Powermat Launches 'Hybrid' Wireless Power for Small Devices

Powermat bowed a hybrid wireless power solution that's based on magnetic induction, but allows a “broader scope of capabilities" than traditional Qi charging products, it said Tuesday. The hybrid wireless receiver, based on Powermat SmartInductive technology, falls “between inductive wireless charging and resonance,” which the company said delivers more power, more freedom of positioning, longer ranges between wireless power transmitters and receivers, and lower implementation costs. Powermat PMT 100 is targeted to medical, smart home and lifestyle devices, including fitness trackers and sensors, the company said. The PMT 100 receiver is designed for small form factor IoT devices for wireless power and charging, and it supports battery charging functionality and smart battery interfaces, it said. The technology doesn’t use a receiver microcontroller and has “minimal peripheral components,” Powermat said, enabling it to be used for the design of very small portable products. It can cut overall wireless power implementation costs by up to 50%, the company said. Maximum power output is given as 40 watts. It supports Litz wire or a printed circuit board coil and foreign object detection and is compatible with Powermat transmitters. The company didn’t respond to questions. Powermat recently announced a $25 million Series B round led by Hudson Sustainable Group and Foxconn Interconnect Technology.