Integration Ease: Add Qi®-Certified Wireless Charging to Your Design Without the Design Challenges

Microchip and PowerMat Partnership Reference Design

Wireless charging, specifically for cellphones, is currently entering its teenage years with the original Qi (pronounced “chee”) specifications being drafted in 2009. Throughout those years, we’ve seen tweaks, tunes and updates to the original specifications to include more advanced features, different charging modes and higher levels of security and system-level integration. For the unitiated, some of these may seem like a daunting challenge to build on your own; enter the PowerMat and Microchip partnership reference design.

Specifically, the PMQ015A is an Original Design-Manufactured (ODM) style solution for folks looking for a “drop-in” solution to add Qi 1.3-certified wireless charging to their application.

This platform supports the main specs from Qi 1.3 including Apple 7.5W and Samsung 10W fast charge modes, NFC tag detection and advanced foreign object detection safety mechanisms. It’s also scalable from a single coil design up to three coils, increasing the effective charging area and offset distances. Better yet, for automotive customers, the solution is already AEC Q100 class-certified for in-cabin use and includes hooks for CAN FD as well as a 6-pin automotive header. Of course, these are all customizable on request, as this entire module can be ordered through and built by Foxconn Interconnect Technologies as a simple plug-and-play solution ready for integration.