MediaTek will withdraw from AirFuel, the wireless charging alliance. Which other manufacturers are fighting?

According to Taiwanese media reports, MediaTek is reportedly planning to withdraw from the AirFuel Alliance (AFA), one of the two major wireless charging alliances, and will focus on the WPC Alliance, which is home to many heavyweight mobile phone brands such as Apple and Samsung.

Currently, the global wireless charging industry is divided into two major alliances: WPC (i.e. Qi certification) and irFuel (AFA). As WPC was introduced earlier and has lower costs and prices, the products on the market are still dominated by the WPC camp.

Because of its multi-mode product layout, MediaTek was a member of both camps in the past. Last year, it became a member of the WPC board of directors, the world's largest wireless charging organization, and obtained the right to formulate mainstream standards.

The AFA alliance has been in decline recently, with only MediaTek and its number one competitor Qualcomm remaining as major manufacturers. It is rumored in the market that MediaTek intends to withdraw from the AFA alliance and only retain its subsidiary Richtek's membership in the AFA. However, the AFA alliance is still trying hard to retain it.

Since MediaTek merged with Richtek, the two parties have been integrating their businesses and have finally decided to transfer the wireless charging business team, with Richtek representing the group in the wireless charging market. As Apple will introduce wireless charging in the upcoming iPhone 8, the specifications used tend to be mainly magnetic induction similar to Qi, and Richtek is currently focusing on developing WPC's Qi specifications.

Wireless charging IC manufacturers and their agents

Wireless charging is a high-barrier industry. Currently, the wireless charging industry chain involves companies such as wireless charging chips, module solution design, magnetic material coils, and antennas. From the perspective of the overall industry chain distribution, wireless charging is divided into the transmitter and the receiver, and the receiver can be divided into two major parts: chips and modules. At present, the price of the receiver module is around US$3-4.

Foreign companies that are good at coils include TDK, MURATA, Panasonic, etc. Representative domestic companies include Luxshare Precision, Xinwei Communication, etc.

Wireless charging chips include hardware, software, protocols and other power management systems required for wireless charging. However, due to high barriers, they are mainly controlled by foreign giants, such as IDT, TI, ST, ADI, Qualcomm, Broadcom, Toshiba, NXP/Freescale, ON Semiconductor, Maxim, Linear Technology, Fulton, Witricity, PowerbyProxi (Samsung investment), Energous, Delphi, Panasonic, Toshiba, Rohm, Fujitsu, Renesas, Ricoh, etc., and Taiwanese manufacturers such as Sunplus, MediaTek, Nuvoton, Richtek, Holtek, etc., as well as some domestic start-ups with early layout.

1. Dialog and Energous jointly launch WattUp RF wireless charging transmitter IC

Apple component suppliers Dialog Semiconductor and Energous have jointly launched a new wireless charging IC component called "DA4100 RF-Transmit". Developed based on Energous' WattUp wireless charging system, it is smaller in size at only 7mm x 7mm and cheaper in price. In the future, it may be built into Apple's next-generation iPhone, helping Apple introduce wireless charging technology into future iPhones and iPads.

According to Apple Insider, this wireless charging IC combines the ARM Cortex-M0+ core, RF radio frequency transmitter and power management functions. Due to its smaller size, it will be potentially attractive to manufacturers who want to continue to develop smaller and more powerful devices. Currently, Dialog and Energous have sent samples of this wireless charging IC chipset to customers, but it is still unclear when mass production will begin.

2. Toshiba 15W transmitter IC TC7718FTG

The new IC connects with a microcontroller to realize a wireless transmitter system that complies with the Qi standard. This standard is set by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Toshiba's original cutting-edge CD-0.13 process enables small packaging and high efficiency, simplifying system integration and making the transmitter system occupy a small space. A 15W wireless transmitter composed of this new IC will quickly charge devices at a charging rate equal to or faster than a wired charger. The new IC is suitable for a wide range of applications, including mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, as well as industrial equipment.

Wireless transmitters using the new IC will be compatible with 5W receiver systems using Toshiba's 5W receiver IC "TC7764WBG" and 10W receiver systems using Toshiba's 10W receiver IC "TC7765WBG10W", both of which are already in mass production. Combined with the Qi v1.2-compliant 15W wireless receiver control IC "TC7766WBG", the wireless system can receive up to 15W of power.

3. STMicroelectronics STWBC-WA charging transmitter controller

STMicroelectronics, a leading global semiconductor supplier, has launched a tiny wireless charging chipset that saves circuit board space, simplifies housing design and sealing, and shortens development cycles for ultra-compact wearable sports devices, fitness monitors, medical sensors and remote controls.

