medium power.
The low-power specification delivers up to 5 watts; the medium-power specification will deliver up to 120 watts.
Business alliance
A business alliance is an agreement between businesses, usually motivated by cost reduction and improved service for the customer. Alliances are often bounded by a single agreement with equitable risk and opportunity share for all parties involved and are typically managed by an integrated project...
of more than 60 firms to develop open standard
Open standard
An open standard is a standard that is publicly available and has various rights to use associated with it, and may also have various properties of how it was designed . There is no single definition and interpretations vary with usage....
s for inductive charging
Inductive charging
Inductive charging uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two objects. This is usually done with a charging station. Energy is sent through inductive coupling to an electrical device, which then can use that energy to charge batteries....
.
History
The organization was started in 2008 to create a universal wireless power chargingInductive charging
Inductive charging uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two objects. This is usually done with a charging station. Energy is sent through inductive coupling to an electrical device, which then can use that energy to charge batteries....
standard so that electronic products and charging stations using the same standard will recognize each other and charge. Different brands and different devices can then re-charge using the same charging station.
In 2009, the Consortium announced it was about to launch its proposed "Qi" standard for wireless charging. The name "Qi" comes from the "qi
Qi
In traditional Chinese culture, qì is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, lifeforce, or energy flow. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts...
" concept of energy flow from Chinese medicine, and is pronounced "chee".
Two products using Qi were launched in 2010. The standard was finalized in July 2010.
In 2011, the Wireless Power Consortium started to extend the Qi specification to medium power.
The low-power specification delivers up to 5 watts; the medium-power specification will deliver up to 120 watts.
Members
- ConvenientPower
- Fulton InnovationEcoupledeCoupled is a proprietary near-field wireless energy transfer technology developed by Fulton Innovation, a division of Alticor. It provides wireless power transfer via inductive coupling between a primary transmission coil and a secondary receiving coil...
- National SemiconductorNational SemiconductorNational Semiconductor was an American semiconductor manufacturer, that specialized in analog devices and subsystems,formerly headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA. The products of National Semiconductor included power management circuits, display drivers, audio and operational amplifiers,...
- NokiaNokiaNokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
- PhilipsPhilipsKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
- Sang Fei
- SanyoSanyois a major electronics company and member of the Fortune 500 whose headquarters is located in Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan. Sanyo targets the middle of the market and has over 230 Subsidiaries and Affiliates....
- RohmRohmROHM Semiconductor is a Japanese electronic parts supplier based in Kyoto, Japan. ROHM was incorporated as Toyo Electronics Industry Corporation by Kenichiro Sato on September 17, 1958. The name was officially changed to Rohm in 1981 and then changed again to "ROHM Semiconductor" in January of...
- Texas InstrumentsTexas InstrumentsTexas Instruments Inc. , widely known as TI, is an American company based in Dallas, Texas, United States, which develops and commercializes semiconductor and computer technology...
- Research In Motion (RIM)Research In MotionResearch In Motion Limited or RIM is a Canadian multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada that designs, manufactures and markets wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market...
External links
- Wireless Power Consortium official site