Second-generation WPC 1.1-compliant power controller requires one-third fewer components, enables wireless charging stations to operate from a USB port

DALLAS, Sept. 11, 2013 — (PRNewswire) —  Building on its industry-leading power management portfolio, Texas Instruments (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN) today introduced its next-generation wireless power transfer circuit to support the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) 1.1 specification. The bq500212A transmitter, which is shipping in volume production, requires one-third fewer components than competitive solutions. The circuit allows designers to quickly take to market Qi-compliant wireless charge pads or stations that can operate from a USB port or 5-V power adapter. To order samples and a development kit, visit: www.ti.com/bq500212a-pr.  

With more Qi charging stations available in the marketplace, consumers of Qi-enabled smartphones, smartwatches and many other "enclosed" portable consumer electronics will be able to keep their batteries charged longer. Products like the Kickstarter-born AGENT Smartwatch are using TI's bqTESLA™ wireless power products, including the bq500212A and a bq51050B receiver, to ensure wireless power capability.

"AGENT Smartwatches need to be water resistant, and consumers shouldn't need to worry about plugging their watches into a charging adapter day after day," said Chris Walker, founder of Secret Labs. "TI's wireless power products give our customers the ability to simply set their AGENT Smartwatch on the included Qi charging pad (or any other Qi-compliant charging pad) from time to time to keep the battery topped off. No wires, no hassle."

Features and benefits of bq500212A:

• Complete WPC 1.1 Qi-compliant design: bq500212A needs only five components, including two new CSD97376 Power Stage integrated circuits; while other products may require up to 15 devices.
• Intelligent power control: TI's Dynamic Power Limit™ technology enables the transmitter to work from either a USB port or low-power adapter. The device's standby mode ensures <100 mW of standby power with no receiver on the pad and <50 mW once the receiver has finished charging.
• Hybrid capacitor scheme significantly reduces system bill of materials cost by using a combination of X7R and COG capacitors instead of only relying on COG capacitors.
• Foreign Object Detection, as mandated by the WPC1.1 specification, comes standard on the bq500212A, which features an improved algorithm with greater accuracy of error sensing.

TI and wireless power
TI's wireless power management portfolio is helping fuel design engineers' imaginations to develop innovative, efficient wireless charging capabilities for smartphones, tablets and other portable electronics, and design wireless power charging sources, ranging from pads to sources used in cars and furniture. The company is actively developing power circuits to support the WPC standard, as well as other wireless power specifications, including Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) and Power Matters Alliance (PMA). TI's bq5101x integrated receivers provide a regulated DC output and digital-control feedback to the transmitter, while TI's bq500xx family of wireless power transmitters efficiently manages the power transfer to the receiver.   

Availability and pricing
The new bq500212A wireless power transmitter comes in a 48-pin, 7-mm by 7-mm QFN package with a suggested resale price of US$2.78 each in 1,000-unit quantities. The bq500212A is available in volume production through TI and its worldwide network of authorized distributors.

Find out more about TI's wireless power solutions, application notes and evaluation modules:

• Check out a new white paper to learn about different wireless power design requirements, including the differences between WPC, A4WP and PMA.
• Order the new bq500212AEVM-550 evaluation module and download an application note to get started on Qi-compliant wireless power transmitter design.
• Join the TI E2E™ Power Community to ask questions and help solve problems with fellow engineers.

About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is a global semiconductor design and manufacturing company that develops analog ICs and embedded processors. By employing the world's brightest minds, TI creates innovations that shape the future of technology. TI is helping more than 100,000 customers transform the future, today. Learn more at www.ti.com.

Trademarks
TI E2E, Dynamic Power Limit and bqTESLA are trademarks of Texas Instruments. All registered trademarks and other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

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