Powercast Releases Over-the-Air Wireless Charging Grip for Nintendo Joy-Con Controllers on Amazon

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Powercast Releases Over-the-Air Wireless Charging Grip for Nintendo Joy-Con Controllers on Amazon

Enables carefree wireless charging where gamers don’t have to dock their Joy-Cons to charge

PITTSBURGH (PRWEB) AUGUST 25, 2020

Powercast Corporation, the leader in radio-frequency (RF)-based over-the-air wireless power technology, has released first production units of its Wireless Charging Grip for Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Controllers, the world’s first gaming product that charges over the air without wires or charging mats. Developed to deliver carefree wireless charging where gamers don’t have to dock their Joy-Con controllers, Powercast’s grip automatically recharges them over the air when placed within one foot of Powercast’s PowerSpot® wireless power transmitter. Powercast’s Wireless Charging Grip and its companion PowerSpot transmitter are now available on Amazon initially for Nintendo Switch gamers in the U.S. and Canada for a bundled price of US$149.99: https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Charging-PowerSpot-Transmitter-Bundle/dp/B08FTJPDBS/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=wireless+charging+grip+powerspot&qid=1598271782&sr=8-2

Most grips simply make Joy-Cons easier to hold, while Powercast’s grip also wirelessly charges two Joy-Cons and doubles as a backup battery pack. It keeps batteries topped off when out of the transmitter’s range for about 26 hours of gameplay on one charge. Most gamers can achieve a full charge over a 24-hour period by simply leaving their Wireless Charging Grip near the front of their PowerSpot transmitter between gaming sessions. Daily usage and battery level will determine charging range and rate.

The LED on the grip guides gamers where to place their grip to optimize charging. When fully charged the LED double blinks green, and when the grip needs charging the LED double blinks red. It blinks green when fast charging, yellow when moderate charging, and red to tell users to place their Wireless Charging Grip closer to the PowerSpot transmitter for faster charging. A new PowerSpot app (iOS and Android) provides a hub for monitoring the charging status of the grip and other PowerSpot-enabled devices, downloading firmware updates, and more.

“Over-the-air wireless charging is perfect for most of us gamers who play a few hours per day,” said Charles Greene, Ph.D., chief operating and technical officer of Powercast. “Without having to plug in or position it on a charging mat, users can simply set their Wireless Charging Grip down in front of their PowerSpot transmitter and it will wirelessly recharge until they’re ready to game again.”

Greene continued, “Our grip is great for gamers who want the convenience to ‘set it and forget it,’ but we also included a standard USB-C port for wired charging if needed.” He explained, “Wired charging delivers high power for a fast charge, while over-the-air charging delivers more convenient, lower power over an extended period of time. Powercast’s highly efficient RF harvesting system optimizes power delivery over the air for a high performance, easy-to-use alternative to wired charging.”

Powercast’s embedded Powerharvester® receiver harnesses RF energy sent over the air from the U.S. FCC- and Canadian ISED-approved PowerSpot transmitter, and converts it to direct current (DC) to charge the Wireless Charging Grip’s embedded battery. This embedded battery then charges the connected Joy-Cons, and can act as a backup battery pack once the Joy-Cons are fully recharged. Using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), the grip requests power from the transmitter when its batteries are low, and signals it to stop when charged.

“While our focus remains helping our OEM customers design in our wireless power technology and deliver their products to market, we’ve really enjoyed developing our own wirelessly rechargeable consumer product as well,” continued Greene. “Many of us are Switch gamers, so we can’t wait to leave our Joy-Cons in the grip and just set it down to recharge without having to dock them.”

“We’re very excited to start shipping our Wireless Charging Grip even amidst the pandemic that caused manufacturing delays, and we plan to continue to ramp production as the global situation allows,” continued Greene.

Powercast’s future vision is for consumers to be able to place all their PowerSpot-enabled devices in front of a PowerSpot transmitter to enjoy far-field (up to 80 feet, or 24 meters) over-the-air wireless charging. Thirty or more enabled devices in the charging zone will automatically connect and receive power, sharing the transmitter’s three-watt (EIRP) output emitted in the 915 MHZ band. A device’s power consumption determines its charging range and rate; power-hungry products charge best at close range, while low-power devices such as sensors can operate at the maximum distance. Each device’s instructions will recommend its charging distance and time.

Editorial note: Visuals are available at: https://www.powercastco.com/grips.

About Powercast
Powercast, established in 2003, is the leading provider of RF-based wireless power technologies that work in the far field (up to 80 feet) to provide power-over-distance, eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, and power or charge devices without wires and connectors. Founded with the vision of enabling untethered devices powered over the air, Powercast continues to create the most efficient, safe and highest power harvesting technology achievable while complying with the FCC and other global standards. Powercast’s IP portfolio includes 57 patents worldwide (32 in the US) and 29 patents pending. https://www.powercastco.com.

Note: Nintendo, Switch, and Joy-Con are registered trademarks of Nintendo.

 

Powercast Joins RAIN RFID Alliance

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Powercast Joins RAIN RFID Alliance

Collaboration brings over-the-air wireless power to UHF RFID systems by harvesting RF from existing RFID infrastructure to power EPD tags, retail ESLs, sensors, logistics and location tracking, and LED illumination

PITTSBURGH (PRWEB) JUNE 02, 2020

Powercast Corporation, the leader in radio-frequency (RF)-based long-range over-the-air wireless power technology, announced that it has joined 160 other organizations in the RAIN RFID Alliance who share the goal of promoting the universal adoption of ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID technology. This global alliance aims to emulate the same success for RFID that the Wi-Fi Alliance and Bluetooth SIG have had in achieving universal adoption for their wireless standards.

