Wi-Charge Is Actual Wireless Charging, Uses Infrared Light


WiChargeWi-Charge is a tech company from Israel after my own heart. Set out to combat the number one annoying issue with mobile devices, the need to constantly charge, Wi-Charge uses its own proprietary wireless power transmission technology to recharge devices without user intervention. It acts as a “self-sustained, endless battery”, says the company, who is currently commercializing the product to get Wi-Charge out to consumers in the next 12 to 18 months (Wi-Charge).

WiCharge1We're used to playing with our smartphones and tablets for a couple hours at a time before seeing the dreaded low battery notification. Some devices, like my very own iPhone for example, seem to be even worse, constantly craving for some plugged-in attention. Even the wireless charging options we see today are not actually wireless, simply because they still require a physical connection. Wi-Charge changes this annoying ritual by delivering up to 10W of power over to multiple devices from as far as 30 feet away, all by using a ceiling-mounted transmitter to beam infrared lasers to retroreflector mirrors. The infrared light is captured in a receiver inside or on the device (Cnet).

WiCharge2Think of it as a waitress topping off your coffee before even asking her to. This technology won't only be for smartphones and tablets, but for wireless stereos, Internet of Things (IoT) devices and more. What a relief it would be to never see that blinking red light or hear that annoying chirping sound saying your gadget is dying. Wi-Charge is currently seeking hardware manufacturers, diligently working to get the product ready for market. However, according to Cnet, the quality of the charge is still up in the air, so the company will have to work out specifics on how much power can be given using each transmitter, but 10 watts is still the current guestimate. Range will also have to be perfected, considering residential environments could require different ranges than mobile products. We cant expect Wi-Charge until 2016, so hopefully we can all survive with our lame chargers for a while longer.

Topics: Technology News Battery & Power Technology Gadgets & Peripherals Inventions & Innovations Smartphones & Mobile Devices Tablets

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