Wireless power is inevitable in the evolution of wireless technology. Sending electricity from a power source to an electrical load without needing a plug or cord is in a true sense a 21st century technology, enabled by the meeting of science and high-power digital electronics. Expectations are running high that wireless power can become a new industry with vigorous growth prospects in the coming decade.
As the wireless power technology increases in efficiency, and as power consumption of applications comes down owing to other design efficiencies and trends (such as smart grid), at some time the two will cross and create new and compelling applications, in the home, in the car, and in industry. There will be hundreds of watts of power per household up for grabs. And there will be megawatts of wireless power applications industrywide, including consumer charging pads and far-more ambitious laser power beaming applications and everything in between.
Wireless power is already a reality today – with limitations. Solutions commercially available now are solely about power distribution, under the assumption that the “power” is still coming from the wall outlet (or a generator).
With that as our starting point, this new report looks at the current state of wireless power as it transitions from technology that R&D lab experts study into a commercial industry. The report covers the market potential of various competitive technologies and their application to electronics-driven products, from handhelds to electric vehicles to large equipment built for industrial sectors to wireless sensors needing battery-free power.
· Competitive R&D and commercialization activities at the major wireless power development companies, plus other companies developing different variants of wireless power transfer and commercial products – with 19 company profiles.
· Regulatory issues and standards efforts for first-generation close proximity inductive systems and the outlook in these respects for wireless power transfer over longer distances with RF-based and laser power systems and higher frequency magnetic resonance induction techniques.
· Opportunities and challenges to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of new and future-generation hardware products incorporating wireless power technology.
· Current and future prospective growth markets – and killer applications – that are evolving for the new wireless power technologies and inventions.
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Introduction |
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| 1 |
Government Regulation and Incentive Programs |
| 1.1 |
FCC Perspective on Wireless Power |
| 1.2 |
Wireless Power and Smart Grid: A Combination (Cooperation) Plan with SG |
| 1.3 |
Other Federal Programs and Initiatives (Past and Present) on Wireless Power Technology |
| 1.3.1 |
Space-based Solar Power |
| 1.3.2 |
NASA "Power Beaming" Innovation Incubator |
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| 2 |
Ongoing Commercial R&D and Development Trends |
| 2.1 |
Constraints / Challenges to Manufacturers of New and Future-generation Hardware Products |
| 2.2 |
Standards: Now and Future |
| 2.2.1 |
WPC Standard for Low-power Inductive Charging |
| 2.2.2 |
UL Safety Standard |
| 2.2.3 |
CEA Efforts |
| 2.2.4 |
Electric Vehicles |
| 2.3.4 |
Other Standards: Laser Power and RF Energy Harvesting |
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| 3 |
Wireless Energy Concepts, Technologies and Trends |
| 3.1 |
Scope of Viable Technologies |
| 3.2 |
Contact vs. Non-contact Systems |
| 3.2.1 |
Conductive Power (Contact-based Systems) |
| 3.2.2 |
Inductive Coupling (Non-contact, Short Distance) |
| 3.2.3 |
Resonant Magnetic Coupling (Non-contact, Medium Distance) |
| 3.2.4 |
RF-based Wireless Power (Non-contact, Long Distance) |
| 3.2.5 |
Laser-based Power Beaming (Non-contact, Long Distance) |
| 3.3 |
Range and Power Efficiency |
| 3.3.1 |
Short-distance Wireless Charging Technologies and Roadmap: Key Companies Involved, Current Development Phase and Next Phases Until Commercial Production |
| 3.3.2 |
Longer-distance Wireless Power Systems and Roadmap: Key Companies Involved, Current Development Phase and Next Phases Until Commercial Production |
| 3.3.3 |
Repeater Station: Technology Trends |
| 3.4 |
Analysis of Environmental Assessment and the Human Impact Statement |
| 3.5 |
Cost Advantages |
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| 4 |
Commercial Wireless Power Applications and Use Cases, by Market |
| 4.1 |
Consumer Electronics (Specific Products & Noteworthy Products within Category) |
| 4.1.1 |
Usage Scenarios |
| 4.2 |
Automotives/Transportation (Specific Products & Noteworthy Products within Category) |
| 4.2.1 |
Usage Scenarios |
| 4.3 |
Industrial Automation and Heavy Equipment (Specific Products & Noteworthy Products within Category) |
| 4.3.1 |
Usage Scenarios |
| 4.4 |
Energy (Specific Products & Noteworthy Products within Category) |
| 4.4.1 |
Usage Scenario |
| 4.5 |
Sensors and Transducers (Specific Products & Noteworthy Products within Category) |
| 4.5.1 |
Usage Scenario |
| 4.6 |
Medical/Healthcare (Specific Products & Noteworthy Products within Category) |
| 4.6.1 |
Usage Scenarios |
| 4.7 |
Other (Specific Products & Noteworthy Products within Wireless Power Category) |
| 4.7.1 |
Usage Scenarios |
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| 5 |
Case Studies of System Developers: Active, Visible Companies & Noteworthy Companies Currently Producing Products or Prototypes: Total 11 Companies |
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Common Research Items:
-Companies Profiled
-Production or R&D Theme and Objective (Technology, Applications, etc.)