RAIN RFID is a wireless technology that uses both handheld and fixed UHF RFID readers that are prevalent in industries around the globe to connect billions of everyday items to the internet. It enables businesses and consumers to identify, locate, authenticate and engage each item bearing an RFID tag or label.

Powercast’s Powerharvester® RF-to-DC converter chips harvest RF from 10MHz to 6GHz, and bring new functionality to RAIN RFID systems. The Powerharvester PCC110 and PCC114 chips can harvest RF from existing UHF RFID readers and very efficiently (up to 80% efficiency) convert it to direct current (DC) to power applications over the air. RFID readers emit a similar RF signal to Powercast’s PowerSpot® and Powercaster® RF wireless power transmitters, enabling RAIN RFID to be another reliable source of RF wireless power.

A Powerharvester receiver chip embedded in an electronic paper display (EPD) tag such as a retail electronic shelf-edge label (ESL), an environmental sensing or logistics tag, or a secure ID card can harvest RF when it comes within range of a UHF RFID reader. That range is application dependent; most can function up to 30 feet (9 meters) from a reader, while some can work up to 80 feet (24 meters) away. RFID tag or label devices can be designed with batteries that Powercast either recharges or manages, or without batteries because an embedded Powerharvester chip can harvest enough power from UHF RFID readers to operate perpetually.

Several applications developed with partner E Ink and deployed over the last two years enable companies to use RFID infrastructure to wirelessly update E Ink’s ePaper screen over the air. These include ViewTag’s electronic bag tag, launched by British Airways in 2019 as TAG, which harvests RF from airport RFID equipment to refresh the ePaper screen with the passenger’s itinerary; and Powercast’s UHF RFID Retail Price Tag, a batteryless ESL launched in 2018 which harvests RF from retail RFID readers to send over-the-air price updates to its ePaper screen. More details are in E Ink and Powercast’s white paper, “Integrating wireless power technology into ePaper devices for carefree wireless charging:” http://go.eink.com/whitepapers

Other UHF RFID over-the-air wireless power applications include environmental monitoring, such as Powercast’s RFID Sensor Tags launched in 2017 which measure temperature, light and humidity; smart packaging with wirelessly illuminated LEDs; smart ID cards which electronically verify user credentials; logistics and advanced location tracking devices; and on-product sensing devices.

“We are delighted to join the RAIN RFID Alliance and look forward to a mutually beneficial collaboration,” said Charles Greene, Ph.D., chief operating and technical officer of Powercast. “RAIN provides an industry forum to promote the benefits of RFID technology and is driving awareness to accelerate growth and adoption across many industries.”

“The alliance welcomes Powercast to our growing membership,” said Steve Halliday, president of the RAIN RFID Alliance. “Powercast brings deep experience in defining and executing wireless power solutions to benefit our members, and will contribute to our mission of promoting RFID technology.”

Editorial note: Visuals are available from the links in this release, or from https://www.powercastco.com/visuals/.

About Powercast
Powercast, established in 2003, is the leading provider of RF-based wireless power technologies that work in the far field (up to 80 feet) to provide power-over-distance, eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, and power or charge devices without wires and connectors. Founded with the vision of enabling untethered devices powered over the air, Powercast continues to create the most efficient, safe and highest power harvesting technology achievable while complying with the FCC and other global standards. Powercast’s IP portfolio includes 62 patents worldwide and 38 patents pending. https://www.powercastco.com.

About RAIN RFID Alliance
The RAIN RFID Alliance is an organization supporting the universal adoption of RAIN UHF RFID technology. A wireless technology that connects billions of everyday items to the internet, enabling businesses and consumers to identify, locate, authenticate, and engage each item. The technology is based on the EPC Gen2 UHF RFID specification, incorporated into the ISO/IEC 18000-63 standard. For more information, visit http://www.RAINRFID.org. The RAIN Alliance is part of AIM, Inc. AIM is the trusted worldwide industry association for the automatic identification industry, providing unbiased information, educational resources, and standards for nearly half a century.

Powercast and Liquid X Announce Printed Electronics Venture to Enable Durable, Washable e-Textiles that Seal in Wireless Charging Electronics

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Powercast and Liquid X Announce Printed Electronics Venture to Enable Durable, Washable e-Textiles that Seal in Wireless Charging Electronics

Liquid X’s particle-free conductive inks can print wireless charging electronics directly onto smart wearables rather than adding it afterwards

PITTSBURGH (PRWEB) MAY 05, 2020

Powercast Corporation, the leader in radio-frequency (RF)-based long-range over-the-air wireless power technology, and Liquid X, an advanced manufacturer of functional metallic inks with prototype-to-production design and manufacturing capabilities, today announced a printed electronics venture to enable garment manufacturers to easily integrate wireless power functionality into durable, flexible, high performance and washable e-textiles.

