Wi-Charge's wireless charger tops up devices with infrared light (pictures)
What's better than laying your smartphone on a specific area to charge it wirelessly? Putting it anywhere you want.
Jessica Dolcourt
Jessica is a passionate content strategist and team leader across the CNET family of brands. She leads a number of teams, including commerce, performance optimization and the copy desk. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on the iPhone and Samsung devices. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds.
Jessica began her leadership role managing CNET's How To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones to home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick in the UK.
Although wireless charging startup Wi-Charge uses light to charge up devices like smartphones and portable speakers, we're not talking about solar power.
2 of 5James Martin/CNET
The transmitter
Instead, an overhead transmitter like this rather clunky prototype here will beam out infrared light.
3 of 5James Martin/CNET
Light, received
The invisible infrared beam will hit a receiver, in this case the silver plate on this case, which has been built for demo purposes.
4 of 5James Martin/CNET
Power up
Once captured, the receiver converts light energy back into electrical energy to charge the device, making this type of wireless charging suited to larger spaces, like your home or a coffee shop.
