Large charging mat

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Geektastic

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#295875 1-May-2022 13:57

We now have several wireless charging devices and endless plugs connected to wireless chargers.

Is there a large mat that works anywhere on its surface when you put something to charge on it and is big enough to do a couple of iPhones, earbuds, watches etc all at once?

qwertee

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#2908969 1-May-2022 14:32

I have the Samsung trio that can charge a Samsung mobile , earbuds and Watch4 at the same time.
I cannot comment on the compatibility with others makes and models.

https://www.samsung.com/nz/mobile-accessories/wireless-charger-trio-black-ep-p6300tbegau/

Jase2985

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#2908970 1-May-2022 14:33

most require items to be in specific places on the mat due to the location of the coils in the mat.

Geektastic

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#2908977 1-May-2022 15:34

Jase2985:

most require items to be in specific places on the mat due to the location of the coils in the mat.

Are there any that do not?

Jase2985

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#2908987 1-May-2022 17:24

Geektastic:

Jase2985:

most require items to be in specific places on the mat due to the location of the coils in the mat.

Are there any that do not?

i would struggle to think so becuase the devices need to be on the specific coils to charge, and it would be highly inefficient/slow otherwise

johno1234

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#2909012 1-May-2022 20:13

If the mat was clever it could identify the location of devices and activate specific coils in that location.

High end induction cooktops do something similar.

Jase2985

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#2909014 1-May-2022 20:16

johno1234: If the mat was clever it could identify the location of devices and activate specific coils in that location.

High end induction cooktops do something similar.

1. requires you to have a heap of coils so you could place the device anywhere

2. still requires you to place device on the coils

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Senecio

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#2909022 1-May-2022 21:32

Geektastic:
Jase2985:

most require items to be in specific places on the mat due to the location of the coils in the mat.

Are there any that do not?

No, that would go against the laws of physics. I have seen some larger pads that have multiple zones that will be about as closer as you’ll find.

Geektastic

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#2909032 1-May-2022 22:48

Could you not put multiple coils in a grid - like say 20 coils by 20 coils?

SomeoneSomewhere

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#2909034 1-May-2022 23:18

They would need to overlap, and it would probably be excessively expensive.

This is an example, costing US$140 for something with 16 coils and 22x13cm:

https://makezens.com/shop/liberty-wireless-charger/

https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/08/23/this-140-wireless-charging-pad-has-16-coils-and-can-fast-charge-two-phones-at-once/

I expect you would have a hard time manufacturing at below $5 per coil including supporting electronics (pretty optimistic). Do you want to pay $2k for 400 coils?

SomeoneSomewhere

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#2909035 1-May-2022 23:23

NXP has this application note: https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/application-note/AN4866.pdf

PCB coils may be better suited to this application, but it's still going to be pricey.

lxsw20

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#2909038 1-May-2022 23:56

Geektastic:

Could you not put multiple coils in a grid - like say 20 coils by 20 coils?

Thats what Apple tried, it would overheat and apparently put out a load of EMF so they canned it.

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Jase2985

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#2909144 2-May-2022 07:58

SomeoneSomewhere:

They would need to overlap, and it would probably be excessively expensive.

This is an example, costing US$140 for something with 16 coils and 22x13cm:

https://makezens.com/shop/liberty-wireless-charger/

https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/08/23/this-140-wireless-charging-pad-has-16-coils-and-can-fast-charge-two-phones-at-once/

I expect you would have a hard time manufacturing at below $5 per coil including supporting electronics (pretty optimistic). Do you want to pay $2k for 400 coils?

Unfortunately can only charge 2 devices even through it has 16 coils and freedom of movement.

PBTech sell some that will charge a Watch phone and earphones at the same time

Geektastic

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#2909145 2-May-2022 08:19

SomeoneSomewhere:
They would need to overlap, and it would probably be excessively expensive.

This is an example, costing US$140 for something with 16 coils and 22x13cm:

https://makezens.com/shop/liberty-wireless-charger/

https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/08/23/this-140-wireless-charging-pad-has-16-coils-and-can-fast-charge-two-phones-at-once/

I expect you would have a hard time manufacturing at below $5 per coil including supporting electronics (pretty optimistic). Do you want to pay $2k for 400 coils?

Yes if it works.

johno1234

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#2909149 2-May-2022 08:41

Geektastic:

Could you not put multiple coils in a grid - like say 20 coils by 20 coils?

Don't see why not, and they can overlap each other. Only selected ones need to be energised and the rest left open-circuit.

mkissin

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#2909183 2-May-2022 09:54

I design these sorts of thing for a living. The reason this doesn't really exist is basically it's a poor cost vs experience tradeoff.

To charge N devices will require N high frequency power sources, and people with N-1 devices will still need to pay for the full N sources.

The area needs to be covered with overlapping coils, and each coil costs some amount of money. How many coils and how large is the mat? No real answer so you'd need several (low selling) SKUs to cover different sizes.

Each overlapping coil is a pain to deal with, as they try to transfer power between each other so each coil is more expensive that you might initially think to add.

That's why you just see these 2- or 3-up charging mats with specific locations. It's the only real viable tradeoff from a cost perspective.