Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
At CES 2020, Wi-Charge demonstrated AirCord, a directed infrared power system for compatible low-power devices. Its PowerPuck transmitter—also called the R1—was presented as capable of delivering power from as far as 30 feet away. That was a company-reported demonstration claim, not proof of a universal wireless charger: AirCord needs a compatible photovoltaic receiver, a usable optical path and a power budget suited to devices such as sensors, locks and signage.
What Wi-Charge showed at CES 2020
The January 2020 CES demonstration focused on reducing the battery and wiring burden of connected devices. Smart locks, sensors, cameras and building controls can be inconvenient or costly to service when their batteries need replacing, while running a power cable to each endpoint can make installation difficult. Wi-Charge presented AirCord as a way to deliver power without a cable at the endpoint.
EE Times described the PowerPuck, identified as the R1, as a compact transmitter that could plug into a wall outlet or screw into a light-bulb socket. The report said it could power compatible devices at distances up to 30 feet and that the product was expected to begin shipping in 2020. That shipping date was a forecast reported at the event; it does not establish when or whether that specific product shipped on schedule. The article also described photovoltaic receivers that could be integrated into a device or connected through a charging interface. EE Times’ CES 2020 report
The point was not that infrared would make every electronic device cordless. It was that a centrally powered transmitter might keep selected IoT endpoints operating without routine battery changes or individual endpoint power cables.
#1 Best Overall
- Easy to connect and use.
- Use:Replace the wireless charging function with DC 5V wired charging equipment, such as: mobile phone, MP3, mobile power supply, etc.
- Note:The installation of electronic modules requires basic knowledge and requires a certain electronic professional foundation and hands-on ability. Please purchase carefully!
- Package Included:2Pcs Wireless Charger Receiver Module PCBA Board Coil Universal Qi DIY(If there are any problems with the product, please send us pictures.Tell us more details about this problem.)
- Thank you so much for your purchasing from our store.Any question ,please feel free to contact us.
How AirCord delivers power
1. The transmitter sends a directed infrared beam
The transmitter takes electrical power from an external source and directs infrared light toward compatible receivers. Wi-Charge says its system identifies client devices, aims beams at them and can distribute energy among multiple receivers. Wi-Charge’s AirCord overview
2. A photovoltaic receiver converts light into electricity
A receiver contains a photovoltaic conversion element that turns incoming infrared energy into electrical power. It may be built into a product or supplied as an interface or adapter. Receiver integration is therefore part of product design, not an optional detail: an ordinary device cannot use AirCord power without compatible hardware.
3. Tracking and safety controls manage delivery
The system is designed to detect and target receivers, and to interrupt transmission when the optical path is blocked. Wi-Charge describes multi-receiver operation, but the power available to each endpoint depends on the transmitter model, installation and allocation among devices. Do not assume that every receiver gets the full rated output at once.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →What the current published specifications say
Wi-Charge’s current R1/R1HP specification page lists two delivered-power classes and different ranges for the transmitter models. These are manufacturer-published specifications, not independent test results. Wi-Charge R1/R1HP specifications
| Specification | R1 | R1HP |
|---|---|---|
| Published delivered power | 100 mW | 300 mW |
| Published transmitter range | 10 m / 33 ft | 5 m / 16 ft |
| Approximate coverage area | 130 m² / 1,400 ft² | 32 m² / 340 ft² |
| Coverage angle | 80° | Not separately stated on the specifications page |
The same specifications page lists 12 V transmitter input, receiver output configurable from 2.5 V to 9.0 V, an I²C receiver control interface, a proprietary API over Wi-Fi and an operating temperature range of 5–55 °C (40–130 °F). Receiver dimensions are listed as 37.3 × 20.8 × 8.5 mm. Those details are useful for preliminary engineering, but a deployment still needs validation against the exact hardware, receiver, installation and environmental conditions.
What hundreds of milliwatts can—and cannot—do
Continuous power in the 100–300 mW range can suit low-power electronics, including sensors, controllers, some signage and smart-home devices. Whether it can run a particular product depends on its average draw, conversion losses and peak loads. A lock or camera that briefly demands more power may need a battery or supercapacitor buffer even if its average consumption is low.
These ratings are not comparable to a wall outlet, a laptop supply or a conventional fast phone charger. A device that needs substantially more power, or must operate through interruptions without stored energy, is a poor fit unless its requirements can be met by a separately engineered system.
How infrared differs from Qi, RF and wired power
| Approach | Where it fits | Main constraint |
|---|---|---|
| Wired power | Fixed endpoints, high power and dependable supply | Requires cabling to the device |
| Qi/Qi2 inductive charging | Devices placed on or very near a charging surface | Short range and coil placement or alignment |
| RF wireless power | Some applications where radio-frequency delivery or different obstruction behavior is useful | Received power depends on propagation, antenna design, regulations and interference conditions |
| Infrared AirCord | Compatible low-power devices within a planned optical coverage area | Needs a clear optical path and a purpose-built receiver |
Unlike a close-range inductive pad, AirCord is designed to send power across a room-scale distance. Unlike radio-frequency power, its directed optical beam can be aimed at a receiver, but an opaque obstruction can block it. Wired power remains the practical choice when high output, operation through walls or consistent delivery despite movement is essential.
Rank #3
- Input voltage: 24V; Output power: 36W
- The output voltage and current: 12V3A
- Coil size: outer diameter 82mm inner diameter 30mm
- Transmitter module board size: 17mm*30mm; Receiver module size: 30mm*54mm
- Note that the distance is greater than 5mm, otherwise the receiving voltage is too high and the module will be damaged!
