UNDERGRADUATE APPLICATION BASED RESEARCH: DESIGN AND TESTING OF WIRELESS PHONE CHARGER

摘要

Currently, there exists an abundance of handheld electronic devices, especially smart phones that require frequent charging. Traditionally, these devices were charged by using wired power adapters (chargers). However, the use of wires poses limits in terms of user convenience and distance from electrical outlets. While wireless chargers exist, commercial widespread use of the technology for consumer electronics is relatively recent. Also, the application of the underlying science and engineering principles of power transfer wirelessly are not commonly explored in Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) programs. In this paper, the authors report their findings and present the results of application- based research on the prototyping and testing of a wireless charger. This research was conducted as an independent study course by one student, who was supervised by an Electrical Engineering Technology professor. The design procedure is explained, tests results are presented, lessons learned are discussed, and ways in which the project could be incorporated into the lab component of an Electrical Engineering Technology course are suggested. Lastly, the authors suggest ways in which their design and approach could be improved.