ECoupled

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eCoupled is a proprietary near-field wireless energy transfer technology developed by Fulton Innovation, a division of Alticor. It provides wireless power transfer via inductive coupling between a primary transmission coil and a secondary receiving coil. A single primary coil can provide power to multiple secondary coils at the same time. [1]

Contents

eCoupled technology uses its wireless data transfer and authentication capabilities to automatically identify compatible products that need to be charged, the products' charge states, and the most efficient level at which to power the device(s) in question. [2] It also stops power transmission when the device with the receiving electricity is turned off or fully charged. [3] Power can be transferred at up to 98 percent efficiency. [4] eCoupled is designed to provide wireless power transfer for products ranging from low-power devices such as cell phones and media players [5] to laptop computers [6] and power tools. [7] Fulton Innovation has over 220 patents filed and pending on the eCoupled system. [8]

History

eCoupled technology is not the first system developed to transmit energy wirelessly. Transformers use inductively coupled circuits to transmit electrical energy. Energy transmission without wires was pioneered by researchers such as Nikola Tesla, Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, and Guglielmo Marconi.[ citation needed ]

eCoupled was developed by researchers at sister company Amway roughly ten years ago, [9] and first sold as part of Amway's eSpring water purification system in 2001. [10] Previously, the design team had experienced issues with the durability and corrosion of electrical connections inside the device. By replacing the wired power supply with an inductively coupled one, the eSpring design team was able to hermetically seal the electrical components, improve reliability, and simplify the overall product design. [11]

In 2008, it was announced that Fulton Innovation was forming the world's first Wireless Power Consortium with other companies such as Texas Instruments, Philips, and Sanyo to establish a global standard for wireless power delivery. [12]

See also

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Tesla coil Electrical resonant transformer circuit invented by Nikola Tesla

A Tesla coil is an electrical resonant transformer circuit designed by inventor Nikola Tesla in 1891. It is used to produce high-voltage, low-current, high frequency alternating-current electricity. Tesla experimented with a number of different configurations consisting of two, or sometimes three, coupled resonant electric circuits.

Inductive coupling

In electrical engineering, two conductors are said to be inductively coupled or magnetically coupled when they are configured such that a change in current through one wire induces a voltage across the ends of the other wire through electromagnetic induction. A changing current through the first wire creates a changing magnetic field around it by Ampere's circuital law. The changing magnetic field induces an electromotive force in the second wire by Faraday's law of induction. The amount of inductive coupling between two conductors is measured by their mutual inductance.

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Wireless power transfer transmission of electrical energy from a power source to an electrical load (electrical power grid or appliance) without the use of conductors (wires,cables); power transmission technologies (use time-varying electric,magnetic,electromagnetic fields)

Wireless power transfer (WPT), wireless power transmission, wireless energy transmission (WET), or electromagnetic power transfer is the transmission of electrical energy without wires as a physical link. In a wireless power transmission system, a transmitter device, driven by electric power from a power source, generates a time-varying electromagnetic field, which transmits power across space to a receiver device, which extracts power from the field and supplies it to an electrical load. The technology of wireless power transmission can eliminate the use of the wires and batteries, thus increasing the mobility, convenience, and safety of an electronic device for all users. Wireless power transfer is useful to power electrical devices where interconnecting wires are inconvenient, hazardous, or are not possible.

Spark-gap transmitter device

A spark-gap transmitter is an obsolete type of radio transmitter which generates radio waves by means of an electric spark. Spark-gap transmitters were the first type of radio transmitter, and were the main type used during the wireless telegraphy or "spark" era, the first three decades of radio, from 1887 to the end of World War I. German physicist Heinrich Hertz built the first experimental spark-gap transmitters in 1887, with which he proved the existence of radio waves and studied their properties.

Splashpower Ltd. was a United Kingdom-based company founded in June 2001. It had been attempting to develop technology for wireless charging of portable devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, mp3 players and cameras. Their system worked through electromagnetic induction, adding a free positioning induction loop to the conventional fix induction loop at the wallplug. According to the company's claims, rechargeable devices equipped with a small SplashModule were placed upon a mousepad-sized SplashPad and had their batteries recharged at a normal rate.

In electronics and telecommunication, coupling is the desirable or undesirable transfer of energy from one medium, such as a metallic wire or an optical fiber, to another medium.

Inductive charging Type of wireless power transfer

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Home energy monitor

A home energy monitor provides feedback on electrical energy use. Devices may also display cost of energy used, and estimates of greenhouse gas emissions. Various studies have shown a reduction in home energy use of 4-15% through use of home energy display.

