Wireless charger with 3-feet range gets certified

Wireless charging is still in its infancy and, if I had to choose between wired and wireless, I would choose the old method that I've known since forever without blinking. After all, the wireless chargers on the market nowadays require that you place the device very close to them or in contact, so the only noticeable difference is that you do not have to connect your phone to anything. Since the charging port or the cable end up damaged quite often, wireless charging only needs two more attributes to become attractive to most users: a decent range and the ability to charge multiple devices at once.

Energous Corporation has just certified a technology that allows them to charge multiple devices at a range of up to 3 feet. According to the official description, the Energous Mid Field WattUp transmitter can be embedded in other devices such as monitors, but it can also be manufactured as a standalone accessory. Its highlights include the following:

• software control for multiple devices charging with authorization and prioritization capabilities
• support for contact-based and non-contact based wireless charging
• compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, wearables, smart speakers, wireless keyboards and mice, earbuds, and more

According to the official press release, the Energous WattUp Mid Field transmitter is the industry's first wireless charger that operates under Part 18 of the FCC's rules to be certified. These rules allow for higher-power operations than the Part 15 rules that have been used to certify wireless chargers until now.

Energous also detailed the Far Field WattUp reference design that would provide an increased amount of power and a better range. However, this has not been certified by the FCC yet. The company will show the new technology next month in Las Vegas at the CES 2018 trade show.