Pi Charger Uses Qi Standard to Extend Wireless Charging Reach Beyond Current Mats

With the launch of the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, Apple added inductive wireless charging support to its mobile devices for the first time. While the feature brought Apple's phones up to speed with existing Qi-compatible charging standards, the announcement fell short of some expectations that this year Apple would introduce technology allowing iPhones to be powered wirelessly at a distance, rather than having to use a charging mat.

However, Pi is a California-based startup that aims to break from that limitation with the Pi Charger – a cone-shaped tabletop device that combines Qi-based resonant induction with a special beam-forming algorithm that allows it to charge multiple devices within about a foot in any direction.

Pi charger
The Pi might not reach the distances claimed by Energous' WattUp technology, which uses radio frequencies to charge devices from up to 15 feet away, but it does offer more flexibility than existing pads that devices must be directly placed upon.

In a demo at TechCrunch's Disrupt event, the company showed that up to four Qi-compatible devices can be placed within a foot of a Pi and they will start charging. Devices can be located anywhere within a 12-inch sphere of influence around the charging hub and in different orientations. The closer the device to the Pi, the faster it charges, with a gradual drop-off in charging speed the further away the phone is.

"Magnetic fields are the best way to send meaningful energy to phones, tablets, and other portable electronics," said Lixin Shi, Pi's CTO and co-founder. "The hard part was figuring out how to make magnetic charging more flexible, multi-device, and extend its useful range. It took us over a year to complete the mathematical proof that makes it all possible."

The team behind Pi said they've yet to settle on an exact price for the charger, but they expect it to ship for under $200 sometime in 2018. As for Apple, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest it has partnered with Energous to work on bringing a truly wire-free, over-the-air charging technology to its consumer devices, but we'll likely have to wait for at least another year to see the possible fruits of those labors.

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Top Rated Comments

PortableLover Avatar
102 months ago
Now this is a step in the right direction.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Naaaaak Avatar
102 months ago
Not a single mention of health risks... that's reassuring.
We'll find out it somehow causes cancer in 20 years.

After congressional testimony from expert witnesses saying it doesn't.

After countless articles assuring us it's "safe".

Only admitted once a bunch of people are affected.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
trifid Avatar
102 months ago
Not a single mention of health risks... that's reassuring.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
borgqueenx Avatar
102 months ago
And suited for current iphone 8's and x's! This is awesome tech and hope to see this become a reality!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Born Again Avatar
102 months ago
One wonders if this will effect sperm count.

Are there any studies on this BruckU?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JaySoul Avatar
102 months ago
1) There really seems like other problems in the world vastly more important than this

2) Cancer cancer cancer cancer cancer
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)