Power Matters Alliance

Power Matters Alliance
Abbreviation PMA
Formation March 2012
Type Industry Consortium
Technology
Region served
Worldwide
Membership
Open
Key people
 Ron Resnick (President)
Website www.powermatters.org

Power Matters Alliance (PMA) is a global, not-for-profit, industry organization whose mission is to advance a suite of standards and protocols for wireless power transfer. Founded by Procter & Gamble and Powermat Technologies in March 2012, PMA is networking technology companies in order to guarantee consumers interoperable devices which employ wireless power technology. Marked by the electron "P", PMA interface standard describes analog power transfer (inductive and resonant), digital transceiver communication, cloud based power management, and environmental sustainability. The PMA board of directors includes representatives from AT&T, Duracell, Starbucks, Powermat Technologies, Flextronics, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Energy Star. The membership of the PMA is made up of companies across the mobile device ecosystem, including handset providers, service providers, chipset suppliers, manufacturers, test labs and public establishments.[1]

Stated Mission

PMA leadership has been working to help diminish the divide among wireless power transfer (WPT) standards and accelerate marketplace adoption by focusing on the following two areas in 2014 as the fastest way forward: 1. Encouraging delivery of multimodal forms of WPT within single devices for an optimal consumer experience - including technical harmonization of multiple inductive WPT standards. 2. Members have made recent strides in proliferating wireless power transfer technology within automobiles and popular public infrastructure venues. The Alliance’s working theory is that if the members focus on certifying and delivering power to consumers in a mobile way to help them power up wherever they are, the wireless power transfer industry as a whole will also benefit.

PMA standard and technology

The PMA's stated mission is to formulate and advance a suite of interface standards for smart and energy-efficient transfer of wireless power. The PMA is actively publishing a suite of standards based on inductive coupling technology to provide advanced inductive and resonant power. In addition the PMA seeks to add a digital layer providing policy-setting, monitoring, and extensible APIs. The PMA manages interoperability, certification and logo programs according to these specifications.

On February 11, 2014, the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) and the PMA announced that they signed an agreement calling for the following immediate next steps:[2]

This agreement was a move toward industry consolidation of wireless charging standards.[3][4] The two organisations went a step further in 2015, by announcing their intent to merge into a new organisation.[5]

Key Features

Mark of Interoperability

The 'Electron P' mark of interoperability is required to set compatibility standards across markets and industry, and across all links in the delivery chain of the alliance. It is used by industries and companies that adopt and implement the PMA standards. It is displayed at coffee shops, clubs, hair salons, airline terminals, entertainment venues, and on mobile phone accessories.

Semi-Annual Conferences and Quarterly PlugFests

PMA conducts member conferences to provide members the chance to network with each other, participate face-to-face in the active working groups and receive the latest industry updates related to wireless charging and PMA. PMA PlugFests continuously improve the quality of the PMA Certification Program and the eco system. Members also conduct interoperability testing (at quarterly PlugFests) on various combinations of their receiver and transmitter equipment. This helps prepare members to submit their products for formalized certification testing.

Working Groups

Working Group Description
IPG The Inductive Power WG is a technical WG that is responsible for the development and maintenance of technical specifications for wireless power technologies based on direct electromagnetic induction.
SWG The Sustainability WG is an advisory WG whose function is to advise the technical WGs with respect to the requirements that permit the wireless power technologies to fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations (e.g., energy saving, etc.).
RWG The Regulatory WG is an advisory WG whose function is to advise the technical WGs with respect to the global emissions and coexistence requirements for the PMA technology being developed in support of the development of Wireless Power technologies which are compliant with regional regulatory requirements to the greatest extent possible.
CWG The Certification WG is a technical WG that is responsible for the establishment of world class certification program with short, medium and long term programs including the development and maintenance of test plans and implementation conformance specifications.
MPG The Multimode Power Group (MPG) is a technical WG that is responsible for the development and maintenance of technical specifications for multimode operations between the PMA inductive technologies and other PMA endorsed wireless power transfer technologies.
NWG The Network Working Group (NWG) is a technical committee responsible for the development and maintenance of network communication strategies and protocols for network related functionality of wireless charging spots. The scope of work done in this committee relates to provisioning, operation, administration, management, and user interaction of the network. The work ensures a viable framework to ensure continued growth of the wireless charging ecosystem.
TSC The TSC is the overall approval and coordinating body for all PMA technical activities conducted in one (1) or more of the technical PMA WGs. The TSC includes appointed leadership, WG Chairs, and Program Office staff.
UPG UPG is chartered with the leadership and development of standardized specifications for wireless power transfer based on non-magnetic technologies such as RF, ultrasound and laser that deliver power at a distance of up to 10m (30 feet).

Adoption

On June 11, 2014, Starbucks announced plans to provide wireless chargers at its coffeehouses in the United States and to test the wireless chargers in select European and Asian markets.[6][7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Members: All Listings". Power Matters Alliance. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "Alliance for Wireless Power and Power Matters Alliance Join Forces". PR Newswire. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Wireless charging takes big step forward as rival groups team up". Cnet.
  4. ↑ "Wireless charging takes a step forward, as two of its opposing groups join forces". Digital Trends.
  5. ↑ http://www.powermatters.org/menuless/337-alliance-for-wireless-power-and-power-matters-alliance-agree-to-merge
  6. ↑ http://news.starbucks.com/news/national-rollout-of-wireless-charging-by-duracell-powermat-begins-in-starbu
  7. ↑ http://www.cnet.com/news/starbucks-to-hook-up-wireless-charging-stations-in-shops/
  8. ↑ Open dots alliance.
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