30 June 2016

EPC launches wireless multi-mode demo system compatible with all wireless power charging standards

Efficient Power Conversion Corp (EPC) of El Segundo, CA, USA, which makes enhancement-mode gallium nitride on silicon (eGaN) power field-effect transistors (FETs) for power management applications, has announced the availability of a complete demonstration multi-mode wireless power charging kit.

EPC says that the superior characteristics of eGaN FETs and ICs enable a lower-cost single transmit amplifier solution that can wirelessly charge devices regardless of the standard used in the receiving device. The purpose of the EPC9121 demonstration system is hence to simplify the evaluation process of using eGaN FETs and ICs for highly efficient multi-mode wireless power charging systems that can cut across any standard used in the receiving units.

Wireless power has arrived, but along with its emergence are two industry standards to which end-products are being built – the Wireless Power Consortium (Qi) standard and the AirFuel Alliance standard – based on two different technologies for accomplishing wireless power charging. The Qi standard, based on inductive coupling technology, uses a low-frequency (<300kHz) approach, whereas the AirFuel standard uses a magnetic resonant technology and has both low-frequency (100kHz through 315kHz) and high-frequency (6.78MHz) requirements.

There is therefore a need for a multi-mode solution, with a single transmitter that can power a receiver built using either standard. The EPC9121 is claimed to be the first implementation of a single-amplifier multi-mode solution. GaN enables high efficiency for both low- and high-frequency modes, plus the solution also saves space and lowers cost, adds the firm.

The 10W EPC9121 demonstration system has four components:

• A multi-mode-capable EPC9511 source (transmitter or power amplifier) board specifically designed to be compatible with all the wireless standards. It can operate at either high or low frequency.
• A multi-mode source coil (transmit coil) compatible with both the AirFuel Class 2 standard and Qi (A6)/PMA standards.
• An AirFuel-compatible Category 3 AirFuel device coil (receive coil) with rectifier and DC output.
• A Wireless Power Consortium (Qi)- and Power Matters Alliance (now AirFuel)-compatible device coil (receive coil) with rectifier and DC output.

The EPC9121 demonstration kit hence contains all the components needed to demonstrate and evaluate multi-standard wireless power charging.

The EPC9121 wireless power charging demonstration system is priced at $907.20 and is available via distributor Digi-Key.

Tags: EPC E-mode GaN FETs GaN-on-Si

Visit: www.epc-co.com

Visit: http://www.digikey.com/Suppliers/us/Efficient-Power-Conversion.page?lang=en