What is Wireless Charging?

Mobile phones have evolved in many different ways over the years, but battery life wasn't able to keep up. It's nearly impossible to go through an entire day without charging smartphones, and the thought of a dead battery in an emergency situation is hard to handle. As a precaution, consumers keep chargers at home, at work and even in their cars. However, new technologies show that, pretty soon, we may not need to do it anymore.

It's hard to imagine a world with no wires, but recent technologies show this idea is slowly becoming a reality. In coffeehouses nationwide, with a smartphone that supports wireless charging, it's already possible to place your phone over a table and simply wait for it to charge. All there is left to do is enjoy a cup of coffee while waiting.

How does it work?

Wireless charging, also known as inductive charging, uses magnetism to transmit energy. Energy is transmitted through proximity using the principle of magnetic induction, which creates current using magnetic fields.

Smartphones that support this technology have a coil inside them, which is sensitive to the field created by the charging station. Therefore, when the device is placed over the charging mat, the field creates a current in its coil, allowing the battery to be recharged.

Some may say this is not really wireless charging, since the charging mats need to be plugged into the wall and the mobile phone needs to be over the charger. That's true, and that's why some companies are working on other methods to further develop this idea.

The future of wireless charging

Some manufacturers have much bigger plans for the future of wireless charging, and different technologies are already being development, aiming to make it possible to charge cameras, ultrabooks, home appliances and even cars in upcoming years.

One of these technologies claims it'll be able to charge multiple gadgets simultaneously in the near future. In this scenario, a house could have one wireless charger and it would automatically charge all the devices in that house by using a radio spectrum, regardless of rooms and walls. It would be just like getting the Wi-Fi signal we are used to today, but getting power instead.

It'll certainly take time before true wireless charging is available for all kinds of gadgets, but with recent developments it's relatively safe to say regular chargers and wires' days are numbered. Talk to companies such as Barry Allen Electrical Services to learn more.