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.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — June 2016 — Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC) today announces the availability of a complete demonstration multi-mode wireless power charging kit, the EPC9121. The purpose of this demonstration kit is 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.

Two Standards, One Solution

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. These two standards are based upon two different technologies for accomplishing wireless power charging. The Qi standard, based on inductive coupling technology, uses a low frequency (<300 kHz) approach, whereas the AirFuel standard uses a magnetic resonant technology and has both low frequency (100 kHz through 315 kHz) and high frequency (6.78 MHz) requirements.

Thus the need for a multi-mode solution, one with a single transmitter that can power a receiver built using either standard. The EPC9121 is the first implementation of a single amplifier multi-mode solution. GaN enables high efficiency for both low and high frequency modes. In addition, this solution saves space and lowers cost.

The 10 W 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.

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

Price and Availability

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

About EPC

EPC is the leader in enhancement mode gallium nitride based power management devices. EPC was the first to introduce enhancement-mode gallium-nitride-on-silicon (eGaN) FETs as power MOSFET replacements in applications such as DC-DC converters,