Utilizing Liquid X’s proprietary ink technology, manufacturers can print circuitry directly onto a garment, add Powercast’s wireless power technology and a battery, and seal this all into the garment during the manufacturing process. The two companies’ goal is to enable cost-effective manufacturing of durable e-textiles, with battery-powered features such as health and wellness, movement monitoring, or LED-based illumination embedded directly into garments, that consumers can conveniently recharge over the air, and wash, without having to remove a battery pack.

Today’s smart garments often snap electronics onto the garment along with battery packs that users must detach before washing. With the combined technologies of Liquid X and Powercast, now manufacturers can integrate the electronics directly into the garment. First, circuitry is printed on the fabric using Liquid X’s proprietary particle-free ink, including Powercast’s RF wireless receiving antenna. Next, Powercast’s Powerharvester® RF wireless power receiver chip, a battery, and other components are mounted onto the printed traces. Finally, an encapsulant provides a high strength waterproof bond to seal in all of the electronics.

To recharge the battery, consumers simply place a Powercast RF transmitter in the closet or drawer where they store their smart wearable. It transmits RF energy over the air to the RF receiver embedded in the wearable, which then converts it to direct current (DC) to charge the battery.

The two Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based companies showcased at CES in January 2020 a wirelessly rechargeable smart athletic shirt prototype that illuminates using printed electronics, embedded power harvesting technology, and LEDs powered over the air up to 10 feet away from the wireless transmitter.

Editorial note: Multimedia assets are available at: https://www.powercastco.com/visuals/

About Powercast
Powercast, established in 2003, is the leading provider of RF-based wireless power technologies that work in the far field (up to 80 feet) to provide power-over-distance, eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, and power or charge devices without wires and connectors. Founded with the vision of enabling untethered devices powered over the air, Powercast continues to create the most efficient, safe and highest power harvesting technology achievable while complying with the FCC and other global standards. Powercast’s IP portfolio includes 57 patents worldwide (32 in the US) and 29 patents pending. https://www.powercastco.com.

About Liquid X
Liquid X, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an advanced material manufacturer of functional metallic inks that takes an application from prototype to production. Liquid X partners with manufacturers within the electronics industry to develop and print functional components utilized in various devices, including sensors; heating elements; smart textiles and many others. Through our proprietary particle-free inks, printing capabilities and technical expertise, we take an application from concept to commercialization using additive manufacturing techniques. http://www.liquid-x.com

CES 2020: Powercast Showcases Over-the-Air Wireless Power Products from Partners and its Own Product Team

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CES 2020: Powercast Showcases Over-the-Air Wireless Power Products from Partners and its Own Product Team

Plans release of its Wireless Charging Grip for Nintendo Joy-Con Controllers on Amazon in Spring 2020

PITTSBURGH–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Powercast Corporation will showcase an array of consumer products featuring its radio-frequency (RF)-based long-range over-the-air wireless power technology at CES 2020, booth #42161, Sands Expo. Among these include first production units of the company’s own Wireless Charging Grip for Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Controllers, which Powercast plans to release on Amazon in Spring 2020.  Partner products will include Sportcor’s embeddable smart electronics core, which powers sporting equipment such as the Kookaburra Smart Ball to deliver sports data analytics, and TAG by British Airways, in which Powercast preserves battery life so this digital tag can be reused for over 3000 flights.

“Powercast has had an exceptionally exciting year partnering with our OEM customers to bring real wireless power solutions to the consumer market, “ said Charles Greene, Ph.D., chief operating and technical officer of Powercast, “and we’ve had a blast developing our own wirelessly rechargeable consumer product as well.”

Powercast’s Wireless Charging Grip for Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Controllers:

Developed to deliver carefree wireless charging where there’s no need to dock Joy-Con controllers, Powercast’s Wireless Charging Grip automatically recharges over the air when placed within two feet of Powercast’s FCC- and ISED-approved PowerSpot® wireless power transmitter, achieving a full charge when left overnight.  Heavier gamers place their grip closer to their PowerSpot transmitter and less frequent gamers can charge from up to 2 feet away.

Powercast’s embedded Powerharvester® receiver harnesses RF energy sent over the air from the PowerSpot transmitter, converts it to direct current (DC) to charge the grip’s embedded battery, which then charges the connected Joy-Con batteries. Using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for intelligent wireless charging, the grip requests power from the transmitter only when its batteries are low, and signals it to stop when charged. A multi-color LED blinks to show charging speed and blinks green when fully charged.

Powercast plans the grip’s first release on Amazon in Spring 2020.  Its companion PowerSpot transmitter is already available on Amazon. Greene noted, “Though we had hoped to ship our grip in Q3 2019, we’re excited to be back on track after some manufacturing delays to offer first production units this Spring.”

Sportcor’s embeddable smart electronics core for high-tech sports data analytics:

Designed to transform traditional into smart sporting equipment, Australia-based Sportcor’s embeddable electronics core contains movement sensors to deliver sports data analytics such as speed, distance, force, position, and spin, and Powercast’s wireless power technology to charge the battery over the air. Adopted so far by leading Australian cricket ball manufacturer Kookaburra, its new Smart Ball needs no charging port so it remains balanced and its analytics data remains accurate. During a day of sports play the battery lasts about eight hours, and is recharged wirelessly over the air by placing the ball in its cradle. While today’s solution charges one ball, Powercast plans a solution that could recharge a whole bucket of smart balls simultaneously.

