Freescale Semiconductor Inc. (Austin, Texas) has extended its wireless charging IC portfolio with the introduction of the first parts to meet a 15-watt profile compliant to the Qi standard of the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC).
Freescale's first products addressed 5-watt charging for cell phones (see Freescale Launches Wireless Charging Chips to Qi Spec). The latest offering enables faster charging than USB and other wired topologies, and supports wireless recharging of larger equipment such as tablet computers and handheld medical devices. Freescale it is the first company to offer a 15-watt controller.
Freescale is offering 15W transmit and receive controller ICs as well as reference designs for transmission and two forms of receiver – a low-dropout regulated version and a buck converter version.
Freescale wireless charging 15-watt portfolio. Source: Freescale.
The WCT1012 transmitter chip comes in standard and premium versions. These are the same except that in the standard version a number of I/O options are disabled. The WPR1516 receiver chip comes in a choice of QFN and CSP packaging. Developers can get to production quickly by using available corresponding firmware libraries, which provide the core functionality required to implement state-of-the-art wireless charging systems. The solution also includes an application programming interface (API) that can be utilized to modify or adjust library functionality, allowing for the addition of custom application code and a highly tailored and differentiated end-product.
The chips cost between $1.75 and $2.50 each in 10,000 unit quantities. The evaluation boards cost between $138.00 and $189.00 in single unit quantities. All will be available in the first quarter of 2015.
Related links and articles:
IHS emerging power technology services
www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com
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