New Industry Products

TI Unveils Qi 1.1-Compliant Transmitter with Foreign-Object Detection

January 20, 2014 by Jeff Shepard

Texas Instruments, Inc. (TI) today introduced its next-generation wireless power transfer circuit with foreign object detection that will allow designers to bring to market 3-coil, 5-V and 12-V A6 charging stations compliant with the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) 1.1 specification. The bq500412 controller, which is shipping in volume production, requires half the components compared to other solutions. Giving smartphone users an improved charging experience, the bq500412 integrates all functions required to control wireless power delivery from the charging station to a receiver circuit used in a Qi-enabled smartphone or other device.

In addition to 12-V charging pads, the circuit can be combined with a boost converter to create a 3-coil, 5-V USB charging pad, while taking advantage of a Dynamic Power Limitâ„¢ feature to ensure quality operation independent of the power capability of the port. The bq500412 also supports an enhanced foreign object detection scheme, which makes it easier for all designers to implement the requirements of the WPC1.1 specification.

Features and benefits of bq500412 include: Complete WPC 1.1 Qi-compliant design for 12-V, A6 charging stations with a minimum 70-mm by 20-mm, the bq500412 needs minimal components, including a CSD97374 power stage integrated circuit. Foreign object detection, as mandated by the WPC1.1 specification, comes standard on the controller, which features an improved algorithm with greater accuracy of error sensing. And TI’s Dynamic Power Limit technology allows the transmitter to work from either a USB port or low-power adapter.

The new bq500412 wireless power transmitter, which is available in volume production through TI and its worldwide network of authorized distributors, comes in a 48-pin, 7-mm by 7-mm QFN package with a suggested resale price of US$2.93 each in 1,000-unit quantities.