ViewTag’s electronic bag tag, which British Airways rolled out in 2019:

ViewTag’s electronic bag tag, which British Airways rolled out in 2019 as TAG, allows passengers to tag their own bags to simplify their check-in experience. Passengers use an app to get boarding passes and synchronize itineraries to their tag. Powercast’s RF harvesting technology preserves the battery by keeping the tag dormant until it detects and harvests RF from nearby airport RFID equipment, at which time it will update the screen if the tag isn’t already displaying the passenger’s current itinerary.  This enables the tag to be reused for over 3000 flights on a single battery, cutting down on the paper waste created by typical printed baggage tags.

Powercast will also display batteryless printed electronics products, co-developed with PPG Industries. These printable solutions will include wirelessly illuminated product packaging that showcases products on a shelf, smart identification (ID) cards, and electronic, batteryless retail price tags capable of wireless price updates: https://www.powercastco.com/PPGTeslinDemo/

Powercast’s vision is to enable far-field (up to 80 feet) over-the-air wireless charging where consumers simply place all their enabled devices within range of a PowerSpot transmitter. Up to 30 enabled devices in the charging zone will automatically connect and receive power, sharing the transmitter’s three-watt (EIRP) output. Charging range and rate depend on a device’s power consumption; power-hungry products charge best at close range, while low-power devices such as sensors can operate up to 80 feet (24 meters) away. Instructions included with devices will show their recommended charging distance and time.

Editorial note: Multimedia assets are available at the links included in this press release.

 

About Powercast

Powercast, established in 2003, is the leading provider of RF-based wireless power technologies that work in the far field (up to 80 feet) to provide power-over-distance, eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, and power or charge devices without wires and connectors.  Founded with the vision of enabling untethered devices powered over the air, Powercast continues to create the most efficient, safe and highest power harvesting technology achievable while complying with the FCC and other global standards.   Powercast’s IP portfolio includes 57 patents worldwide (32 in the US) and 29 patents pending. www.www.powercastco.com.

Note: Nintendo, Switch, and Joy-Con are registered trademarks of Nintendo.

Contacts

Michelle Moody
michelle@moodypr.com
+1.214.363.3460

ViewTag Chooses Powercast Wireless Power Technology for Electronic Bag Tag

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ViewTag Chooses Powercast Wireless Power Technology for Electronic Bag Tag

Embedded Powerharvester chipset preserves battery life so tag can be reused over 3000 times

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 16, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Powercast Corporation, the leader in radio-frequency (RF)-based long-range wireless power technology, announced that ViewTag, the pioneer of the electronic bag tag, has selected its Powerharvester® Chipset for battery management so that the ViewTag Electronic Bag Tag (EBT) can be reused over 3000 times.

The digital ViewTag snaps onto luggage and allows customers to tag their own bags, reducing their airport check-in experience to a simple bag drop. British Airways is the first to roll ViewTag out to its customers (http://www.ba.com/tag), with more airlines expected to launch in 2020. Passengers use their Bluetooth-enabled phone and the airline’s app to check-in, get their boarding pass and synchronize their itinerary to their tag. Passengers can also easily transfer the tag between bags.

ViewTag is equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), a digital display, a lithium battery, and Powercast’s Powerharvester Chipset, which is comprised of a wireless power RF-to-DC converter chip and boost converter IC. Powercast’s technology preserves the battery by keeping the tag dormant until it detects and harvests RF energy over the air from nearby airport RFID scanning equipment, at which time it updates the screen with the passenger’s itinerary. The tag is capable of over 3000 itinerary updates.

Powercast will display ViewTag at CES 2020 in its booth #42161 at the Sands Expo.

About Powercast:
Powercast is the leading provider of RF-based wireless power technologies that work in the far field (up to 80 feet) to provide power-over-distance, eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, and power or charge devices without wires and connectors.  Founded with the vision of enabling untethered devices powered over the air, Powercast continues to create the most efficient, safe and highest power harvesting technology achievable while complying with the FCC and other global standards.   Powercast’s IP portfolio includes 50 patents worldwide (25 in the US) and 29 patents pending. www.www.powercastco.com.

About ViewTag:
ViewTag® is a permanent, electronic bag tag (EBT) that securely attaches to luggage for convenient itinerary information writing and airline check-in. Equipped with RFID, Bluetooth LE, and a digital display of flight information, it fits seamlessly into the scanning sortation equipment used in every airport around the world. Headquartered outside of Philadelphia, PA, ViewTag pioneered the EBT for the airline industry. Viewtag.com.

Note: Visuals are available: https://www.powercastco.com/visuals/

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a5d0f3d1-ce79-42c4-ae8c-afb418de4dc5

Contact:
Michelle Moody

+1.214.363.3460

Powercast’s PowerSpot Wireless Transmitter Wins Golden Mousetrap Best in Show & Two Gold Awards

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Powercast’s PowerSpot Wireless Transmitter Wins Golden Mousetrap Best in Show & Two Gold Awards

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Powercast Corporation announced that its PowerSpot® over-the-air wireless power transmitter took home three honors in the Design News 2019 Golden Mousetrap Awards, including the coveted Best in Show, and Gold in the Electronics and Test categories of Power Management, and IoT and Connectivity. Industry experts from the IoT, Automotive, 3D Printing and Materials industries joined forces with the editors of Design News to select winners based on their level of innovation, benefits to user, and market differentiation. The annual awards ceremony took place February 5 in Anaheim, California at the nation’s largest advanced design and manufacturing event, Pacific Design & Manufacturing: https://www.designnews.com/content/design-news-honors-distinguished-products-companies-2019-golden-mousetrap-awards/122552156760214

Charles Greene, Ph.D., chief operating and technical officer of Powercast, said, “We are humbled that our PowerSpot transmitter received Golden Mousetrap’s first ever Best in Show, as well as two Gold awards. It is an honor to be recognized by Design News, the leading industry publication for design engineers.”

