Fulton Innovation’s Wireless Power on Display at CES

At the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Fulton Innovation revealed their latest wireless power capabilities. The demonstrations centered on their breakthroughs in wireless charging and power, including a tablet that is able to both send and receive wireless power.

The Michigan-based Fulton Innovation company has been working on this wireless power transfer technology, known as eCoupled, for nearly a decade and a half. This year’s CES was their first time to showcase their discoveries. Beyond this demonstration of the first two-way wireless power transfer device, they also displayed an interactive printed poster that allowed viewers to actually play the illustrated DJ console. Finally, they showed off a Nokia Lumia phone that can be charged simply by being inside a handbag.

Established in 2006, Fulton Innovation became the founding member of the Wireless Power Consortium and aims to provide further technological advancement to that developed by their parent company, Alticor Inc, in 1998. In 2007, eCoupled was branded to be the new-and-improved wireless power transfer technology. The technology is based on the near-field resonant magnetic induction principle, which says that electricity travels through magnetic fields rather than power cords.

A wireless power transfer is facilitated when the power supply and receiving coils are positioned in close proximity to each other in order to create a shared electromagnetic field. Claimed to be 98 percent efficient at optimizing power transfer, the eCoupled system has a built-in control that is able to continually monitor the flow and make sure that optimal efficiency and safety are achieved.

In addition, the new technology is able to adapt to more than one load, will automatically stop charging when a full battery is detected, can charge and/or power devices needing just a few milliwatts or several kilowatts, and lastly, will work over distances of up to several inches.

At the CES demonstration, the company demonstrated a tablet receiving a battery-top up from the wireless source, while also charging a QI-enabled cell phone on its back. This coupling of the tablet and smartphone can also be placed near the interactive poster, as previously mentioned, and receive wireless power that way. Moreover, by tapping on the speakers, turntable, or mixer on the printed poster, users can use the poster to play music.

Also on display was a recent Entertainment Weekly magazine to highlight an advanced wireless power circuitry enabling it to light up while on the self. If that were not enough, Fulton Innovation also showed a charging pad that is able to charge multiple Qi-compatible devices at the same time, while also identifying and adapting to their various power needs automatically.

There were many other examples of the future of wireless power on display at the Las Vegas Convention Center as well. In the Central Hall, booth #14446 demonstrated a set top box and TV that will turn off or on when the remote is moved from the box. Of course, the remote does not run on batteries but rather charges when it is put on the box. There were also wireless kitchen appliances that run on direct power and home furniture with the ability to charge any Qi-enabled devices.

Furthermore, a mockup car cockpit was displayed with interior surfaces able to produce a wireless power transfer. This would allow certain compatible tablets, phones, and media players to charge just by being placed on the dashboard, in the glove compartment, or on the console. (RP) Link