RRC power solutions Inc., a worldwide leader in high-quality power supplies, chargers, and battery packs, announce availability of evaluation kits of its high-efficiency wireless power technology. RRC’s wireless technology is aimed at original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) making portable products for medical, military, instrumentation and industrial markets, in addition to consumer markets.
“Many wireless charging solutions are designed for low-wattage consumer devices such as cell phones, while RRC’s approach also addresses important and promising industrial markets where devices range up to 500 watts,” says Paul Cahill, president of RRC power solutions Inc. “Unlike approaches that waste significant power when not actively charging, RRC’s technology is able to maintain high efficiency during both active and passive modes.”
RRC has developed two wireless power platforms for OEMs. One platform is targeted at custom designs with higher wattage requirements (5W to 500W) and delivering high efficiency, exceeding 90%. This RRC platform will be fully compliant with worldwide energy efficiency standards such as Energy Star.
The second platform, which the evaluation kits are based on, focuses on compliance with the Wireless Power Consortium’s 5W “Qi” (pronounced “chee”) standard and is aimed at lower-wattage devices.
“Wireless charging is an extremely attractive technology, eliminating cables and tangled cords, offering a green solution and simplifying the end-user interface. We expect the market for wireless charging in consumer applications to grow from 2.3 million units in 2010 to 464 million units in 2014, and we also predict healthy growth for wireless charging in OEM markets in the industrial, medical and military sectors," notes Tina Teng, senior analyst, Wireless Communications, iSuppli.
Wireless Charging Drives New, High-Potential Markets
RRC’s wireless charging evaluation kit announced today is designed for wireless devices that operate at up to 5W. The current evaluation kit represents the fifth generation of RRC’s wireless power technology.
Both the Qi-compliant 5W and the high-efficiency, higher-wattage platforms of RRC’s technology are expected to help OEMs expand the use of wireless power in medical, military, instrumentation and industrial markets concerned about recharging issues such as safety, the ability to operate in a hazardous environment and ruggedness. Wireless power eliminates the need for connectors and connections during charging, so mobile devices can be sealed to protect internal electronics from sparks, dirt or liquid contamination.
RRC’s Wireless Power: Higher Wattage, Efficiency, Wireless Adoption
RRC’s new wireless power solutions build on more than two decades of research, development and technological leadership from the company, which prides itself on its German engineering heritage. The benefits include:
- Focus on wattage levels between 5W and 500W, which is the ideal range for OEMs designing wireless devices for medical, instrumentation, military and industrial applications.
- Efficiency greater than 90%, due to RRC’s ability to achieve efficiencies in active and passive modes.
- A simplified interface that makes it easier for OEMs to design RRC’s wireless power technology into a variety of formats (e.g., charging docks, cradles, pads).
- Cost-efficient, digitally controlled design that helps limit part count.
- Price and availability
RRC’s wireless evaluation kits will be available to OEMs at the end of March in sample quantities for $299, plus shipping. The evaluation kit contents include:
- Primary PCB with coil (5W) mounted on a plastic plate with an integrated power supply connector.
- Secondary PCB with coil (5W) mounted on a plastic plate.
- Descriptions of the measuring points, as well as instructions on how to remove the coil and circuitry from the plastic plate to integrate the electronics into a device.
- Wall plug power supply with country-specific plugs for the U.S., Europe and the U.K.
- Directions for use and details on coil sizes and requirements included in the manual in English, German and Japanese.
About RRC Power Solutions Inc
RRC power solutions Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of RRC power solutions GmbH, a worldwide technology leader in high-quality power supplies, battery charging and battery packs for mobile applications. Maintaining its technological edge through continued investment in research and development, RRC develops and supplies solutions that are incorporated by global manufacturers into products such as handheld instruments, medical devices, mobile military equipment and notebook computers.
Founded in 1989, RRC power solutions has its corporate headquarters and R&D center in Homburg, Germany, with branch offices and production plants in Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Paris and Shenzhen. RRC is certified according to ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 13485:2007 manufacturing standards.
For more information, please visit www.rrc-wireless-power.com.