The STWBC-WA charging transmitter controller is combined with the STWLC04 wireless charging receiver. It uses a smaller coil than other wireless charging chipsets on the market. It uses only a 11mm diameter coil on the receiving end and a 20mm wire on the transmitting end. It can transmit up to 1W of power, making the appearance size of the application device smaller and thinner. If a large coil and a full-bridge circuit are used on the transmitting end, the power transmission capacity can be increased to 3W. Because the traditional charging interface is no longer required, wireless charging can simplify the housing design and sealing technology to prevent dust or water vapor from entering the machine.

This full-featured chipset supports wireless charging of Li-Ion or Li-Polymer batteries and includes safety features such as Foreign-Object Detection (FOD), active transmitter presence detection, and receiver overheat protection. The transmitter chip has a built-in driver, and the machine supports half-bridge and full-bridge topologies. The supporting firmware configuration is simple and optional, which facilitates customers to quickly develop overall solutions or customized applications. The receiver chip supports direct charging, which can reduce the size of the circuit board, and has a built-in 32-bit microcontroller core, a high-efficiency buck converter with synchronous rectification, and an internal driver.

4. TI BQ25892 Battery Charge Management IC

The BQ25892 is a highly integrated 5A switch-mode battery charge management and system power path management device for Li-Ion and Li-Polymer batteries. These devices support high input voltage fast charging. Its low impedance power path optimizes switch-mode operation efficiency, shortens battery charging time, and extends battery life during the discharge phase. The I2C serial interface with charging and system settings makes this device a truly flexible solution.

5. IDT P9038 sends, IDT P9025A receives

IDT wireless charging technology solution is a highly integrated, single-chip SOC solution that supports QILOGOWPC certification and is compatible with POWERMATE mode, with encrypted communication and foreign object detection mode functions. IDT is currently the only partner of Intel's entire platform wireless charging technology. Many manufacturers are now using IDT wireless charging solutions.

6. MediaTek (will launch AFA)

MediaTek showed off its multi-mode charging device at CES 2014. At the same event, they also showed off a new motherboard and coil design. The coil system included in the MT3188 can support both magnetic resonance and magnetic induction coil systems. Larger, more widely spaced coils surround the smaller tightly coupled coils set up in inductive charging phones.

Multi-mode charging device

Coil design of MediaTek's multi-mode charging device

7. Broadcom

Irvine Chip Company in California, USA, tested three different wireless chargers with a mobile phone at the 2014 CES. Broadcom created a lighting circuit with the BCM59350 receiver chip. This circuit is compatible with wireless charging standards such as PMA (300 kHz), A4WP (6.78 MHz) and Qi (200 kHz). When supporting different charging powers, the 10×10mm chip charges faster than a wall or USB charger. Broadcom's charging device also has built-in magnets to correct the correct position of the induction coil.

The charging device shown below can charge two phones at once. The magnetic induction phone is placed directly on the charging pad, and the magnetic resonance phone is placed on a table a few inches away to charge. This magnetic resonance standard charging technology allows the phone to be charged at a slightly farther distance because the receiver and transmitter coils do not need to be directly aligned.

Broadcom wireless charging demonstration

8. Qualcomm

Qualcomm demonstrated wireless charging technology on a 2014 Honda Accord electric car. The Halo wireless charging system comes from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. The system uses a charging box to drive a wireless charging pad on the ground. When it is aligned with the receiving end on the car, it can charge.

The total area of ​​the charge induced in the coil is a characteristic of the resonance technology

Qualcomm Halo Systems vice president of business development and marketing Dr. Thompson said, magnetic induction and magnetic resonance charging methods do not differ between vehicles. The coils on the floor mats are tightly coupled, and their double "D" orthogonal design allows energy to be transferred efficiently even if the mats are misaligned.

Halo system structure

Qualcomm offers 3.3Kw, 6.6Kw, and 20Kw charging pads. Officials say a 3.3Kw system takes about two hours to fully charge.

Before joining Qualcomm, Thompson tested his Halo technology at European bus stops with fixed charging stations along the way. Qualcomm has applied this idea to Formula E racing cars. Wireless charging has also been tested on BMW i8, BMW i3, and medical vehicles. Thompson said he hopes to allow racing cars to charge wirelessly in the pit lane or along specific lanes while driving on the track.

Domestic related companies in the wireless charging industry chain

Wireless charging chip/solution design ZTE

Wireless charging layout: As a pioneer in domestic wireless charging, it has launched a complete set of fully unattended automatic solutions, integrating wireless charging technology, APP payment, cloud management, automatic operation, remote monitoring and other fully automatic end-to-end solutions.

Zhonghui Innovation

Wireless charging layout: The company has fully mastered the magnetic induction and magnetic resonance wireless power supply technologies, and can realize static and dynamic wireless power supply methods.

