Texas Instruments and Fulton Innovation focus on wireless power

TI semiconductors and Fulton eCoupled™ technology to enable contactless power delivery and charging solutions

DALLAS. - Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) announced it is working with Fulton Innovation, LLC (Fulton) to accelerate development of efficient wireless power solutions that can charge portable devices without traditional power cords. TI semiconductor technologies can help minimize cost, board space, and accelerate time to market of Fulton’s eCoupled™ technology-based power delivery and charging systems in low-, medium- and high-power applications ranging from cell phones to notebook computers to power tools and other rechargeable applications.

As part of the relationship, TI integrated circuits (ICs) could be designed to support eCoupled inductive wireless power technology, a patented technique that optimizes power transfer under multiple, varying load conditions and spatial configurations. These IC-based solutions would be used to create a universal power source that can charge multiple devices at the same time, including devices that require different charging voltages. Imagine charging a laptop, cell phone, digital camera and MP3 player all at once, in one place, and never plugging a charger into the wall.

"We are excited to work with Texas Instruments to co-develop advanced, inventive power delivery solutions" said Dave Baarman, Fulton’s director of advanced technologies. "This will enable commercialization of cost and power-efficient systems, benefitting both the makers and end-users of portable equipment"

"Fulton’s eCoupled technology is exciting and provides new opportunities for commercial, industrial and consumer electronics manufacturers to change the way power is delivered to their devices" said Steve Anderson, senior vice president of TI’s power management business unit. "Users will be able to charge their cell phones, headsets and laptops in new and convenient ways that previously were not possible"

Saving energy through wireless power

Many consumers do not realize that home electronics continue to draw electricity while the products are turned off, but research from the U.S. Department of Energy determined that, on average, 75 percent of all electricity used to power electronics is consumed when products are not in use. Fulton’s eCoupled technology addresses this problem by using an advanced profiling protocol that identifies eCoupled-enabled devices to be powered. At the same time, the profiling protocol also assesses power needs and individual battery lifecycles to provide only the necessary amount of power for any given device.