Resonant inductive coupling

Resonant inductive coupling or magnetic phase synchronous coupling is a phenomenon with inductive coupling where the coupling becomes stronger when the "secondary" (load-bearing) side of the loosely coupled coil resonates. A resonant transformer of this type is often used in analog circuitry as a bandpass filter. Resonant inductive coupling is also used in wireless power systems for portable computers, phones, and vehicles. WiTricity type magnetic resonance coupling systems add another set of resonant coils on the "primary" side which pair with the coils on the secondary side.

The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) is a multinational technology consortium formed in December 17, 2008 and based in Piscataway, New Jersey. Its mission is to create and promote wide market adoption of its interface standards Qi, Ki Cordless Kitchen, and Qi Medium Power for inductive charging. It is an open membership of Asian, European, and American companies, working toward the global standardization of wireless charging technology.

Online electric vehicle Type of electric vehicle

An online electric vehicle(OLEV) is an electric vehicle that charges wirelessly while moving using electromagnetic induction. It functions by using a segmented "recharging" road that induces a current in "pick-up" modules on the vehicle.

Qi (standard) Open inductive charging interface standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium

Qi is an open interface standard that defines wireless power transfer using inductive charging over distances of up to 4 cm, developed by the Wireless Power Consortium. The system uses a charging pad and a compatible device, which is placed on top of the pad, charging via resonant inductive coupling.

Powermat Technologies Ltd. is a developer of wireless power solutions for consumers, OEM and public places. The company licenses IP, sells charging spots to public venues and the software to support their maintenance, management and consumer interaction. The company's inductive charging technology has been adopted by the Power Matters Alliance (PMA) and is the platform adopted by Duracell, General Motors, Starbucks and AT&T.

Power Matters Alliance organization

Power Matters Alliance (PMA) was a global, not-for-profit, industry organization whose mission was to advance a suite of standards and protocols for wireless power transfer for mobile electronic devices. The organization was merged with Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) in 2015 to form AirFuel Allliance.

Conductive wireless charging or simply conductive charging uses conductive power transfer to eliminate wires between the charger and the charging device. It requires the use of a charging board as the power transmitter to deliver the power, and a charging device, with a built-in receiver, to receive the power. Once the charging board recognizes the valid receiver, the charging begins.

AirPower (charging mat) Wireless Charger by Apple

AirPower is an unreleased wireless charging mat developed by Apple Inc. It was designed to charge up to three Qi devices, such as an iPhone and AirPods, and an Apple Watch simultaneously. It was announced on September 12, 2017. Originally planned to be released in early 2018, AirPower failed to materialize, leading to wide speculation over the product's future, until Apple announced on March 29, 2019 it had cancelled the release.

References

  1. ↑ Harris, Daniel (September 13, 2007). "Charge Your Gadgets Without Plugging Them In". Electronic Design. Archived from the original on November 1, 2009. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  2. ↑ Berger, Adam (December 28, 2006). "What the Future Holds: eCoupled wireless electricity will soon charge your gadgets". Gadgetell. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  3. ↑ Izzett, Connor (May 2008). "Mobile Workspace Increases with eCoupled Technology". Word Truck Online. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  4. ↑ Sapru, Vishal (November 28, 2007). "Movers and Shakers Interview Fulton Innovation LLC". Frost & Sullivan. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  5. ↑ Gingichashvili, Sarah (January 29, 2008). "eCoupled's Wireless Power". The Future of Things. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  6. ↑ Ulanoff, Lance (January 5, 2007). "Startup Jump-Starts Wireless Power". PC Magazine. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  7. ↑ "eCoupled FAQ - Leggett & Platt CVP". Leggett & Platt Incorporated. Archived from the original on November 19, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  8. ↑ Knape, Chris (April 6, 2008). "Alticor subsidiary Fulton Innovations develops wireless charging systems". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  9. ↑ "eSpring" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  10. ↑ Sapru, Vishal (November 28, 2007). "Movers and Shakers Interview Fulton Innovation LLC". Frost & Sullivan. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  11. ↑ Sapru, Vishal (November 28, 2007). "Movers and Shakers Interview Fulton Innovation LLC". Frost & Sullivan. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  12. ↑ Sayer, Peter (December 19, 2008). "Wireless Power Consortium to Unleash Electronic Gadgets". PC World. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
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