Researchers develop wireless battery charging system

A system developed by researchers at the University of Washinton, Seattle, allows wireless charging of batteries through the air from a distance of up to 28 feet.

The new wireless charging system is called 'power over Wi-Fi' (PoWi-Fi) system.

The researchers demonstrated the PoWi-Fi system and showed how Wi-Fi signals could be used for broadcasting power to remote devices.

With Wi-Fi radio broadcasts comprising a type of energy capable of being picked up by an antenna, the Wi-Fi receivers designed by researchers harvested the information carried over by these broadcasts.

One of the researchers, Vamsi Talla said the PoWi-Fi system comprised only two components --- custom-built sensors, and an access point (a router).

Talla explained that the sensors chiefly harvested RF (radio frequency) power and converted it into DC power.

Regarding the access point, he said, the access point, was where the researchers actually developed a custom solution, a software modification that would enable the access point to act both as a good power delivery source and, at the same time as a good Wi-Fi router.

The researchers said, the access point (a router) was capable of achieving 'power over Wi-Fi' in such a way that it could work with pre-existing hardware, and did not cause any interference to the users' internet connection.