Powercast’s PowerSpot transmitter, which began shipping in September 2018, is the industry’s first FCC- and ISED-approved RF-based wireless transmitter that works in the far field (up to 80 feet) to charge multiple consumer devices over the air – no charging mats needed.

Creating a coverage area similar to Wi-Fi, the smart, Bluetooth-enabled PowerSpot transmitter detects PowerSpot-enabled devices when they come within range, automatically delivers power and then turns off when they’re completely charged. The transmitter uses the 915-MHz ISM band to send RF energy over the air to Powercast’s tiny Powerharvester® receiver chip embedded in a device, which converts it to direct current (DC) to either directly power or recharge that device’s batteries.

Powercast recently unveiled its own consumer product, Wireless Charging Grips for Nintendo Switch Controllers, that pairs with the PowerSpot transmitter and automatically charges when within feet of it. The company plans delivery in Q3. Powercast’s vision is to enable long-range, true wireless charging where consumers simply place all their PowerSpot-enabled devices within range of a PowerSpot transmitter in their home or a public place.

About Powercast
Powercast, established in 2003, is the leading provider of RF-based wireless power technologies that work in the far field (up to 80 feet) to provide power-over-distance, eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, and power or charge devices without wires and connectors.  Founded with the vision of enabling untethered devices powered over the air, Powercast continues to create the most efficient, safe and highest power harvesting technology achievable while complying with the FCC and other global standards.  Powercast’s IP portfolio includes 50 patents worldwide (25 in the US) and 29 patents pending. www.www.powercastco.com.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7e912a83-fb6b-4ad8-a208-910057c41207

Contact:
Michelle Moody

+1.214.363.3460

Powercast to Unveil Over-the-Air Wireless Charging Grips for Nintendo Joy-Con Controllers at CES

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Powercast to Unveil Over-the-Air Wireless Charging Grips for Nintendo Joy-Con Controllers at CES

Contactless wireless power gains momentum at CES with these grips, digital luggage tags, wirelessly illuminated printed electronics products and more

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Powercast Corporation today announced that it would unveil at CES Wireless Charging Grips for Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Controllers, the world’s first gaming product that charges over the air without wires, plugs or charging mats. These grips automatically charge when within feet of Powercast’s FCC- and ISED-approved PowerSpot® radio frequency (RF) wireless power transmitter, so users never have to dock their controllers, plug into power, or stop playing due to a low battery.

Grips on the market today are simple plastic accessories that Nintendo Joy-Con game controllers snap into that make them easier to hold.  Powercast has added contactless wireless charging functionality to create intelligent grips (left, right and double-controller versions) that charge Joy-Cons and double as a backup battery pack.

Powercast’s Powerharvester® receiver and a battery are embedded in the grips. The Powerharvester harnesses power sent over the air to charge the embedded battery, which then charges the batteries in the Joy-Cons until they are fully charged. The grips also act as a backup battery pack, keeping the Joy-Con batteries topped off when out of the transmitter’s range for about 38 hours of gameplay on one charge.

Gamers never have to dock their Joy-Con controllers and instead can leave them inside the grips for carefree wireless charging.  The grips receive power when placed within about two feet of the PowerSpot transmitter, achieving a full charge between gaming sessions. An LED illuminates when the grips are charging and turns off when they’re done.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) enables intelligent wireless charging where power is only sent as needed. The grips request power from the transmitter when their batteries are low, and tell it to stop when charged.

Powercast’s focus remains helping its customers develop their own power-over-distance wireless charging consumer devices. Demonstrations are planned in Powercast’s CES booth, and the company expects multiple product releases in 2019.

Charles Greene, Ph.D., chief operating and technical officer of Powercast, explains the company’s inspiration for also bringing its own wireless charging device to market. “Many of us at Powercast are Nintendo Switch gamers, and we often found that we’d let our batteries die by forgetting to dock our controllers,” said Greene. “Realizing our technology could solve the problem, we developed a product that lets the Joy-Cons charge without docking when you walk away from a gaming session.”

Greene continued, “Our vision is to enable long-range, true wireless charging where consumers simply place all their PowerSpot-enabled devices within range of a PowerSpot transmitter in their home or a public place.” Up to 30 enabled devices in the charging zone will automatically connect and receive power, sharing the transmitter’s three-watt (EIRP) output. Instructions included with enabled devices will show their recommended charging distance and time.

“We are proud of our track record of delivering practical wireless power products that work, safely and responsibly, under FCC and other global standards,” said Greene. “We’ve developed the most efficient power harvesting technology that’s permitted within today’s standards. Our robust technology also has capabilities beyond that, so look for our product releases to evolve as regulations do.”

