STMicroelectronics has announced a chip that could change everything in the wireless charging market. This energy receiver indeed rises to a power of 100 W, the highest in the industry at present in this sector.
We recently talked about it on Clubic for its French and Italian factory projects, but STMicroelectronics is impressing this winter for another reason. Specializing in semiconductors, the Franco-Italian group announced its STWLC99 at the end of November. This wireless energy receiver could give rise to a nice leap forward in the inductive charging market.
High power and low price
As reported DefiningElectronics, this new generation chip is quite simply, to date, the wireless energy receiver with the highest power available: 100 watts. Theoretically, it should therefore offer particularly fast wireless charging, among the fastest on the market.
Also according to the British site, this chip would thus allow high-end smartphones, equipped with the largest battery capacities currently, to fill up with energy in less than half an hour of induction charging. If the promises are kept, we could therefore end up with truly fast, more efficient, potentially more popular wireless charging technologies, and above all capable of matching certain wired fast charging systems. The objective of STMicroelectronics would also be to extend 100 W wireless charging to various sectors, ranging from consumer electronics to industrial devices, including medical accessories.
Remember, however, that in terms of fast charging, several manufacturers are now going very far, with wired charging powers generously exceeding the 100 W mark. Among them, OPPO and its super fast 240 W “SuperVooc” charging. Presented at MWC 2022 earlier this year, this technology allows, at least on paper, to fully recharge the 4,500 mAh of a smartphone battery in just 9 minutes on mains.
Let’s also keep in mind that some Chinese brands, including Honor and Xiaomi, have already been offering wireless chargers capable of going up to 100 W for a few months, but under certain conditions (a minimum 135 W charger is for example required at Honor ) and not continuously throughout the charge.
A solution with multiple fields of application
” Today’s phones are essential to digital life and are a central business tool for many. The significantly faster charging of our STWLC99 increases their availability and adds value to users’ lives commented Francesco Italia, Managing Director at STMicroelectronics.
” Its unprecedented power is also changing the outlook for equipment such as battery-powered industrial tools, medical monitors, drug pumps, mobile robots and drones, enabling longer run times and turnaround times. faster “, he continues.
Now in production, STMicroelectronics’ STWLC99 chip is priced at $2.50. An affordable price that should, at least we hope, encourage its adoption by the big names in tech.
Source : DefiningElectronics
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