Summary of Wireless power and charging
The author explores retrofitting a Ladybird toy with wireless charging using affordable modules. After testing IDT chipsets, they opted for simpler, cheaper alternatives from Elecoteq Electronics. The prototype successfully charges an LED at distances of 1-2cm through paper and air, suggesting ferite could improve coupling.
Parts used in the Ladybird Wireless Charging Project:
- Ladybird toy
- IDT TX-P9035/P9036 chipsets
- IDT RX-P9021 chipset
- Wireless charging modules (TX/RX coils)
- LED (approx. 15mA)
- Ferite material
- Elecoteq Electronics modules
Before like two years when I got my first Ladybird toy, I was thinking it will be great if I can charge those wirelessly, without changing the battery. Yes, it is charging very slow, yes it will add some weight, but it will be cool.
QI standard is going forward, and there is already some IDT chipsets available on Mouser – TX -P9035/P9036 and RX-P9021, but according to first look on the datasheet, those are quite complicated and with a lot of external components.
In difference to those, before a month I saw some wireless charging modules, which seems to be quite cheep and simple.
Come home here in Sweden for one week after I place the order (probably because were single pcs. and quite light box). I test both, just with one LED for now (like 15mA) – they was working quite OK for distances up to 1-2cm, just some paper and thin air between TX and RX coils. With appropriate ferite it seems distance and coupling can be even better.
Just to fire further my interest, chip labels on board were erased, but fortunately I found a good picture where most of the labels were visible. Unfortunately no results after some googling, but finally I think I found the manufacturer of chips and some other wireless power/charging modules – it should be Elecoteq Electronics – http://www.liucr.com Website is only in Chinese, so I read what I can via Google translate. I found no datasheets, but for one there was some basic description
For more detail: Wireless power and charging
- Why did the author choose simple wireless charging modules over IDT chipsets?
The simple modules were found to be quite cheap and simple compared to the complicated IDT chipsets requiring many external components. - What distance was achieved during the initial LED test?
The modules worked quite OK for distances up to 1-2cm with just paper and thin air between the coils. - How can the distance and coupling be improved further?
Using appropriate ferite material seems to allow for better distance and coupling between the TX and RX coils. - Which manufacturer produces the wireless power modules used?
The chips are believed to be manufactured by Elecoteq Electronics. - Is there a datasheet available for the specific modules used?
No datasheets were found for these specific modules, only a basic description on the manufacturer's website. - What language is the manufacturer's website written in?
The website for Elecoteq Electronics is only in Chinese. - Can the Ladybird toy be charged without changing the battery?
Yes, the project aims to charge the toy wirelessly without changing the battery. - What is a downside of adding wireless charging to the toy?
Adding wireless charging will add some weight to the toy.
