Gizmos & Gadgets: Long-Range Wireless Charging Solved by Polish-Ukrainian Startup

February 11, 2016 – In the world of smart devices these days reliance on a plug in charging system is like walking around with an anchor dragging behind you. I have written about wireless recharging technologies that use pads. Furniture with built-in wireless charging zones not dependent on a plug. And even ultrasound-based wireless recharging. If you type “wireless charging” in the search window on this site you’ll read about WiTriCity Prodigy, Energous, Evatran and uBeam, all focused on what is a growing market opportunity.

Joining them is the TechNovator XE charge station. TechNovator, a Kyiv, Ukraine, based company, has invented a standalone wireless charge technology with a range of over 5 meters (17 feet). Founder and inventor, Ivan Chuba (seen below), has always had an interest in radio electronics and the old crystal radio sets that first appeared at the dawn of the 20th century. Crystal radio sets are very simple devices. They contain a copper wire, antenna, capacitor and crystal detector. A set of earphones lets you listen to radio stations.

Crystal sets are weak receivers. To make them work as a wireless charging technology, Chuba and his team in the Ukraine, Poland and the United Kingdom, built a shortwave spectrum antenna operating under 100 MHz that could be incorporated into a lightweight wrapper case for iPhone6. The case adds little weight to the phone while providing additional protection should you accidentally drop it. The device will be manufactured in Poland.

The charge base (seen in the picture below) transmits at rates between 2.5 and 5 Watts, safe for both humans and animals. To turn wireless charging on and off and track progress, the company has its XE app which users download from Apple’s App Store. Average recharge time is between 1.8 and 2.9 hours depending on the iPhone model.

The end result, a standalone device priced around $200 U.S., (that includes one iPhone wrapper case) capable of charging up to 4 wireless devices simultaneously. Right now it works with iPhones but soon it will charge other devices including Android phones, smart watches and laptops seamlessly.

TechNovator was featured at the recent European Silicon Valley Open Doors (SVOD) conference which took place January 27-28, 2016 in Dublin, Ireland. The show’s focus is to connect Eastern European tech leaders with global high technology players like Google as well as business accelerators and venture seed funds..