STMicroelectronics offers new wireless power receiver for fast Qi-compliant charging

STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor provider serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, has revealed a wireless power receiver with the industry’s highest available power rating of 100 Watts. Ensuring the fastest wireless charging times in the market today, ST’s new STWLC99 device can recharge high-end smartphones with the largest battery capacity in less than 30 minutes.

“Today’s phones are essential for digital living, as well as being a critical business tool for many. Significantly faster charging with our STWLC99 increases their availability and brings extra value to users’ lives,” said Francesco Italia, GM, Analog Custom Products Division, STMicroelectronics. “Its unprecedented power also changes the outlook for equipment such as battery-powered industrial tools, medical monitors, medicine pumps, mobile robots, and drones, enabling long runtimes with faster turnaround.”

In addition to enhancing user convenience, high-power wireless charging lets designers create industrial products that are free of power sockets and cords, which can deliver various advantages. Eliminating the charging socket can save space and allow sealing against water or dust ingress in challenging environments. Complications due to twisting or tangling of the cord can be avoided. Independently mobile devices such as robots and drones can recharge easily without a mechanism or human intervention to connect the cable.

Technical insights
With an energy-efficient architecture comprising a synchronous rectifier with MOSFETs of low RDS(on) and a low-dropout regulator, the STWLC99 directs the received energy to the charging battery with minimal loss and low thermal dissipation.

Compliant with Qi 1.2.4 and 1.3, it supports the Qi Extended Power Profile (EPP) and leverages ST’s specially optimized STSuperCharge (STSC) protocol for fast charging. The battery charging power reaches up to 100W when combined with ST’s STWBC2-HP transmitter solution.

The STWLC99 contains non-volatile memory for storing configuration parameters and provides an I2C interface for exchanging configuration data and charging control. A comprehensive set of safety features is built in, including foreign object detection with accurate current sensing, Q-factor detection in transmit mode, and overcurrent, overvoltage, and thermal protection.

STWLC99 is also capable of operating as a power transmitter up to 25W for charging other devices.