More information, visuals and videos about the Wireless Charging Grips: www.www.powercastco.com/grips

At CES 2019:
Powercast will be in booth #41767 at the Sands Expo in the Smart Home Marketplace. The company will showcase first versions of its Wireless Charging Grips, which it plans to bring to market in Q3 2019. Powercast will also feature its PowerSpot transmitter, FCC- and ISED-approved in late December 2017, which began shipping in Q3 from distributors Arrow, Digi-Key, and Mouser Electronics.

Powercast will also demonstrate wirelessly rechargeable headphones, a keyboard, smart card, and various sensor devices along with development tools that facilitate wireless power designs.

Powercast will also showcase several wirelessly powered consumer products developed with partners. The first example is ViewTag’s reusable, updateable digital luggage tag, which British Airways is expected to make available to its passengers beginning early 2019. Passengers can check their bag in from anywhere via their Bluetooth-enabled phone, and then simply drop it off at check-in. The embedded technologies enable swift check-in with future bag-tracking capabilities built in as well. Batteryless printed electronics products jointly developed with PPG (NYSE: PPG) will also be on display, including LED-based wireless illumination solutions for smart consumer packaging, smart identification (ID) cards, and reconfigurable retail price tags. For more information on this partnership, please visit: www.www.powercastco.com/PPGTeslinDemo

About Powercast
Powercast, established in 2003, is the leading provider of RF-based wireless power technologies that work in the far field (up to 80 feet) to provide power-over-distance, eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, and power or charge devices without wires and connectors.  Founded with the vision of enabling untethered devices powered over the air, Powercast continues to create the most efficient, safe and highest power harvesting technology achievable while complying with the FCC and other global standards.   Powercast’s IP portfolio includes 50 patents worldwide (25 in the US) and 29 patents pending. www.www.powercastco.com.

NOTES:
ViewTag is a registered trademark of ViewTag LLC. Teslin and the PPG Logo are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. Nintendo, Switch, and Joy-Con are registered trademarks of Nintendo.  Powercast, Powerharvester, PowerSpot and the Powercast Logo are registered trademarks of Powercast Corporation.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2c595f90-79d8-42a4-955a-3e44c967f754

A video accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2622aa3a-19ac-46ad-bdc1-2eee1dc9c33d

Contact:
Michelle Moody

+1.214.363.3460

PPG, Powercast announce partnership to develop ultra-thin, wirelessly powered printed electronics

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PPG, Powercast announce partnership to develop ultra-thin, wirelessly powered printed electronics

Applications include illuminated consumer product packaging, smart identification cards

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PPG (NYSE: PPG) and Powercast Corporation today announced a joint development agreement to produce ultra-thin and wirelessly powered printed electronics products. The advanced solutions combine PPG TESLIN® substrate, PPG conductive inks and Powercast’s POWERHARVESTER® receiver technology for delivering over-the-air wireless power.

Powercast and PPG will introduce LED-based wireless illumination solutions for smart consumer packaging and smart identification (ID) cards, which enable enhanced security. With this technology, smart consumer packaging lights up to showcase products on a shelf. Smart ID cards also illuminate to permit or deny access to restricted areas or to verify user credentials.

The companies’ combined technologies allow developers to seal electronics into packaging and cards via lamination to provide indefinite illumination without wires, batteries, charging ports or direct contact with a power source.

“Powercast is excited to partner with PPG to deliver differentiation to the product packaging and secure credential markets,” said Charles Greene, Ph.D., chief operating and technology officer, Powercast. “PPG Teslin substrate and the company’s conductive inks have great radio frequency (RF) characteristics, which complement Powercast’s long-range wireless power technology.”

The illuminated products are created by printing graphics or information on one side of PPG Teslin substrate using conventional or digital print technologies. The electronic circuitry is printed directly onto the opposite side of the substrate using PPG’s conductive inks. The ultra-thin (1 millimeter or less) Powerharvester wireless power receiver chip and other components are then attached to the substrate using conductive epoxy, and the label is laminated to seal in the electronic circuitry.

Powercast’s embedded Powerharvester receiver chips harness RF energy wirelessly from a Powercast POWERSPOT® transmitter or other RF source. The harnessed RF is turned into useable direct current (DC) energy to power embedded electronics and LEDs.

The two companies will showcase wireless illumination applications for smart packaging and ID cards at the IDTechEx Show, Nov. 14-15 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in California. PPG will be in booth P27, and Powercast will be in booth A24.

The first showcased application, a PPG Teslin label affixed to the front of a six-pack of beer (courtesy of Straub Brewing, Inc., St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania), will illuminate the package and draw attention to the Straub brand. The second application is a smart ID card that authenticates a user based on proximity to an ID reader.

“A smart illumination solution using Powercast technology is a perfect complement to PPG’s current offering for secure credentials and label and packaging applications,” said Greg Terchick, PPG business director, Teslin substrate products. “The products we are developing with Powercast will enable our customers in these segments to create highly differentiated, value-added solutions for their customers.”

“The technology sharing between PPG and Powercast is an excellent example of the type of collaboration that continues to strengthen PPG,” said John Yundt, PPG global market manager, electronic and conductive materials. “We see this partnership as an ideal way to use the unique synergies of our broad portfolio of coatings and materials technologies to help our customers find solutions.”

Durable, flexible and water-resistant, PPG Teslin substrate is a microporous synthetic paper with the unique ability to cushion printed electronic circuitry while withstanding the handling and abuse typically associated with credential and packaging applications. PPG Teslin substrate provides an ideal surface material for enhancing the functionality and extending the service lives of illuminated and smart consumer packaging and identification cards.

