How Wireless Charging Works Wireless charging is immediately appealing because it allows you to charge your smartphone without fiddling with USB plugs. Just place the smartphone on a wireless charger and it will start charging. Of course, the wireless charger itself must still be plugged into the wall. The requirement for a separate device that must be plugged into the wall has led Apple’s Phil Schiller to argue that wireless charging “is actually, for most situations, more complicated” — which is why the iPhone hasn’t adopted wireless charging. Wireless charging is more accurately described as “inductive charging” because it uses magnetic induction. The short explanation is that it uses magnetism to transmit energy. The current coming from the wall power outlet moves through the wire in the wireless charger, creating a magnetic field. The magnetic field creates a current in the coil inside the device. This coil is connected to the battery and the current charges the battery. Devices must have the appropriate hardware in them to support wireless charging — a device without the appropriate coil can’t charge wirelessly. We’re focusing on smartphones here, but you may already use a device with wireless charging. If you have an electric toothbrush, there’s a good chance it uses wireless charging technology — otherwise there would be a risk of electrical shock considering how wet the toothbrush and its charger could be.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:04:39 +0000