28th December 2017

FCC approves wireless charging at a distance

A new wireless, power-at-a-distance charging technology has been approved in the United States for the first time.

This week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted certification to Energous, a California-based firm, for its "WattUp" Mid Field transmitter. This new technology can send focused, radio frequency (RF)-based power to devices at a distance. As the first FCC certification for power-at-a-distance wireless charging under Part 18 of the FCC's rules, this development represents a new generation of wireless charging and opens up major opportunities for the electronics industry. It paves the way to wireless charging ubiquity for nearly any small electronic device in the near future – including smartphones, tablets, fitness trackers, smart watches, earbuds, wireless keyboards and mice, smart speakers and more.

The WattUp Mid Field transmitter can beam power to WattUp-enabled electronic devices at a distance of up to three feet (one metre). As the only technology that can do both contact-based and non-contact-based wireless charging – as well as charge multiple devices at once – WattUp is highly scalable and will automatically charge devices, as needed, until they are topped off. While older charging systems allow for only contact-based charging, Energous is the only company to achieve Wireless Charging 2.0 to-date, which is the ability to charge devices both at contact (including fast charging large battery devices such as smartphones and tablets), as well as power-at-a-distance. Similar to WiFi, the WattUp ecosystem ensures interoperability between receivers and transmitters, regardless of manufacturer, making it flexible and accessible for consumers and business partners.

"Older wireless charging technologies have received limited adoption over the past 15 years, and are confined to contact-based charging only," said Stephen Rizzone, president of Energous. "The FCC certification of Energous' power-at-a-distance wireless charging transmitter is a major market milestone. It opens up options, outside of just contact-based charging, to Wireless Charging 2.0: an ecosystem where devices can be charged both via pad and at a distance. Untethered, wire-free charging – such as charging a fitness band even while wearing it – is exactly what consumers have been waiting for. We are now in a position to move our consumer electronics, IoT and smart home customers forward at an accelerated pace."

"WattUp represents an incredibly positive lifestyle change," said Martin Cooper, Energous Board of Directors member and widely considered to be the 'Father of the Cell Phone', a pioneer and visionary of the wireless industry. "This ground-breaking technology allows users to automatically charge their WattUp-enabled devices without having to remove them from their wrist or pocket, plug them in or place them on a mat to charge, freeing them from ever having to think about charging their devices again."

Energous will continue to develop its technology – increasing the power, distance, efficiency and scale, with applications that could include integration into the bezel of computer monitors, TVs, smart lighting, speakers and other electronics in homes, offices and more. In addition to its Mid Field transmitter, the company is developing a Far Field transmitter with longer range of 15 ft (4.5 metres). Energous will be demonstrating its very latest WattUp technology at CES 2018, the world's largest consumer electronics show, from 9–12 January 2018 in Las Vegas.

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