PPG’s state-of-the-art polymer thick film conductive inks are uniquely formulated to meet a wide range of printed electronic circuitry applications, including printed radio-frequency identification (RFID) and mobile antennas, membrane switch and capacitive touch panels, flexible OPV solar panels, printed sensors and medical biosensors.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Visuals are available at https://www.powercastco.com/PPGTeslinDemo

About Powercast
Powercast, established in 2003, is the leading provider of RF-based wireless power technologies that provide power-over-distance, eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, and power or charge devices without wires and connectors. Founded with the vision of enabling untethered devices powered over the air, Powercast continues to create the most efficient, safe and highest power-harvesting technology achievable while complying with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other global standards. Powercast’s intellectual property portfolio includes 46 patents worldwide (21 in the U.S.) and 30 patents pending. To learn more, visit www.www.powercastco.com.

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™
At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for 135 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $14.7 billion in 2017. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.

We protect and beautify the world is a trademark and Teslin and the PPG Logo are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
Powercast, Powerharvester, PowerSpot and the Powercast Logo are registered trademarks of Powercast Corporation.
Straub is a trademark of Straub Brewing Inc.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3cc2d1d5-399f-469e-8208-850ebaaede76

PPG Media Contacts: 
Brande Juart
PPG TESLIN Substrate
+1 412-325-5203
 
www.ppgteslin.com

Jamie Cowden
Industrial Coatings
+1 412-434-3082
 
www.ppgmetalcoatings.com 

Powercast Media Contact:
Michelle Moody
+1 214-363-3460

Powercast ships PowerSpot power-over-distance wireless transmitter

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Powercast ships PowerSpot power-over-distance wireless transmitter

Also launches development kit to facilitate design of PowerSpot-based wireless charging ecosystems

PITTSBURGH, Pa., Sept. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Powercast Corporation, the pioneer of radio-frequency (RF)-based long-range wireless charging technology, announced that it has begun shipping its three-watt, Bluetooth®-approved PowerSpot® transmitter which is the industry’s first that works in the far field (up to 80 feet) to charge multiple consumer devices over the air – no charging mats needed. Powercast began production of its PowerSpot transmitter after receiving FCC (ID: YESTX91503) and ISED (Canada IC: 8985A-TX91503) approval late December 2017, promising delivery in Q3 2018. The company is also launching a development kit to help manufacturers easily design PowerSpot-based wireless charging ecosystems.

How Powercast’s patented remote wireless charging technology works:
Creating a coverage area similar to Wi-Fi, the PowerSpot transmitter automatically powers or charges PowerSpot-enabled devices when they come within range. The transmitter uses the 915-MHz ISM band to send RF energy over the air to Powercast’s tiny Powerharvester® receiver chip embedded in a device, which converts it to direct current (DC) to either directly power or recharge that device’s batteries. The Bluetooth-approved transmitter detects devices within range and automatically begins delivering power.

The company’s vision is to enable long-range, true wireless charging where consumers simply place all their PowerSpot-enabled devices within range of a PowerSpot transmitter in their home or a public place.

The PowerSpot creates an overnight charging zone of up to 80 feet free of wires or charging mats:
The PowerSpot transmitter was designed to automatically top off up to 30 PowerSpot-enabled devices left on a countertop overnight in its charging zone, which varies with device type and power consumption. Instructions included with enabled devices will show recommended charging distance and time for that device. For example, power-hungry, heavily used devices like game controllers, smart watches, fitness bands, hearing aids, or headsets charge best up to two feet away; keyboards and mice up to six feet away; smart cards and TV remotes up to 10 feet away; and low-power devices like home automation sensors up to 80 feet away. On the transmitter, an illuminated LED indicates devices are charging and it turns off when they’re done. Audible or visual alerts indicate when devices move in and out of the charge zone.

The Bluetooth-approved PowerSpot features a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) multiprotocol solution that makes the transmitter smart, configurable, and controllable. For example, BLE wirelessly schedules power transmissions, monitors battery status of charging devices, turns off the transmitter when devices are fully charged, and communicates data (detected devices and their IDs, BLE signal strength, charging level, and more) to the PowerSpot app.

“We’re excited about a consumer product we’re designing that is powered via our PowerSpot transmitter, but our main focus is on helping consumer device manufacturers develop their own PowerSpot-based wireless charging ecosystems,” said Powercast’s COO/CTO Charles Greene, Ph.D. “We already have numerous deals with Fortune 200 companies, and we expect product releases, theirs and ours, in 2019.”

PowerSpot development kit facilitates the design of PowerSpot-based wireless charging ecosystems:
The development kit enables engineers to test the PowerSpot’s capability to charge devices using multiple battery types. This data can help them decide if the wireless power solution is a fit for their application, and then plan their designs. It includes the PowerSpot TX91503 transmitter, a development board able to charge three kinds of batteries (a Li-ion 2032 coin cell battery, a Li-Mn single AA, and 3 Ni-MH AAAs in series), two Powerharvester receiving antennas (patch and dipole), and two PS915 illuminated RF field detectors. The development board communicates with the PowerSpot via BLE to turn it on and off, and communicates key data to the development kit’s Powercast Charging Monitor app. The board also includes an LED indicator that demonstrates how distance from the transmitter impacts charging rate.

