Texas Instruments (TI) said on Friday that it is expanding its wireless power efforts by joining the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP), and by pressing on with the development of its WPC Qi-compliant bqTESLA wireless power receiver and transmitter integrated circuits. The company will also create products that support the A4WP magnetic resonance specification, TI said.
"TI is actively bringing advanced wireless power capabilities to the market," said Sami Kiriaki, senior vice president of TI Power Management. "The WPC Qi specification is clearly the standard for wireless power today, and there is an emerging trend toward loosely coupled technologies – something both WPC and A4WP are exploring. We believe that working closely with both initiatives will help us continue to lead in wireless power."
A4WP is a group of electronic companies – including Samsung, Qualcomm and many others – focused on advancing the field of wireless power by delivering a specification that permits spatial freedom. Organized in April, this group released its first official A4WP specification based on loosely coupled magnetic resonance technology. This spec dictates how to simultaneously charge smartphones and other portable electronics with different power requirements.
"Wireless power is an emerging technology that creates a better charging experience for consumers, just as Wi-Fi replaced the need to use an Ethernet cable for Internet connectivity," the company stated on Friday. "TI's advanced receiver and transmitter integrated circuits, such as the recently announced bq51050B single-chip wireless power receiver with integrated charger and bq500410A 3-coil transmitter, are making wireless power a reality."
For more information about the company's wireless power efforts, and to request samples and bqTESLA development kits, head here.
