Inductive charging is the latest technology in making things wireless, and helping the devices get charged wirelessly without having to use the charging cables. It is called as Qi (pronounced as chee), and this technology allows the charging of various gadgets like the smartphones, cameras, mp3 players etc. Just as the Bluetooth and Wifi are the wireless connectivity options, bluetooth helping in transfer of files and WiFi in wireless internet connection, the Qi would help in wireless charging of the devices.
This Qi is established by the Wireless Power Consortium and allows charging of the devices which requires 5W or less power. The major brands like RIM, Verizon, HTC, LG, Samsung, Sanyo, Panasonic, and Nokia are a member of the WPC, and now Energizer too is, with its inductive charging station and the external sleeves for the iPhone and Blackberry which make the device Qi-enabled with the integrated Qi technology in the sleeve.
LG just announced the first Qi enabled mobile phone, but still it would take time and till then the other brands like Energizer still gives you the experience of Qi inductive charging. iPhone and Blackberry Curve 8900 are not enabled, but the Wireless inductive charger and the sleeve make the wireless charging possible. The charging system consists of a flat station which is the base on which the mobiles have to be kept for the charging.
The Inductive charging –
For the iPhone, the Energizer inductive charger works when the sleeve is put on the iPhone, and the sleeve looks thick and solid, which even reduces the need to have a separate panel for your phone. The sleeve is of 2 pieces, and the lower one has the Qi-technology and a pin to enter into the charging point of iPhone. Both the iPhone 3G, and 3GS can be charged with the inductive charging station.
For the Blackberry Curve 8900, the charger works when the Blackberry device back panel is replaced with the Qi door, that lies on the back part of the phone, and it isn’t a complete sleeve like for the iPhone.
The large inductive charging station is made to charge 3 phones at a time by having 2 on the table and one using an extra USB connection, and due to the wireless technology, you don’t need to place on any exact location on the station. The inductive charger uses the electromagnetic fields to transfer energy from a charging pad to a compatible special receiver. Though being wireless doesn’t mean everything is wireless, as the phone charging. The charger station has 2 locations on it, which get activated when the any Qi-enabled device is placed in the vicinity of it on the station.
Once the device is placed on the charging station, the blue light on the station turns on, indicating the availability of the power for charging, and then the device would start getting charged instantly.
Following are the specifications of the charging station and the sleeves/doors for the phones –
The Qi inductive charging station –
- Width: 7.270″
- Thickness: 0.93″ at top, 0.39″ at bottom
- Length: 7.918″
- Weight: Pad – 0.80 lbs / AC-Adaptor 0.33 lbs
The Qi door for Blackberry Curve 8900 –
- Width: 2.292″
- Thickness: 0.310″
- Length: 3.644″
- Weight: 0.04 lbs
The Qi Sleeve for iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS
- Width: 2.664″
- Thickness: 0.697″
- Length: 5.060″
- Weight: 0.10 lbs
The Qi inductive charging is the next step in the wireless technology, and ahead of the wired charging, conductive charging and the non-Qi inductive charging. Just put the device on the station and forget connecting the device to any cables.
Unboxing Video :
What’s this note that you are showing passively in the 1st picture?
H HEALTH UPS
INDIA Adv
What’s that?
Its actually a reflection of some board, ignore that 🙂
Wow , this is really cool !!!!
Its cool technology and something new but I am think its much easier to just pin in the power plug to charge.. Lacks practical usability..
Practical usability? One plugpoint and charge multiple phones.. Check out Power Mat (http://www.powermat.com/) . looks cooler than this one 🙂
Thanks for sharing it with us.
Wow… this is so damn cool!!!