Pricing and Availability:
The PowerSpot transmitter sells for around $100 from distributors Arrow, Digi-Key, and Mouser Electronics. The package includes a PowerSpot TX91503 RF wireless transmitter, six-foot power cord, USB wall outlet adapter, and quick start guide.

Once the transmitter reaches mass production, Powercast projects a $50 ASP from major electronics stores or consumer electronics manufacturers offering it as a charging option.

The development kit, expected Q4 2018, will sell for around $400 from the same distributors.

About Powercast
Powercast, established in 2003, is the leading provider of RF-based wireless power technologies that provide power-over-distance, eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, and power or charge devices without wires and connectors.  Founded with the vision of enabling untethered devices powered over the air, Powercast continues to create the most efficient, safe and highest power harvesting technology achievable while complying with the FCC and other global standards.   Powercast’s IP portfolio includes 46 patents worldwide (21 in the US) and 30 patents pending. www.www.powercastco.com.

Note: Visuals are available: https://www.powercastco.com/visuals/

Contact:
Michelle Moody
michelle@moodypr.com
+1.214.363.3460

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cdee9da3-5a73-422e-837c-9d8b27791ef9

Bluetooth Low Energy-equipped power transmitter wirelessly charges wearables and other portable electronic devices fitted with RF energy harvesting chips

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Original press release posted by Nordic Semiconductor here

Bluetooth Low Energy-equipped power transmitter wirelessly charges wearables and other portable electronic devices fitted with RF energy harvesting chips

Powercast’s ‘PowerSpot TX91503 wireless transmitter’ employs Nordic’s nRF51422 Bluetooth LE multiprotocol solution for wirelessly scheduling power transmissions and monitoring battery status of charging devices

Nordic Semiconductor today announces that Powercast Corporation, a Pittsburgh, PA-based RF wireless power technology company, has selected Nordic’s nRF51422 Bluetooth® Low Energy (Bluetooth LE) multiprotocol System-on-Chip (SoC) for its ‘PowerSpot® TX91503 PowerSpot wireless transmitter’, which the developer claims is the first FCC- and ISED-approved solution to provide far-field wireless power over distance for mobile consumer electronics applications.

Employing a 915-MHz RF signal, the PowerSpot wireless transmitter outputs up to 3W Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) (and associated ID data) that can directly power or charge up to 30 portable low-power devices—including fitness bands, wireless headphones, game controllers, hearing aids, and a variety of smartcards—that are fitted with Powercast’s patented embeddable ‘Powerharvester®’ technology.

The Powerharvester solution consists of a proprietary converter chip and a boost converter chip that once integrated in end devices, harvest intentional energy from the PowerSpot wireless transmitter as well as anticipated and ambient RF energy from other RF sources. The chips then convert that energy to DC power that can then be used to charge batteries or directly power the enabled devices.

Acting as the main ‘brain’ of the PowerSpot TX91503 wireless transmitter, the 32-bit Arm® Cortex® M0 CPU-powered Nordic nRF51422 SoC makes the transmitter ‘smart’, configurable, and controllable. For example, it configures and controls the transmitter’s 915MHz oscillator/PA subsection that feeds the power antenna and turns off the transmitter when wirelessly-connected devices are fully charged. The nRF51422 SoC also provides Bluetooth LE wireless connectivity for communication between the user’s end devices and the transmitter to monitor the battery staus of connected devices. This Bluetooth LE wireless connectvity also allows the user to employ a Bluetooth 4.0 (and later) smartphone or tablet to remotely monitor device charge levels and set timers for the transmitter to charge devices during certain periods, for example overnight, via Powercast’s iOS or Android companion app.

“We leveraged Nordic’s highly-integrated hardware and SoftDevice to do everything in a single chip for a much simpler design”

Eric Biel, Powercast

The PowerSpot wireless transmitter automatically powers enabled devices it detects within its charging zone and stops charging when no devices are within range. According to the company, the wireless transmitter can charge and power smaller, less power hungry devices—such as smart cards and basic sensors—at distances up to 24 meters while for more power hungry devices like game controllers, headphones, and smartwatches, the most suitable charging range is typically within 30cm. The transmitter itself can be mains- or USB-powered, so the ultra low power consumption of the nRF51422 SoC was important to keep the temperature of the 915-MHz subcircuit low, and enhance the efficiency of wireless power transmission.

Nordic’s nRF51422 SoC is a powerful, highly flexible multiprotocol SoC ideally suited for ANT™ and Bluetooth LE ultra low power wireless applications. The nRF51422 is built around the Arm CPU and includes 256kB/128kB Flash + 32kB/16kB RAM. The SoC is supplied with Nordic’s S310 SoftDevice, an ANT and Bluetooth LE RF protocol software ‘stack’ for building concurrent ANT and Bluetooth LE solutions.

“Rather than needing a separate microcontroller and Bluetooth LE radio, we leveraged Nordic’s highly-integrated hardware and SoftDevice to do everything in a single chip for a much simpler design with elegant circuitry,” says Eric Biel, Principal Engineer at Powercast. “We also needed low power consumption, and here again the Nordic SoC excelled.

“Finally, the pricing and availability of the nRF51422, along with Nordic’s hardware and software support, allowed us to accelerate the development schedule.”

 

 

 

View the release here