LAS VEGAS (AP) — A startup that harnesses the power of radio waves to charge your mobile devices has come up with an ultra-small transmitter to keep a fitness band topped up with power.
Energous Corp. unveiled a mini WattUp transmitter at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas. The company says the transmitter, about the size of a USB thumb drive, will deliver less than half a watt of power to a special receiver chip that can be embedded in a wearable device.
While that's not enough to charge up a smartphone quickly, Energous says it's great to zap a fitness band full of energy in 10 to 40 minutes.
One key benefit: By using wireless charging, Energous says a band can be completely sealed and waterproof because it doesn't need an external charging port. That means not worrying about taking it off in the shower or swimming pool.
Because the device sends energy in the near-Wi-Fi band around 5.8 GHz however, it'll need clearance from the Federal Communications Commission, a process that could push the first usable product into late 2016 or early 2017.
Energous is headquartered in San Jose, California.