In 1891 Nikola Tesla, one of sciences most accomplished yet little known minds submitted patent number 454,622 [US Patent 454,622 - PDF download link]. This patent was for an RF [Radio Frequency] power supply. Two years later Tesla showed how it was possible to power phosphorescent light bulbs with a custom built RF Power supply. Then less than a year later he showed how to power vacuum tubes with "electrodynamic induction". This was a form of inductive coupling that use wireless resonance instead of the normal [at the time] direct connection.
Last year, almost 114 years later, Intel reproduced Nikola Telsa's system by wirelessly powering a light bulb.
But that was and is not the end; with the rebirth of the ideas and achievements of Nikola Tesla - The Wireless Power Consortium was founded. Their goal is to create an international standard for wireless power. This will allow one of the first global power standards as it will establish interoperability across devices.
In the short nine months they have been around [they were founded nine months ago today] they have pushed this standard forward to version 0.95 with the ultimate goal of version 1.0 firmly in sight.
The WPC is hosting interoperability testing in Eindhoven, The Netherlands on September 15th - 17th. This will be the first time that standard will be tested and marks the launch of this prototype testing. The WPC has also announced the adoption of the logo "Qi" to show that a device is complaint with this new standard for wirelessly charging low voltage devices [5 Watts and below].
With this announcement it means that one of Nikola Tesla's dreams might actually become a reality after a long 115 year wait.
© 2009 Bright Side Of News*, All rights reserved.
