eZone

Chargers Be Gone

Wireless Power: Breaking the Rules

Imagine being able to recharge your cell phone without plugging it in. Expand this idea to Bluetooth-enabled headsets, MP3 players and other portable consumer electronics devices, and you have the premise behind eZone, Qualcomm’s promising new wireless charging technology. An eZone-enabled charging pad is a universal, connectorless power interface that can simultaneously—and wirelessly—charge multiple battery-powered devices.

“We want to break the ‘every device has its own unique charger’ rule,” says Bill von Novak, principal engineer. “Most of us have multiple power supplies and chargers because each of our wireless devices requires its own unique voltage, current and connector. With eZone, a family could have a single pad to charge all the phones, cameras and MP3 players they own,” says von Novak.

“ Today, cell phone chargers result in more than 51,000 tons of waste a year. Ending that waste could eliminate over 13 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year. ”

- Bill von Novak

Principal Engineer

Convenience & Reliability

The concept behind eZone is anti-power cord, pro-simplicity. Based on near-field magnetic resonance, eZone technology enables “smart” charging. Devices are placed on an eZone-enabled platform—a tabletop pad, laptop lid or in-car holder. The pad then transmits power only to those devices that need charging and then also knows when to turn the transmission off.

“eZone represents a big leap in convenience for end users,” says Sree Kasturi, senior engineer. “Given the diverse applications of mobile devices these days (and their immense potential for growth), there is an ever-increasing need for nearly uninterrupted power on these devices. eZone will make charging these phones a whole lot easier by minimizing user effort and will facilitate their continuous and reliable operation.”

More Flexibility. Less Waste.

Eliminating the need for a plug-in power supply will also allow for more efficient design of portable devices. They will be smaller, more flexible and easier to use.

In addition, eZone will help reduce waste. “Often, when an old device is replaced, the old charger becomes useless and is thrown away,” explains von Novak. “Today, cell phone chargers result in more than 51,000 tons of waste a year. Ending that waste could eliminate over 13 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.”

Innovative Environment = Innovative Products

The idea for eZone came out of one of Qualcomm’s Innovation Engine brainstorming sessions, which highlights Qualcomm’s commitment to the open flow of ideas and the trust it places in its talented staff.

“eZone is just one example of many cool ideas that have come out of Innovation Engine sessions. It shows the relevance of such collaborative environments in today’s world where technologies are becoming increasingly interdisciplinary,” says Kasturi. “It is a huge benefit to be interacting with engineers of different areas and getting a view of how different systems work together as opposed to a piecemeal type of approach. To me, as a researcher, it broadens my ability to try out new ideas.”

“In most companies, the design concepts flow from the project engineer to the engineers in the specific disciplines, then down to the technicians who implement and test the concepts in the lab,” explains von Novak. “At Qualcomm, ideas for new products and new solutions can come from any direction and from anyone. We get innovative products, because we foster an environment open to innovation.”

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