Freescale Semiconductor on Wednesday made available several new wireless charging controllers to partners, including solutions aimed at automotive applications and consumer devices.
The chip maker is emphasizing the customizable features of its new wireless charging integrated circuits (ICs) and is shipping reference designs for devices to hardware partners along with the chips themselves.
“Current solutions in the market offer very little customization or flexibility. Freescale’s programmable wireless charging solutions offer groundbreaking design flexibility, combining silicon and software to give systems designers advanced technology to help redefine mobility,” Denis Cabrol, director of global marketing and business development for Freescale’s MCU group, said in a statement.
Freescale’s new entry-level MWCT1001A IC is a “cost-effective, multi-coil wireless charging transmit solution” designed for automobiles, the company said. The premium MWCT1003A, also designed for vehicles, adds the ability for Freescale partners to integrate support for Near Field Communication (NFC), multi-standard support, and CAN technology into their products.
Both auto-focused wireless charging ICs “meet AEC-Q100 requirements and support any 5W coil topology,” according to Freescale. The two chipsets feature a Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) Qi-certified transmit controller IC.
“The programming interface allows systems designers to address critical, auto-specific issues such as avoiding key fob and car radio interference,” the company said of the MWCT1001A and MWCT1003A.
Meanwhile, Freescale’s new MWCT1000 is another Qi-certified transmit controller IC aimed at wireless charging devices for the home and other fixed locations. Described as a “turnkey solution” by the company, the MWCT1000 is a low-cost variant designed for 5W single-coil applications, while the MWCT1101 wireless charging controller allows for more design possibilities and technology integration in final products.
Freescale tipped the MWCT1000 and MWCT1101 as ICs that will underpin wireless charging systems in “offices, hotels, airports, and other public spaces,” as well for home use.
