Global Auto Industry Gets First Open Standard for Wire-Free Mobile Device Charging

JVIS USA, LLC, of Shelby, Michigan, a developer of wire-free power technology, is announcing the formation of Open Dots Alliance – a non-profit organization to further shepherd and promote the world’s first and only open standard for wire-free power, currently in use on 12 vehicle models across five major automobile brands.

The standard is called Open Dots: “Open” because it is an open platform free of royalties or license fees, and “Dots” because it employs a distinctive pattern of four contacts (or dots) to receive wire-free power. The standard has been in use and is currently available in more cars and trucks than all other wire-free power technologies combined.

Wire-free charging is gaining greater acceptance among automotive manufacturers because vehicle owners want a hassle-free “drop and charge” means to charge phones while they drive. However, the Open Dots platform expands this ecosystem to include, tablets, laptop computers, power tools and other commonly used electronic devices as well.

“The standard employs a conductive technology that is fundamentally different than other technologies based on induction,” explains Mitch Randall, a director of Open Dots Alliance. “Consequently, the technology offers benefits that are not achievable by other standards.”

These are:

• Guaranteed Safe – No electromagnetic fields are used. Zero risk of cancer claimed.
• Random Placement – Devices receive power at any position or orientation on a pad.
• High Power – The technology can deliver up to 160 Watts
• Power Diversity – High and low power devices can operate side-by-side on a pad
• Bulk Charging – A pad will charge as many devices as will fit on its surface
• High Efficiency – Efficiency is nearly 100%
• Low Cost – The technology is inherently low-cost.

On May 13 in Detroit at the Ward’s Auto Interiors Conference, the Open Dots Alliance will announce its first user consortium, the Open Dots Alliance Membership Program. Randall believes this will help ensure Open Dots products from various brands will work together seamlessly for a positive customer experience. The membership program is open to all interested companies with no fees to join.

“Members simply pledge not to make, sell, or resell ‘counterfeit’ conductive wireless products,” he said, “so consumers are never disappointed.” The Open Dots Alliance defines “counterfeit” wire-free products as those products that use a similar conductive technology but do not adhere to the standard.

The Open Dots Alliance’s new website, http://www.opendotsalliance.org, provides design guides, schematics, application notes, history, frequently asked questions, and more data. This will aid manufacturers in assessing the Open Dots technology, while decreasing their design learning curve.

A compliance logo is displayed on consumer packaging to show the product meets Open Dots’ certification standards. These standards and test protocols are provided in full online so that manufactures can self-certify their products to the standard.

“The Open Dots Alliance wants to make joining the consortium as easy as possible,” Randall said. “Thus, membership requires no fee or financial commitment, nor does it expose members to any liability.” To join the consortium, potential members simply submit a signed copy of the membership agreement. It can be downloaded from: http://www.opendotsalliance.org/Open-Dots-Membership-Agreement.pdf

Auto brands providing Open Dots compatible products include: Ford, Chrysler, RAM, Dodge, Scion and phone case maker INCIPIO. The Open Dots Alliance welcomes additional companies to join the consortium. For more information, email info(at)opendotsalliance.org

Open Dots Alliance will hold a media briefing to announce its first user consortium at 2:15 p.m., Wednesday, May 13, at Ward’s Auto Interiors Conference, at Cobo Center in Detroit.

Open Dots Alliance is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization, based in Shelby, Michigan, founded in 2015 as the custodian of the world’s first and only open standard for wire-free power, Open Dots. Open Dots Alliance maintains an industry consortium of member companies with the common goal of providing products that are inter-operable across brands for the public good.

Open Dots Alliance also maintains a website that provides essential technical design and certification information as well as historical and educational information. The Open Dots Alliance is funded by donations from wireless charging industry visionaries who share the goal of creating a ubiquitous open standard for wire-free power. For more information, visit:
http://www.opendotsalliance.org

Source: JVIS USA, LLC