Introduction
Wireless technology is the use of non-cabling techniques to relay information. The use of wireless charging technology is not a very new idea in the field of technology. The wireless technology can be used for both short distance and long distance operations. It is commonly used in mobile phones, ipads and other portable media devices. This technology has developed in the recent past and is still in the process of developing further. Several improvements have been done to this technology in order to ensure increased functionality. Several opinions have been given regarding this technology as will be seen later in this study. Several scholars have been working to ensure the improvement of this technology and realize increased functionality.
Dave Kevins Odhiambo the Managing Director, Figitec International says that: Wireless charging is not new concept in the telecommunications industry and it has received many improvements in the recent past. It involves using electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two objects through a method called inductive charging. This method is very effective when a short distance is maintained between the charger and the item being charged. In order to achieve greater distance a charging system which uses resonant inductive coupling can be used to achieve this. In this technology, a charging station will send energy through a process called inductive coupling to an electrical device. The device will then store the energy in batteries. The inductive charging works best when there is a small distance between the two objects (the charging object and the one being charged) The Induction chargers uses induction coils to create an alternating electromagnetic filed in the charging base station and another induction coil in the portable device to be charged. In order to achieve greater distances, inductive charging system uses resonant inductive coupling. This type of technology has several advantages over the wired charging system. When using this technology there is a low risk of electric shock as there are no exposed conductors. The inductive charging can be used for charging electric vehicles and mobile devices. Using this technology makes it very easy and convenient to charge the devices. The main disadvantage with using this technology is that it has a lower efficiency and increased resistive heating as compared to the wired charging technology. However, there are newer approaches to using this type of technology where the transfer losses can be diminished with ultra thin coils which improves the efficiency of the charging system. The wireless charging system if improved further, it will give a boost to the telecommunication industry as mobile phones and laptops will be able to operate in a cordless charging environment hence enhance their mobility. Dave Kevins Odhiambo is an electronics engineer by profession with a work experience of 12 years in the field of electronics. He has carried extensive research on wireless application devices like mobile communication devices and most recently wireless charging devices.
Prince McLean in his opinion states that there is a Michigan company which has set its sights on promoting wireless power and further suggests that the technology could quickly find its way into such devices like the iPhone. According to McLean this technology is not a new idea as there are several electrical appliances that use this technology for charging. The only new thing about this technology is the development of standards that can be used for the wireless charging technology. The eCoupling technology which has some predefined standards can be used in this type of charging system. The main advantage of using the eCoupled technology is that it is simple and interoperable. However, this system is less efficient and can only supply electrical power. The inclusion of eCoupling technology in mobile devices can help in opening up the potential for wireless public recharging stations. When a person places an eCoupled gadget on an eCoupled-ready surface, the base of the eCoupled surface will be able to recognize the relationship that exists between the device and the base. The device will therefore be charged depending on its charging needs. The main advantage that exists in th use of induction technology is that it can transfer more power thus making it more convenient to be used for charging large items like the laptops. However, the main drawback involved in using this kind of technology is that power rolls off at a very small distance. This makes the technology a little bit more expensive as compared to other technologies with similar capabilities. Prince McLean has a Masters in Electrical Engineering and has been carrying out research in wireless charging devices for the last five years.
According to Mike Elgan, the use of wireless charging technology is advancing at a very fast pace. Initially on the toothbrushes used this technology but currently there is an increased number of electrical devices which uses this type of charging technology. This technology can be used for charging the mobile phones, iPod and even laptops. He explains how this type of charging technology functions without the use of any forma of direct contact. There are three basic types of technologies which are used in this case. They include: radio, resonance and induction. The radio charging technology can be best used for charging low power devices at long distances. It can go up to 30 feet. This type of charging technology is very common in trickle-charging advance RFID chips which are affixed to some items in a given environment like a supermarket or a warehouse. Resonance charging on the other hand is commonly used for charging robots or other electrical appliances which may require massive amount of power over small distances. There is an Apple patent which was submitted in 2005 which describes the technology which can be used for charging an iPhone or an iPod without making any form of any contact with the device being charged. This patent covers both the single coil and two-coli charging system which can be used for both charging and data transfer from one point to another. Mike Elgan is a technology writer and an editorial writer who has a wealth of experience in carrying out research in technology. He has a good background on electrical engineering and the numerous researches that he has carried out have put him at a better position in handling technology related cases.
