John Laposky On Jan 28 2013 - 1:00am

Wireless Charging Without Contact

LAS VEGAS — The Alliance For Wireless Power (A4WP) demonstrated its initial flexible charging working spec to reporters at a breakfast at International CES earlier this month. The group — made up of 30 member companies, including Samsung, Qualcomm, Powermat and Texas Instruments — showed off charging surfaces that transfer power from a distance of up to 30mm through materials such as tabletops or car consoles. The spec allows charging of multiple devices simultaneously without physical contact to the charging surface. The A4WP has established a certification working committee and a branding committee. A competing spatial wireless charging technology, from WiTricity and Alps Electric, was also demonstrated at CES, in a suite at the Venetian.