The bulk of people use cell phones, which, in addition to regular telephone communications, provide a lot additional functions useful in everyday life: notebook, calendar, Internet access and similar to them. A cell phone, like any electronic device, requires a constant voltage source to function. In this case, due to its mobile nature and relatively high power consumption, its function is performed by a rechargeable battery.
The traditional way of recharging the on-board battery is to connect to a 220-volt network through an additional adapter, which is standard with the vast majority of phones. With all its advantages, the adapter is rather inconvenient in practical use and relatively recently it has an alternative: wireless charging.
How Wireless Charging Works
The device in the course of its operation uses the standardized WPC technology, developed a little over ten years ago. The essence of the transfer of current to the device being charged is to use the magnetic coupling of two coils, which are located at a short distance (maximum 4 cm by the standard) from each other, Figure 1.
For this reason, to charge, simply place the smartphone on the docking station, which can be configured as a desktop a device (usually round, an example is shown in Figure 1) or in the form of a bracket for mounting on a car dashboard, picture 2. The alternating current induced in the coil is rectified by the diode bridge and supplied to the battery.
The take-up coil is included in the telephone circuit, which in this case is marked with the Qi symbol. For the possibility of using devices without this option, the receiving part should be designed as adapter, Figure 3, which in one way or another (by a sticker on the case or case) is fixed on the phone case and is connected to the standard jack through a short connecting cable micro-USB.
Advantages and disadvantages of technology
The main advantage of wireless charging is determined by its name: you can do without inconvenient wires. Wireless charging stations are easily placed in waiting rooms of airports, bus stations and other similar places, easily performed as a group device, Figure 4. The absence of risks of mechanical damage to the socket for connecting a standard wire adapter cannot be disregarded either. In addition, smartwatches and some other devices also work well with wireless charging units.
The main disadvantages are considered to be a relatively low charging current, which approximately doubles the duration of reaching a full battery charge. Some users note a rather strong heating of the device, which is probably due to the lack of a regulator.
Conclusion
As you can see, wireless charging has its advantages and disadvantages. Which of them is more significant for a specific phone user depends on the mass of factors that are difficult to formalize, incl. purely subjective. Therefore, the general verdict on the appropriateness of the purchase is decided each time individually.