The Charging Tech Uniting Apple, Samsung and Other Phonemakers | WSJ Tech Behind
TLDRThe video explores the technology behind wireless charging, which unites major phone manufacturers like Apple and Samsung. It explains how electromagnetic induction is used to transfer power from a transmitter to a receiver, similar to induction cooking but with a communication channel for smart device interaction. The challenge was to make this process safe for smartphones, avoiding heat generation that could be dangerous. The Qi standard, released in 2010, addressed this by allowing the transmitter and receiver to communicate over the power signal, adjusting power or shutting off if discrepancies are detected. The Wireless Power Consortium, with over 350 companies, works on technology to standardize wireless charging for mobile devices. Qi2, the latest update, is based on Apple's MagSafe design, using magnets for precise coil alignment to increase efficiency and speed up charging. The technology is also being adapted for kitchen appliances through the Ki standard, which can handle higher power levels. The goal is to make wireless charging as ubiquitous as Wi-Fi, with products expected to hit the market around 2025.
Takeaways
- 🔋 **Wireless Charging Technology**: Wireless chargers use electromagnetic induction to transfer power from a transmitter to a receiver, similar to induction cooking but with added communication for smart charging.
- ⚙️ **Safety Measures**: Safety is paramount in wireless charging to prevent power from escaping as heat, which could be dangerous. The technology must ensure that no heat is generated that could harm the device or its surroundings.
- 📱 **Smartphone Charging**: The process involves electricity being converted into a magnetic field by a coil in the charging pad, which then induces a current in the coil of the phone to charge the battery.
- 🔍 **Foreign Object Detection**: A significant challenge in early wireless charging was avoiding overheating of foreign objects placed on the charging pad by mistake. This was addressed through communication between the transmitter and receiver to detect discrepancies in power transfer.
- 📐 **Alignment and Efficiency**: Proper alignment of the charging pad and phone is crucial for efficient power transfer. Qi2, an update to the Qi standard, uses magnets to ensure precise alignment, increasing efficiency and charging speed.
- 📈 **Power Levels and Standards**: The Qi standard, released in 2010, allows for safe wireless charging. It is now evolving to Qi2, which works at higher wattages (up to 15 watts currently) and is designed to adapt for even faster charging in the future.
- 🔩 **Compatibility and Infrastructure**: Qi2 brings Apple and other smartphones under a universal charging standard, encouraging the deployment of compatible accessories and public charging infrastructure.
- 🔥 **Heat Issues**: One of the historical problems with wireless charging was the generation of heat. The Qi standard includes rigorous testing for overheating and voltage issues to ensure safe operation.
- 📘 **Certification and Safety**: Products certified for Qi or Qi2 are tested to work safely with other certified products, providing assurance to consumers and manufacturers.
- 🏗️ **Beyond Smartphones**: The Wireless Power Consortium is expanding the application of wireless charging technology to other areas, such as kitchen appliances through the Ki standard.
- ⏱️ **Future Outlook**: The technology is expected to become more widespread, with the potential for wireless charging to be as ubiquitous as Wi-Fi, thanks to advancements like Qi2.
- 🌐 **Ki Standard**: A new standard called Ki is being developed for high-power applications, such as kitchen appliances, with products expected to hit the market around 2025.
Q & A
What is the primary technology used in wireless charging?
-The primary technology used in wireless charging is electromagnetic induction, which is the same technology used in induction cooking but with an added communication channel to make the devices smart.
How does the wireless charging process work?
-In wireless charging, electricity from a power source is converted into a magnetic field by a coil in the charging pad. This magnetic field induces a current in the coil within the phone, which then converts it back into electricity to charge the battery.
What was one of the main challenges engineers faced when developing wireless charging technology?
-One of the main challenges was to avoid heating up objects placed on the charger by mistake. Engineers had to find a way to prevent foreign objects, like a paperclip, from overheating and potentially causing damage to the phone or its surroundings.
How was the issue of foreign object detection solved in wireless charging?
-The solution involves the transmitter and receiver communicating over the power signal. If there's a discrepancy between the power sent and received, the charger either reduces the power or shuts off entirely.
What is the Qi standard and when was it first released?
-The Qi standard is a wireless charging standard that was released for the first time in 2010. It ensures that devices can communicate effectively and safely during the charging process.
Who is the Wireless Power Consortium and what is their role?
-The Wireless Power Consortium is a group of about 350 companies that work on technologies to standardize the way all smartphones and other mobile electronic devices charge wirelessly. They also certify that products brought to market are safe and compatible.
What is the difference between Qi and Qi2 standards?
-Qi2 is an update to the original Qi standard and is based on Apple's proprietary MagSafe design. It uses magnets to ensure the transmitter and receiver coils align precisely, increasing efficiency and allowing for faster charging. Qi2 currently works at 15 watts but is designed to adapt to higher wattages in the future.