Shenzhen Yichong Wireless Technology Co., Ltd.

Charging standards: WPC (Qi) and AirFuel

Wireless charging layout: The core members of the team have worked for internationally renowned companies in the industry and participated in the formulation of China's wireless charging standards, achieving compatibility, efficient transmission and green environmental protection of wireless charging standards. Currently, Yi Chong's wireless charging solution design has a multi-mode solution to achieve compatibility with WPC and AirFuel standards.

Xiamen New Page Microelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.

Charging standard: WPC (Qi)

Wireless charging layout: Focusing on the research and development and industrialization of wireless power supply technology, the company is committed to providing safe and convenient wireless power transmission technology for mobile phones and other consumer electronics, smart homes, smart medical care, industrial robots, electric vehicles, the Internet of Things, smart cities and other fields. More than 100 patents have been applied for and authorized in the field of wireless charging. The company has three wholly-owned subsidiaries: New Leaf Microelectronics - a wireless charging technology solution provider, whose wireless charging chips and electric vehicle wireless charging technology have reached the international advanced level; New Leaf Electric - focusing on the research and development and industrialization of wireless/wired smart charging technology for electric vehicles; Xiabu Commerce - a wireless charging consumer electronics trading platform.

Shenzhen Jinxin Microelectronics Co., Ltd.

Charging standard: WPC (Qi)

Wireless charging layout: Focusing on providing high-end chips and solutions in emerging fields such as wireless charging, wearable devices, health care, mobile terminals, etc., the company has strong technical accumulation and was the first in China to launch wireless charging chips that meet the Qi standard. Its products occupy a leading position in the market.

Shanghai Xinjie

Charging standard: WPC (Qi)

Wireless charging layout: A high-tech enterprise specializing in the development, production and sales of IC products related to wireless charging. Products include receiving end chips and transmitting end chips.

Chengdu Sipu Oting Technology Co., Ltd.

Wireless charging layout: Sino-foreign joint venture.

Shenzhen Huanxi Innovation Technology Co., Ltd.

Wireless charging layout: The receiving coil has a built-in TI chip.

Shenzhen Jinruijia Technology Co., Ltd.

Wireless charging layout: A high-tech enterprise specializing in single-chip microcomputer development, LED lighting driver, touch button, charger solution, small household appliance solution, USB peripheral product development, design and sales.

Siktech

Wireless charging layout: Wireless charging and wireless power supply are the company's research directions. The circuit is integrated into chips. Chips and wireless charging solutions are provided to the outside world.

Wireless Charging Coil/Antenna/Module Sunlord Electronics

Wireless charging layout: Wireless charging coil products have been put into mass production, and most of the customers are well-known domestic brands.

Shobe

Wireless charging layout: It is one of the earliest members to join the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Wireless charging transceivers and modules can be used in smartphones, wearable devices, and cars.

Dongguan Shijie Juyuan Electronic Products Factory

Shenzhen Weihang Magnetoelectric Technology Co., Ltd.

Wireless charging layout: wireless charging transmitter coil.

Module Luxshare Precision

Wireless charging layout: As a global leader in wireless charging technology, the company can provide a variety of magnetic wireless charging/NFC two-in-one solutions; wireless charging transmitter coils; wireless charging antenna technology research and development, supplying NFC wireless charging modules to Samsung; and the acquisition of Alexa and Xinwei Lanpei to increase investment in wireless charging and other businesses.

Ningbo Wei'e Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.

Wireless charging standard: Rezence standard

Wireless charging layout: Dedicated to the research and development of wireless charging technology, we can provide one-stop wireless charging solutions for enterprise customers.

Solution design/materials/antenna/module integration Xinwei Communication

Wireless charging layout: As a global leader in wireless charging technology, the company can provide a variety of magnetic wireless charging/NFC two-in-one solutions; research and development of wireless charging antenna technology, supplying NFC wireless charging modules to Samsung; and the acquisition of Alexa and Xinwei Lanpei to increase investment in wireless charging and other businesses.

Magnetic Materials Tiantong Shares

Wireless charging layout: As a leading company in the soft magnetic industry, it has entered the wireless charging field with soft magnetic materials as the entry point, including wireless charging transmitting and receiving coils.

Hengdian Dongci

Wireless charging layout: soft magnetic materials are supplied to Apple's iwatch products in the wireless charging field.

Shell material: Jinsheng Precision

Wireless charging layout: It has patents related to wireless charging structure and is developing wireless charging ceramic battery cover technology.

Testing and Certification Shenzhen Presaisi Testing Technology Co., Ltd.

Wireless charging layout: Prisus is a member of the World Wireless Charging Alliance (WPC) and one of the 14 WPC authorized testing centers worldwide. It can independently complete QI certification for wireless charging products.

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