Wireless Charging to Transform the Future Society: C2000 MCU and KNOWMAX Technology Meeting Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) Requirements

Chris Clearman, WW Motor Control Solutions Manager



Wireless power transfer (WPT) generally refers to technology that transmits power without wires to recharge batteries.

Although Nikola Tesla first proposed the concept of WPT and foreshadowed the era of wireless communication, it was only in recent times with the smartphone era that this function of charging batteries without physical connections has been widely adopted.

Wireless power transfer technology is rapidly being adopted across diverse fields including industrial, medical, consumer, and automotive applications.

In particular, as application autonomy increases, the advantages of convenience and robustness offered by wireless charging have become more prominent. Since no plugs or special connectors are required and there are no contact points susceptible to failure, products can be completely sealed, offering environmental advantages. As applications dependent on mobility increase, WPT technology continues to expand.

KNOWMAX, a Taiwan-based wireless power solution specialist, uses TI's C2000 real-time microcontroller (MCU), Piccolo™ F2803x, along with its own proprietary technology to provide customized software, firmware, and hardware solutions to customers. These solutions are primarily integrated into end applications such as transmitters for large charging stations in power banks and receivers inside tablets.

At higher power levels, wireless power solutions are expected to be used in robots, industrial utilities, warehouse vehicles, electric vehicles, large vehicles, and construction vehicles. As Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) continues to develop and grow, increasing numbers of devices will integrate wireless power functionality.

According to IHS Insights, the IoT environment is expected to comprise approximately 75 billion connected objects by 2025.

From simple low-power inductive types used in personal electronic devices to complex high-power resonant types for dynamic and autonomous applications, WPT systems, driven by the vision to make battery-powered applications easier and more robust, are expected to proliferate more broadly.

In high-power applications where efficiency is more critical, the C2000 MCU provides differentiated capabilities for enterprises like KNOWMAX in signal sensing, processing, flexible high-resolution PWM control, and system protection mechanisms for high-frequency inverters.

While opportunities for developers worldwide to develop WPT applications remain limited, the IIoT field is expected to continue experiencing unprecedented exponential growth, heralding the advent of a wireless era.

Tank Huang of KNOWMAX Technology stated, "TI's C2000 MCU provides the flexibility required to implement systems that meet various market demands, as well as high-resolution pulse width modulation (PWM) capable of precisely controlling power stages," and added, "We are making large-scale software investments in devices including proprietary technology for WPT."

KNOWMAX Technology is a company focused on 15W wireless power solutions, having invested substantial research and development in developing its proprietary 15W solution.

While low-cost 5-10W wireless power products are widely available in the market, there are very few products that can actually support both 15W wireless power transmission technology such as the C2000 MCU and 15W wireless power receivers.

KNOWMAX also provides technology to integrate solutions with the receiver's battery, enabling customers to allocate more time to enhancing their own products, and technology that allows easier integration of additional functionality when using KNOWMAX products compared to fixed-function modules.

Assuming a KNOWMAX customer manufactures a 150W charging station capable of simultaneously charging up to 10 devices, KNOWMAX develops customized solutions through close cooperation with customers and provides support to pass FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certifications.