Wireless Electricity Delivered Over Distance

WiT-2000

The WiT-2000 Kit enables users to evaluate, demonstrate, and develop applications for WiTricity's patented (US 7,825,543 & US 7,741,734) and patent pending technology for wireless energy transfer. The modules can be configured by the user to provide wireless charging and battery free direct powering of devices when used within the range of the WiTricity energy source. Included with the kit are resonating repeater pads which allow energy "hopping" and further increase the range of wireless energy transfer. The kit also demonstrates WiTricity's unmatched ability to transfer energy without requiring precise alignment or close proximity, thereby providing great application flexibility to the developer.

The WiT-2000 empowers users to apply the kit to a variety of applications. Information to support the developer includes the instruction manual, circuit schematics, PCB layout details (Gerber Files), and PADS layout files for the WiTricity source, capture, and repeater circuit boards. Also included are the Bills of Materials including Approved Vendor List (AVL) for source, device, repeater boards, mechanical CAD files, and online support.

The Developer's Kit

The WiT-2000 Developer's Kit provides a complete set of energy source and capture modules that can be integrated with a wide variety of user supplied electronic devices. These modules are provided in enclosures to facilitate rapid prototyping and demonstration. The kit also provides documentation that enables the user to modify the basic WiTricity reference designs, evaluate bills of material costs, and manufacture additional samples for internal development purposes. Additional board level and packaged modules are available for purchase from WiTricity.

The Demonstration Kit

The WiT-2000 Demonstration Kit provides a complete set of energy source and capture modules that can be integrated with a wide variety of user supplied electronic devices. These modules are provided in enclosures to facilitate rapid prototyping and demonstration.

Energy transfer over distance and through many materials

The WiT-2000 Kit components are designed to transfer energy over distances ranging from less than a centimeter (directly on the surface of the charging pad) to distances totaling several tens of cm. The WiT-2000 technology is based on fixed-tuned source architecture. This means that the charging pad is optimized to transfer energy at maximum efficiency at a pre-determined distance. The charging pad is optimized for transferring energy over a distance of from 15-30 cm directly to the LED light or over even longer distances via a resonant repeater (see below), and it can also transfer energy to devices placed directly on the pad. The ability to transfer energy over distance means that the pad can be hidden from view behind a wall, or under a table top, and still provide useful levels of power to devices placed on or near the work surface. The system can efficiently transfer energy through non-conductive materials, such as wood, plastic, glass, concrete, fabric, wall board, water, oil, and even human or animal tissue.

Commercial use and sale of products based on WiTricity technology requires an IP license from WiTricity, or the purchase of licensed production level modules from WiTricity or other authorized resellers and component manufacturers. Please contact WiTricity sales for further information regarding licensing and purchase of production volumes of components.

WiTricity technology

WiTricity technology transfers energy by harnessing the power of highly resonant magnetic coupling. The WiTricity wireless energy source converts a DC input voltage to a 250 kHz AC signal. The AC signal is used to energize the WiTricity High Q resonator, which creates a 250 kHz oscillating magnetic field around the resonator. When a WiTricity High Q capture resonator is brought within range of the source, the resonators couple and the oscillating source magnetic field induces electrical current to flow in the capture resonator. This alternating current is rectified (converted to DC), regulated to a specific DC voltage, and output to an external load. "High Q" refers to the Quality Factor of the resonators, WiTricity technology that is essential for efficient energy transfer over distance.

Energy "hopping" increases range

The distance over which energy can transferred can be extended through the use of WiTricity High-Q resonant repeaters. A High-Q resonating repeater is a tuned resonant coil that can be packaged as a very thin and flexible substrate. It is not connected by wire to an energy source; instead, it enables the magnetic field created by the WiTricity source resonator to "hop" over a distance from the source to a capture device. This patented technology is an extremely effective method of extending the distance range of a wireless energy transfer system. Such resonant repeaters have been deployed in single unit configurations, placed on or integrated into a piece of furniture, and in multiple unit configurations, deployed in building materials such as carpeting, floor tiles, or wall panels--to extend energy transfer distance range over an entire room.

Simplified charging pad architecture

The WiTricity source resonator is constructed using a single large High Q coil wound near the perimeter of the pad. A single power amplifier inside the source is used to excite the source resonator. Multiple High Q capture devices can couple to this single source resonator, enabling multi-device charging at minimum cost. In contrast, first generation inductive charging solutions require precise alignment of the source and capture devices, often relying on permanent magnets or other mechanical methods to fixture the capture device in place. The WiTricity architecture therefore has compelling cost and performance advantages over multi device charging pads built using traditional inductive coupling. It avoids the cost and complexity of moving parts and redundant coils and amplifier circuits, resulting in a more reliable and lower cost design.

Please contact us to discuss possible applications.

The WiT-2000 enables users to evaluate and apply WiTricity's technology for wireless energy transfer.

Download data sheet (pdf).