-Production or R&D Stage and Commercialization Plans
-Production and Sales, or Future Prospective Sales
-Developer’s Opinion:
-What is the Main Regulatory Issue? Technology Issue? Business Issue?
-Future Market Outlook/ Perspective
-Expected Products, Devices
-What is the Killer Application?
-Other Comments or Special Note
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| 6 |
Other Companies with Involvement in Wireless Power Development (Internal R&D at Major Companies, OEMs, Component Suppliers, Solar Charging Start-ups) Total 8 Companies |
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Common Research Items:
-Company Profile
-Technology or Product Development Theme or Objective (Description, Applications, etc.)
-Strategic Alliances or Partners
-Recent Hot News
-Company Opinion:
-Killer Application #1, #2, #3
-Killer Technology & Its Application #1, #2, #3
-Other Comments: Market Perspective / Growth Obstacles
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| 7 |
Market Outlook: Production Projections and Forecast |
| 7.1 |
Market Size and Forecast |
| 7.1.1 |
Total Market, 2010-2015 |
| 7.1.1.1 |
Researcher’s Analysis |
| 7.1.2 |
Wireless Power Application Implication (Actual or Projected Market Entry) |
| 7.1.2.1 |
Researcher’s Comments |
| 7.1.2.2 |
Researcher’s Comments |
| 7.1.3 |
Wireless Power Product Implication by Company (Commercial Market Focused) |
| 7.1.3.1 |
Researcher Comments |
| 7.1.4 |
Wireless Power Product Implication by Forecast Market Entry, Company and Product Output Image (Industry Market Focused) |
| 7.1.4.1 |
Researcher Comments |
| 7.1.5 |
Market Data on Growth Products/Devices to Support Wireless Power Technology |
| 7.2 |
Mass Production Drivers and Growth Obstacles |
| 7.2.1 |
Growth Drivers |
| 7.2.2 |
Growth Obstacles |
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| 8 |
University R&D Centers and Activities |
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Common Research Item:
-Location/Contacts
-Technology
-R&D Theme and Objectives or Invention (Name, Description)
-Applications Focus
-R&D Partners
-Special Notes/Comments |
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| 9 |
Important Finding and Suggestions |
| 9.1 |
Summary Findings |
| 9.2 |
Recommendations |
| Table 1-1: |
FCC Rule Parts Covering Inductive or Radiating Wireless Charging Devices |
| Table 2-1: |
Roadmap for OEMs |
| Table 2-2: |
WPC Membership (as of August 2010) |
| Table 2-3: |
WPC Medium and Higher Power Standards Roadmap |
| Table 3-1: |
Technology Characteristics |
| Table 3-2: |
Short-distance Wireless Charging Technologies and Roadmap |
| Table 3-3: |
Longer-distance Wireless Power Systems and Roadmap |
| Table 3-4: |
Wireless Power System Developers’ Safety Statements |
| Table 4-1: |
Applications and Products |
| Table 4-2: |
Applications and Products |
| Table 4-3: |
Applications and Products |
| Table 4-4: |
Applications and Products |
| Table 4-5: |
Applications and Products |
| Table 4-6: |
Applications and Products |
| Table 4-7: |
Applications and Products |
| Table 7-1: |
Total Market Forecast 2010-2015 |
| Table 7-2: |
Actual or Projected Market Entry, by Technology and Application 2010-2015 |
| Table 7-3: |
By Application, % Market Share: 2010-2012 |
| Table 7-4: |
By Technology, Market Share Comments: 2010-2012 |
| Table 7-5: |
Commercial Market Focused Technologies and Companies: 2010-2015 |
| Table 7-6: |
Industry/Market Focus by Technology & Application & Company 2010-2021 |
| Table 7-7: |
Market Data on Growth Products/Devices by Applications |
