The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology sought comment Tuesday on a waiver request by Auspion for a system that transmits wireless power over distance. The technology uses the 24 GHz industrial, scientific and medical band “to provide power to, and/or charge, receivers located at various distances from the transmitter,” OET said. Auspion says it plans to market its system “exclusively for industrial, retail and enterprise applications, such as charging industrial robots, warehouse-based drones, and smartphones in conference rooms,” OET said. Comments are due April 25, replies May 10, in docket 19-83.

Apple followers picked up the scent of the company’s dormant AirPower wireless charging pad (see 1710060023) this week, as rumors swirled about the mat’s impending release in a staggered spring hardware rollout. Apple announced an iPad refresh Monday (see 1903180027) and updated AirPods Wednesday. Thursday, Apple watcher MacRumors spied what appeared to be a new image of an AirPower positioned with an iPhone XS and the wireless charging case for the second-generation AirPods, after Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal report that Apple finally approved production of the wireless charging accessory. Apple first teased AirPower during the September 2017 iPhone 8 launch event. MacRumors used source code from the AirPods page of Apple’s website in Australia that showed “more evidence” Apple plans to release the wireless charging mat "at some point." The updated AirPods page was intended to showcase the new optional wireless charging case on a charging mat, “but Apple never ended up featuring the image publicly,” said the publication, which found it “hidden within a CSS stylesheet.” Apple didn’t comment.

Energous’ prospects for generating meaningful revenue from deliverables for its wireless charging technology took another hit in Q4 due to customers’ decisions to extend review processes, said CEO Steve Rizzone on a Wednesday earnings call. Rizzone had referred on previous calls to a “large engineering services payment” in conjunction with delivery of the first iteration of a system Energous had been developing to spec for a "key strategic partner," but it couldn’t invoice for delivery due to the customer's decision to extend the review and acceptance cycle. “We have no guarantee that they will integrate this technology at all, even though the relationship continues to move forward,” Rizzone said. A second CE company planned a Q2 2019 product launch, which would have “triggered a meaningful order” in Q4 for manufacturing ramps that didn't occur. That customer is refining its specs to improve its product's user experience and competitive position, said Rizzone, saying Energous expects a Q2 chip order. The company announced Wednesday a direct securities offering of $25 million, less $1.7 million in expenses, to finance working capital and other general and administrative purposes. The company’s Q4 revenue was $56,000; net loss was $12.5 million, it said. Shares plunged 24 percent Wednesday at $6.21. Rizzone highlighted positive news -- availability of the Oasis-RC personal sound amplification product from Delight and vivo’s Mobile World Congress announcement (see 1902250053) it plans to incorporate Energous’ distance charging in a future smartphone. More negative news came from the regulatory front where approvals for wireless charging distance technology in Asia “are extending out.” Rizzone has expressed hope that FCC approval in December 2017 (see 1712270024) would be a model for regulators in Japan, Korea and China, but those countries chose to do their own studies along the same lines as the FCC approval process, he said Wednesday. At CES last month, Energous demonstrated its wireless charging technology in prototypes from Vuzix, Qubercomm, IDT, Austar and Deutsche Telekom.

Wireless charging company Ossia worries about the impact of the government shutdown and its ability to secure timely FCC approval for its RF-based technology, an executive told us at CES Thursday in Las Vegas. Ossia announced a phone sleeve at the show combining Qi and RF wireless-charging-at-a-distance technology under its Cota brand. It showed a 2.4-GHz solution and is working on a 5.6-GHz version that could charge at distances up to 30 feet, both of which are awaiting FCC approval, said Chief Technology Officer Hatem Zeine. “We are working with the FCC very closely." With the shutdown, "we’re sort of waiting for things to happen, but we anticipate that this year will be the year that the FCC starts moving stuff.” Ossia announced at CES it's working with accessory maker Spigen on a charging case, which Zeine expects to reach the market in 2020. Ripple effects from the lengthening government closure could “stymie new product launches and even foil coveted Super Bowl advertising slots” for technology companies planning to begin marketing devices that haven’t received final approval through the FCC, warned Ronald Quirk, a Marashlian & Donahue attorney, in Law 360. A key FCC database is offline as part of the shutdown, meaning certification bodies authorized to work with product developers and labs can’t extend final authorization to new electronics (see 1901110017). Quirk cited a Tuesday tweet from FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel (see 1901080023): “The agency certifies every innovative mobile phone, television, and computer that emits radio frequency before they can head to market," said Rosenworcel. "Guess what is not happening during the shutdown?” Friday, she expanded on that as she sought the shutdown's end.

