editor's blog
Subscribe Now

Wireless Phone Charging Without the Extra Antennas

Antenna_pic.jpgAbout a year ago, when we were in the wake of numerous wireless power announcements, we discussed a technology called “Cota” from a company called Ossia. The idea was of using very high frequency charging – 2.4 GHz – at low power to keep a constant trickle charge going at distances up to around 30 feet (10 meters) or so.  Effectively, the charger sends out RF signals and the phone harvests them. Meaning that your phone could charge unbeknownst to you while still in your pocket – no need to take it out and put it on some pad.

But of course, there’s always a “but.” And, in this case, it was the antenna: as in, you needed one for this. Actually, you needed more than one, since they use a phased approach. In addition to the antennas that are already in your phone. A clear real-estate challenge.

Well, this year, they just announced that they can now leverage the existing WiFi and Bluetooth antennas that are already in the phone. There are some required circuit and firmware changes, but they claim no additional components. In fact, they say that this approach can actually save space: in a world with lots of Cota chargers, you could make do with a smaller battery, since it would be frequently topped up as you moved around town.

You can learn more in their announcement.

Leave a Reply

featured blogs
Sep 28, 2023
See how we set (and meet) our GHG emission reduction goals with the help of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as we expand our sustainable energy use.The post Synopsys Smart Future: Our Climate Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions appeared first on Chip Des...
Sep 21, 2023
Not knowing all the stuff I don't know didn't come easy. I've had to read a lot of books to get where I am....

featured video

TDK PowerHap Piezo Actuators for Ideal Haptic Feedback

Sponsored by TDK

The PowerHap product line features high acceleration and large forces in a very compact design, coupled with a short response time. TDK’s piezo actuators also offers good sensing functionality by using the inverse piezo effect. Typical applications for the include automotive displays, smartphones and tablet.

Click here for more information about PowerHap Piezo Actuators

featured chalk talk

Non-Magnetic Interconnects
Sponsored by Mouser Electronics and Samtec
Magnets and magnetic fields can cause big problems in medical, scientific, industrial, space, and quantum computing applications but using a non-magnetic connector can help solve these issues. In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton and John Riley from Samtec discuss the construction of non-magnetic connectors and how you could use non-magnetic connectors in your next design.
May 3, 2023
18,858 views