Bgardiner gives his opinion on the use of the wireless charging technology. He states that the use of wired charging technology has been a reality for a very long period of time. However, the reality is slowly changing and different people are seeking alternative means for charging without using the wired technology which has several disadvantages and inconvenience as far as the charging technology is concerned. He states that using this technology is not only reliable but also very efficient and safe. The use of wireless charging technology removes the risk of any form of electrical shock as there is no direct contact with the conductor. This technology also removes the use of any form of wired technology. The wires are usually a nuisance especially in a congested environment. When one is using this technology he/she can easily move around the room without worrying about the cables. This technology is also very efficient as chances of open circuits are not likely to occur. The open circuits are common in wired technology whereby a conductor is cut thus deterring power from flowing through the charging system. When using this technology such cases are not likely to occur and people can charge their items without much worry. The future of this technology is bright as many companies are still in the process of investing more on this kind of technology so as to improve in its operations across the globe. The inductive technology uses the magnetic fields that are innate part of any current’s moving wire. When the current moves through the wire, a circular magnetic field is created around the wire. The magnetic field can be amplified by bending the wire into a coil. As one makes more loops, bigger fields will also be created. Once the charging device has been plugged into a mains socket, any device that is wireless enabled will be charged as long as it is in close proximity with the charging magnetic field. There is a new emerging technology called the wildcharger which is able to charge large devices like laptops and cell phone simultaneously. The technology used here is the same only that there is a relatively larger magnetic field which can be used for the charging purposes. Bgardiner has been doing research in the wireless charged UPSs and on the charging methods for the communication devices at the base stations. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic and Power System Engineering and is currently working on his Masters thesis which is about obtaining a wire-free base station for communication devices.
Dr. Edwin Ataro the Head of Electrical and Communications Engineering, Moi University states that gadgets are increasingly becoming more mobile and wireless. The trend of eliminating wires in our daily operations is on the rise with every company striving in order to achieve a much better functionality with cables completely eliminated. There is an estimated 230 million electronic devices with wireless charging which are likely to be in operation in the nest two years. Bradley discusses both the pros and cons of the wireless charging technology. The process of connecting your electronic device to the source of power by the use of a wire is a tedious job. There is need to have a situation whereby one can be able to charge a device without involving even a single piece of wire in the setup. Most sophisticated phones rely on the use of the wired technology to charge the devices. There are other options which are available for charging the devices but these options are only available to specific gadgets. They include” Energizer Qi. The Powermatt. Duracell MyGrid and HP Touchstone wireless charging base. It is very enjoyable and convenient to charge a phone without having it physically connected to the source of power. A single system for wireless charging can work for devices which are from different manufacturers and can also simultaneously charge several devices. One major drawback when using this technology according to Bradley is that you must have some access to the charging mat. There is need to have a standard wireless charging standard so that a person does not have to move around with his/her wireless charger. The wireless chargers should be made to conform to some specific standards which can enable people from different parts of the globe with different gadgets charge their items without having to worry on their functionalities. Dr. Edwin Ataro holds a PhD in Electronics Engineering and has an Academic work experience of 16 years carrying out research on optics and wireless chargers for different communications devices.
Maxwell Konguka who is the director of operations Figitec International on his account stated that as companies are struggling to get batteries with longer life, there is need for having a system that can charge the batteries without making any form of physical contact with the device. LG has announced that it will release a mobile charger that is capable of charging electronic devices without making any form of physical contact with the device being charged. Wireless Power Consortium is an organization that is aimed at creating a world whereby people can be interconnected without the use of any physical wire. The LG has produced a wireless charging pad that uses the inductive technology to charge appliances. He also ascertains that Ecoupling is a form of near field wireless energy transfer technology which was developed by Fulton Innovation. It provides for wireless transfer of energy through inductive coupling between a primary transmission coil and a secondary receiving coil. In ecoupling technology, a single primary coil can be used to provide power to multiple secondary coils at the same time. The ecoupling technology uses its data authentication capabilities to identify the compatible products which need to be charged. The ecoupling technology can provide power for both low power devices like mobile phones and devices that need to use more power like laptops and other power tools. Maxwell Konguka has a Masters in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Nairobi University. He is also in charge of the technical department at Figitec International where he has led a team of professionals in carrying out research on how to develop a wireless charged UPS. The project is still underway.
Conclusion
The wireless charging technology for the mobile devices is a very cool idea and has a very big potential. However at the moment it does not make life very convenient. This is because the user has to carry with him/her the right charging sleeve. Obtaining the right charging sleeve can be a very big hustle as they are not readily available. In some cases using the code free option adds the complexity of the charging system. Wireless charging standards need to be invented sooner than later so as to remove all these hurdles that hinder further development of the wireless charging technology. The use of wireless charging technology can be developed further once some standards have been put in place to monitor and control the process of wireless charging. The use of the wireless charging technology has not been very common in the recent past. This has been attributed to the fact that most of the available wireless charging technologies is very slow thus making the less popular. TI is promising 93% efficiency as compared to the AC charging which has been in use for the last few decades. There are improvements which are accompanying this technology and if developed further, it efficiency will be improved thus making life more interesting and convenient as far as the charging of mobile devices is concerned.
References
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Young Kyun Kim (2005) 4G Roadmap and Emerging Communication Technology
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CSI annual report 2010
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