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Ready, Aim, Charge - Smartphones Go Wireless

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January 10, 2012

Ready, Aim, Charge - Smartphones Go Wireless

By Cheryl Kaften
TMCnet Contributor

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You would think that smartphones are so trendy and ubiquitous that they would no longer need “product plugs,” in any sense, but to date, they have relied on plug-in apparatus to recharge. However, now two U.S. companies are collaborating to embed wireless technology in smartphones enabling tether-free charging of the mobile devices for even more on-the-go convenience.


Fremont, California-based Leyden Energy, Inc., the leading manufacturer of advanced lithium-imide (Li-imideCommerce Township, Michigan-based Powermat Technologies, a market leader in wireless charging technology for smartphones and other consumer electronics, to develop high-density, heat-resilient Li-imide battery cells and packs with embedded wireless charging functionality that will provide consumers with a high quality mobile experience. ) batteries, has announced an agreement with

As part of the alliance, Leyden Energy will supply Powermat Technologies with a battery thin enough to embed Powermat Technologies’ wireless charging technology onto the battery cell itself without compromising the cell’s original battery capacity. Aside from its key advantage, the Leyden technology will provide a longer battery warranty, thanks to higher cycle and calendar life rating; and higher temperature resilience, stemming directly from the patented, thermally superior Li-imide chemistry platform, which Leyden says is the future of lithium-ion (Li-ion) power.

“Powermat Technologies was the first company to bring to market batteries for smartphones that incorporate wireless charging,” said Ran Poliakine, Powermat Technologies’ CEO. “Thanks to Leyden Energy’s higher volumetric and gravimetric energy density, wireless charging batteries can now have the same energy density as equivalently sized standard batteries.

The integration of embedded wireless charging functionality requires a thinner battery to allow space for the new technology layer that enables charging. Typically, using standard Li-ion batteries with their heat-sensitive LiPF6 (lithium hexafluorophosphate) electrolyte, this reduction in battery size would mean sacrificing battery capacity and compromising on charging speeds. But now, with its patented Li-imide chemistry platform, Leyden Energy can produce thinner batteries that deliver equal or higher energy density in a smaller volume than leading competitors’ batteries without sacrificing cycle life or calendar life.

“We are excited to partner with the industry leader to address the growing demand for wireless power,” said Leyden Energy CEO Aakar Patel. “Shaving close to a millimeter off the height of a typical legacy Li-ion cell to embed Powermat Technologies’ wireless charging solution and coil directly onto the battery cell would typically diminish battery run-time, but our patented Li-imide chemistry platform offers a compromise-free solution.”

In related news, just last week, Detroit-based automaker General Motors and Powermat Technologies announced a commercial agreement to eliminate the need for charging cords for personal electronic devices in many future Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac products—beginning mid-2012.

GM Ventures, the company’s venture capital subsidiary, will invest $5 million in Powermat to accelerate the technology’s development and support efforts to grow Powermat’s business globally.

The Chevrolet Volt, an electric vehicle conceived as a reinvention of the automobile that would help reduce America’s dependence on oi, while providing the assurance of an extended driving range, will be one of the first GM vehicles to offer this technology. The technology is expected to revolutionize how electronic devices are charged in a car.

“Imagine a mat or shelf where you could put your iPhone, your Droid or other personal device and charge it automatically while you commute to work, run errands, or as you’re driving on a family vacation,” said Micky Bly, GM’s lead electronics executive, with responsibility for infotainment, hybrids, and battery electric vehicles.

Powermat Technologies was established in 2006 in response to the explosion of electronic devices on the market and the growing need to provide a simple and clutter-free approach for powering devices. In September 2011, the company announced a joint venture with the Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble Company, to be known as Duracell Powermat. By combining P&G’s strong consumer understanding, brand-building and go-to- market capabilities with Powermat’s breakthrough technology, Duracell Powermat delivers an ecosystem of best-in-class wireless power solutions for retail customers.

As Powermat charges forward, the company continues to develop new solutions for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), together working toward a vision of a truly wireless world.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO East 2012, taking place Jan. 31-Feb. 3 2012, in Miami, FL. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. For more information on registering for ITEXPO registration click here.

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Cheryl Kaften is an accomplished communicator who has written for consumer and corporate audiences. She has worked extensively for MasterCard (News - Alert) Worldwide, Philip Morris USA (Altria), and KPMG, and has consulted for Estee Lauder and the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspapers. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Rich Steeves

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