Why is wireless charging taking longer to charge devices compared to wired charging?
-Wireless charging can take longer because even fast wireless chargers often take twice as long as wired ones due to the efficiency of energy transfer. Users may also struggle with aligning their devices correctly on the charging pad, which can affect charging speed.
What is the potential impact of Qi2 on the wireless charging ecosystem?
-Qi2 brings Apple and other smartphones to the same universal charging standard, enabling a universe of widely compatible accessories and public chargers. This gives companies confidence to deploy infrastructure, leading to a significant growth in wireless charging deployment and usage.
What is the new standard called Ki and what is its purpose?
-Ki is a new standard being developed by the Wireless Power Consortium to remove cords from kitchen appliances. It deals with high power levels, up to 2.2 kilowatts, and aims to provide direct power transfer to appliances like kettles, making them more convenient and safer to use.
When is the Ki standard expected to be launched and when can we expect to see products on the market?
-The Ki standard is expected to launch late this year, with products likely appearing on the market starting around 2025.
What is the ultimate goal for wireless charging technology according to the Wireless Power Consortium?
-The ultimate goal is for wireless charging to deliver more ubiquity, similar to how Wi-Fi is taken for granted today as being available anywhere and everywhere. The hope is that Qi2 will enable this kind of widespread availability and convenience.
Outlines
🔌 Understanding Wireless Charging Technology
This paragraph introduces the fundamental components and principles of wireless charging. It explains how wireless chargers use electromagnetic induction to transfer power from a transmitter to a receiver, similar to induction cooking but with added communication for smart device interaction. The narrator highlights the safety measures necessary to prevent power leakage as heat and the evolution of wireless charging from a 1996 prototype to modern smartphones. The process involves electricity being converted into a magnetic field by a coil in the charging pad, which then induces a current in the phone's coil to charge the battery. Early challenges included avoiding overheating of foreign objects mistakenly placed on the charger, which was addressed by the development of foreign object detection and communication between the transmitter and receiver. The Qi standard, released in 2010, was a significant milestone in wireless charging, ensuring safety and interoperability among devices. The Qi2 update, based on Apple's MagSafe design, improves charging efficiency and speed by aligning the transmitter and receiver coils with magnets, and it's designed to adapt to higher wattages for future faster charging.
📡 Expanding Wireless Charging Applications
The second paragraph discusses the expansion of wireless charging technology beyond smartphones. It introduces the Ki standard, aimed at eliminating cords from kitchen appliances by adapting the same wireless charging technology used in induction cooktops. The narrator demonstrates the use of a wireless kettle, highlighting the direct power transfer of 2.2 kilowatts and the cool surface of the appliance, which prevents heat buildup. While the technology may not be immediately available for home use, the Ki standard is set to launch late in the year, with market-ready products expected around 2025. The paragraph concludes with optimism for the future ubiquity of wireless charging, drawing a parallel with the widespread adoption of Wi-Fi and expressing hope that Qi2 will become as essential and universally available.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Electromagnetic Induction
💡Safety Measures
💡Foreign Object Detection
💡Qi Standard
💡Wireless Power Consortium (WPC)
💡Qi2
💡Alignment
💡Efficiency
💡Universal Charging Standard
💡Ki Standard
💡Ubiquity
Highlights
Wireless chargers use electromagnetic induction to transfer power from a transmitter to a receiver.
The technology behind wireless charging is similar to induction cooking with an added communication channel for smart device interaction.
Safety measures are crucial to prevent power from escaping as heat, which could be dangerous.
A 1996 prototype phone could charge wirelessly, showcasing early innovation in the field.
Wireless charging involves converting electricity into a magnetic field, which is then converted back to electricity in the phone.
Engineers had to solve the challenge of avoiding heat generation from mistakenly placed objects on the charging pad.
The Qi standard, released in 2010, includes a solution for foreign object detection to enhance safety.
Vuori, chair of the Qi ecosystem group, emphasizes the importance of standardizing wireless charging technologies across devices.
Qi certification ensures products are safe and compatible with other certified devices.
The basic technology of wireless charging relies on physics, specifically the behavior of electromagnetic fields.
Nokia's Lumia 920 was the first major smartphone to feature Qi charging.
Wireless charging can be slower than wired charging, but advancements are being made to improve efficiency.
Qi2, an update based on Apple's MagSafe design, uses magnets to align coils for faster and more efficient charging.
Qi2 is designed to adapt to higher wattages for future faster charging capabilities.
The Qi2 standard brings Apple and other smartphones under a universal charging standard, promoting compatibility and infrastructure growth.
The Wireless Power Consortium is also developing the Ki standard for wireless charging of kitchen appliances, starting at 2.2 kilowatts.
Ki products are expected to appear on the market around 2025, further expanding the use of wireless charging technology.
The goal for wireless charging is to achieve ubiquity similar to Wi-Fi, being available everywhere without a second thought.