At least two consumer-oriented products using OTA wireless charging could be released this year by Belkin
According to Wi-Charge founder and Chief Business Officer Ori Mor, “I can’t tell you exactly what Belkin is launching, which is a bummer, because it’s a center-stage consumer product. Belkin is super interesting because of several things: It is a consumer company that is super aggressive on the timeline, and they chose a perfect application.”
Mor adds, “Belkin does aftermarket accessories to charge other devices, and they do powerline products, smart home products, etc. This allows us to give them an unfair advantage for [wireless power]. I think it’s time. Everyone is waiting for wireless power.” The executive adds that “You’ll be able to see at least two consumer applications this year,” which certainly gets us looking forward to finding out just exactly what these consumer applications will be.
Wi-Charge’s wireless charging system checks off all of the boxes to be successful
Wi-Charge tells Tech Crunch that the tie-in it has with Belkin is for one specific product but there is a list of other products being developed that would be suitable for OTA wireless charging. The technology used by Wi-Charge is more focused than just covering an entire room with wireless power. Instead, the system uses an infrared beam that shoots out from a transmitter to a receiver.
Wi-Charge’s OTA charging system can charge your phone, tablet, watch, smart home devices, and more
Wi-Charge’s Mor states, “If you have to blanket the entire room with power, you get an environment that neither the users nor the regulators will approve. We deliver a beam directly to the receiver; 100% of the power that leaves the transmitter reaches the receiver.” This certainly might make users feel better about using the technology instead of feeling as though they have been shoved into a microwave oven like a frozen TV dinner.
Wi-Charge says that its wireless charging system checks off all of the boxes to be successful:
- Power-Wi-Charge delivers more usable power over distance than any other approach, enough to safely charge even a smartphone.
- Distance-Wi-Charge powers devices at room-sized distances and beyond. Power is the same regardless of distance, unlike other technologies whose power drops as a function of the distance squared.
- Safety-WI-Charge is certified safe for consumers in all usage scenarios. Power is delivered only to the target device and does not bathe the environment with unwanted radiation.
