Dialog Makes Additional Investment in Wireless Charging Company Energous

Dialog Semiconductor plugged an additional $15 million into RF wireless charging company Energous and will continue as the exclusive component supplier of Energous' WattUp technology, the companies said in a Thursday announcement. Energous will continue to have access to Dialog's sales and distribution channels, they said. Dialog made its first investment in Energous, for $10 million, in November. Energous’ WattUp technology uses Dialog’s SmartBond Bluetooth low energy technology as the out-of-band communications channel between the wireless transmitter and receiver. Dialog’s power management technology distributes power from the receiver IC to the device, and its power conversion technology delivers power to the wireless transmitter. Mark Tyndall, Dialog’s senior vice president-corporate development, cited in a statement “large demand for completely untethered wireless charging, as more consumer electronics manufacturers seek to add new capabilities to their devices to differentiate themselves.” Energous shares closed up 6.9 percent Thursday to $16.45.