Wireless charging company Energous announced the first WattUp-enabled customer product to receive FCC approval for marketing and sale in the U.S. The company first said it planned to develop reference designs for embedded WattUp charging capabilities in SK Telesys products for the Asian and global markets in 2014. SK Telesys showed a personal sound amplification product (PSAP) and smart ID card using WattUp technology at CES 2017 (see 1701040018). Energous CEO Stephen Rizzone called the FCC’s approval of the PSAP, from SK Telesys partner Delight, a positive announcement for the company because it means the first WattUp-enabled consumer product moving into full commercial production “with anticipated availability in Q1.” Rizzone acknowledged multiple delays for the product, maintaining the “customer funnel is robust” for CE products in “growing vertical markets” for full production in 2019. PSAPs, used to assist with hearing loss, are available without a prescription and tend to cost less than hearing aids, said Energous. WattUp wireless charging technology allows users to recharge the Delight PSAP by placing it on the included WattUp charging pad. Energous is also working on over-the-air charging, but no products have been announced.

Energous announced a receiver chip Tuesday targeted to earbuds, hearing aids and wearables. The DA2223, a four-port RF-to-DC wireless power chip, can be delivered in a single integrated circuit coupled with a matching circuit made from two discrete components and a 2mm x 3mm antenna, making it applicable for small electronic devices "where a coil-based wireless charging system is not practical,” said the company. The chip is produced by Dialog Semiconductor, which has a stake in the wireless charging company.

Baker Bellfield, a U.K. solutions provider for the rail industry, launched a wireless charging system for smartphones using Qi-based Aircharge technology, said the companies Wednesday. On-train wireless charging will debut on refurbished and reconfigured South Western Railway first-class cars as a complimentary service. The chargers work with more than 130 Qi-certified smartphones, including iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models, said the companies. The inductive wireless charging units are the first to be manufactured specifically for the railroad industry and meet required industry standards, they said. The Baker Bellfield chargers can be surface or sub-surface-mounted into tables, seat-back tables, window panels, grab rails and side ceiling panels and are expected to be designed into other rail vehicles in the future.

Infrared-based wireless charging company Wi-Charge announced a kit for a wired Amazon Echo Dot or Google Home Mini smart speaker. The kit “transforms” the miniature smart speakers into “completely wire-free devices” that don’t have to be tethered to a power cord, said the company Friday. Included are a wireless charger and wireless power receiver modules; data sheets and reference design schematics; direct access to Wi-Charge engineers for help and best-practice sharing; assistance with obtaining required safety certifications; and no-cost upgrades with the option of replacing modules with future hardware versions, said the company.

Energous will demonstrate its WattUp wireless charging technology at the Telekom Design Gallery during Deutsche Telekom’s Trend Team event Tuesday at the telecom company’s Bonn, Germany, headquarters, said Energous Monday. Stefan Kohn, vice president of the Design Gallery, which showcases technology products and solutions, said “true wireless charging would fundamentally change the customer experience for mobile devices, as dead batteries are one of the biggest customer frustrations today.”

Powercast started shipping its PowerSpot wireless-charging transmitter, calling it the industry’s first “far field” product of its kind to charge multiple devices over the air at distances up to 80 feet. Powercast also is launching a development kit to help manufacturers design PowerSpot-based wireless charging “ecosystems,” said the company Tuesday. The PowerSpot sells for about $100 from distributors Arrow, Digi-Key and Mouser Electronics. Powercast expects it will sell for about half that price once it reaches mass production, it said. The development kit is available for $400 from the same distributors, it said.