WPC 1.1-compliant power controller simplifies development of Qi charging stations
The bq500212A transmitter, which is shipping in volume production, requires one-third fewer components than competitive solutions. The circuit allows designers to quickly take to market Qi-compliant wireless charge pads or stations that can operate from a USB port or 5-V power adapter.
With more Qi charging stations available in the marketplace, consumers of Qi-enabled smartphones, smartwatches and many other ‘enclosed’ portable consumer electronics will be able to keep their batteries charged longer. Products like the Kickstarter-born AGENT Smartwatch are using TI’s bqTESLA wireless power products, including the bq500212A and a bq51050B receiver, to ensure wireless power capability.
“AGENT Smartwatches need to be water resistant, and consumers shouldn’t need to worry about plugging their watches into a charging adapter day after day,” said Chris Walker, founder of Secret Labs. “TI’s wireless power products give our customers the ability to simply set their AGENT Smartwatch on the included Qi charging pad (or any other Qi-compliant charging pad) from time to time to keep the battery topped off. No wires, no hassle.”
The bq500212A needs five components, including two new CSD97376 Power Stage integrated circuits; while other products may require up to 15 devices.
TI’s Dynamic Power Limit technology enables the transmitter to work from either a USB port or low-power adapter. The device’s standby mode ensures <100 mW of standby power with no receiver on the pad and <50 mW once the receiver has finished charging.
The hybrid capacitor scheme reduces system bill of materials cost by using a combination of X7R and COG capacitors instead of only relying on COG capacitors.
Foreign Object Detection, as mandated by the WPC1.1 specification, comes standard on the bq500212A, which features an improved algorithm with greater accuracy of error sensing.
TI’s bq5101x integrated receivers provide a regulated DC output and digital-control feedback to the transmitter, while TI’s bq500xx family of wireless power transmitters efficiently manages the power transfer to the receiver.
Availability and Pricing
The new bq500212A wireless power transmitter comes in a 48-pin, 7-mm by 7-mm QFN package with a suggested resale price of $2.78 each in 1,000-unit quantities. The bq500212A is available in volume production through TI and its worldwide network of authorized distributors.
More information about the bq500212A development kit at
www.ti.com/bq500212a-pr-eu
