Energous Receives FCC Certification for Over-the-Air, Power-at-a-Distance Wireless Charging

Energous has announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has certified its first-generation WattUp Mid Field transmitter, which sends focused, RF-based power to devices at a distance.

Energous' WattUp Mid Field transmitter underwent rigorous, multi-month testing to verify it met consumer safety and regulatory requirements. As the first Part 18 FCC approved power-at-a-distance wireless charging transmitter, the certification marks a significant milestone for the consumer electronics industry and paves the way for future wireless charging ubiquity for nearly any small electronic device, including smartphones, tablets, fitness trackers, smart watches, earbuds, wireless keyboards and mice, smart speakers and more.

The company's WattUp Mid Field transmitter can deliver power via radio frequency (RF) energy to WattUp-enabled electronic devices at a distance of up to three feet. The technology can do both contact-based and non-contact-based wireless charging, as well as charge multiple devices at once. WattUp is highly scalable and automatically charges devices, as needed, until they are topped off. While older charging technologies allow for only contact-based charging, Energous is the only company to achieve Wireless Charging 2.0 to-date, which is the ability to charge devices both at contact (including fast charging large battery devices such as smartphones and tablets), as well as power-at-a-distance. Similar to WiFi, the WattUp ecosystem ensures interoperability between receivers and transmitters, regardless of the manufacturer.


"Older wireless charging technologies have received limited adoption over the past 15 years, and are confined to contact-based charging only. The FCC certification of Energous' power-at-a-distance wireless charging transmitter is a major market milestone. It opens up options, outside of just contact-based charging, to Wireless Charging 2.0: an ecosystem where devices can be charged both, via pad and at a distance," said Stephen R. Rizzone, president and CEO of Energous. "Untethered, wire-free charging -- such as charging a fitness band even while wearing it -- is exactly what consumers have been waiting for. We are now in a position to move our consumer electronics, IoT and smart home customers forward at an accelerated pace."

"WattUp from Energous represents an incredibly positive lifestyle change," said Martin Cooper, Energous Board of Directors member and 'Father of the Cell Phone' -- a pioneer and visionary of the wireless industry. "This ground-breaking technology allows users to automatically charge their WattUp-enabled devices without having to remove them from their wrist or pocket, plug them in or place them on a mat to charge, freeing them from ever having to think about charging their devices again."

The WattUp transmitter could be integrated into the bezel of computer monitors, soundbars, smart speakers, TVs, smart lighting, and other electronics. The company will be demonstrating its very latest WattUp technology at CES 2018. Notably, Energous previously announced a 'key strategic partnership' which was rumored to be Apple. Please follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, or RSS for updates!