EE Times reproduced a comparison supplied by Wi-Charge, including claims about power, efficiency and interference. Those comparisons should be read as company claims, not as a neutral industry-wide assessment or independently audited measurements. EE Times’ report and attributed comparison
Line of sight is a deployment requirement
The transmitter and receiver need an optical path. A person, furniture, a closed door or an enclosure can interrupt delivery; the 2020 report said transmission stops when the path is blocked and resumes when it is clear. A reflected path should not be treated as equivalent to a direct beam: EE Times noted that reflections lengthen the path and can substantially reduce available energy.
- A smart lock on the far side of a closed door may lose its path unless the transmitter is installed on the same side or another suitable geometry is engineered.
- A camera that turns away, or a display moved outside its planned zone, may no longer receive power reliably.
- People moving through a busy room can cause intermittent interruption, so critical devices may need stored energy or a backup supply.
- A stated coverage area does not mean uniform power at every point; mounting, receiver orientation and obstacles matter.
These constraints make placement and interruption behavior central design questions, rather than installation details to resolve after selecting the technology.
Safety claims and what to verify
Infrared is invisible to the eye, so users cannot judge beam direction by looking at it. Wi-Charge says the R1 is a Class 1 laser product and lists FDA, FCC, CE, IEC 60825-1 and UL-related compliance or certification claims. Its safety materials also describe automatic beam shutoff when an obstruction enters the path. Wi-Charge safety information
These are claims about particular products and configurations; they do not establish that every AirCord transmitter has the same approvals or that all installations are covered in every country. Before deployment, confirm the exact transmitter and receiver models, hardware revision, installation configuration and applicable approvals for the jurisdiction. Treat safety as a product-specific compliance question, not a general property of infrared wireless power.
Where AirCord is most plausible
The strongest case is an endpoint that uses little power, needs to stay available and is expensive or disruptive to wire or service for battery replacement. Wi-Charge currently lists applications including smart locks, digital signage, retail displays, electric shades, sensors, cameras and other products. Wi-Charge product categories
- Smart locks and access control: Could benefit where added electronics increase maintenance demands and a reliable transmitter-to-lock path can be maintained.
- Retail and commercial signage: May help with displays whose power wiring is awkward, provided displays remain within the planned coverage area.
- Sensors and building automation: A candidate for fixed, low-power endpoints that are costly to reach for battery service.
- Cameras and moving equipment: Possible only after accounting for orientation, obstructions, peak draw and whether a backup source is needed.
- Vehicle or cabin accessories: A potential fit where the transmitter and receiver can be positioned with a stable optical path and suitable environmental ratings.
It is not enough that a device is called an IoT product. Compare the cost and complexity of receiver integration and transmitter installation with battery service and low-voltage wiring. If a battery lasts for years and is easy to replace, adding a transmitter may create more complexity than it removes.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →How to evaluate a real installation
- Measure the load: Compare average consumption and peak demand with the published 100 mW or 300 mW output class. Account for receiver conversion, operating duty cycle and storage needs.
- Confirm receiver integration: Determine whether the product needs a built-in receiver or can use an external interface, and include its size, cost and design impact.
- Map the optical path: Check the path in normal use, including closed doors, people, movable fixtures and the device’s full range of motion.
- Plan transmitter placement and coverage: Evaluate mounting, required coverage zones and whether one or more transmitters are needed. Do not infer uniform coverage from the area figure alone.
- Design for interruptions: Establish what happens when a beam is blocked or a transmitter fails. Use a battery, supercapacitor or other backup if the endpoint cannot tolerate a pause.
- Check the environment and compliance: Verify temperature and other site conditions against the exact product limits, and confirm approvals for the deployment country and configuration.
- Compare installed cost: Include transmitter power and mounting, receiver hardware, commissioning, integration and future maintenance—not just the cost of replacing batteries.
- Review control and failure behavior: Ask how receivers are identified and managed, what operational data is available, and whether the device degrades safely and usefully when power delivery stops.
What happened after CES 2020?
The 2020 report’s expected shipping date is historical, not evidence of delivery on that timetable. As of September 2026, Wi-Charge’s website says its Encode Wireless Power Kit is shipping to customers across the United States and presents AirCord as a commercial platform for smart-home, commercial and IoT applications. That is the company’s current availability statement; it does not establish universal retail availability or independent validation of every performance claim. Wi-Charge’s current website and Encode Wireless Power Kit
Best Value
- Transmit input voltage: 12V.
- The receiving module is directly connected to 4 * 1W high-power LED lights, which can be used for magnetic suspension lamps.
- Best distance from reception: 20mm ~ 50mm.
- Note: Can't be less than 15mm when used! Otherwise it is easy to damage the receiving LED light and device.
- Package: Charging 4 pcs &1W high Power LED.
Wi-Charge also offers its transmitter and receiver technology to product makers. Its commercial materials position the system for OEM integration as well as selected consumer and business uses. Availability, integration terms and suitability should be confirmed for the intended market and product.
What “wireless power for the future of IoT” really means
The credible promise is reducing endpoint battery maintenance or avoiding a dedicated endpoint cable in carefully chosen installations. That can make always-on sensing or more capable low-power devices practical where the power path, economics and receiver integration work.
It does not mean devices become independent of infrastructure: the transmitter still needs power, endpoints need compatible receivers, and line of sight shapes where energy can go. Nor does “no batteries” necessarily mean no energy storage; Wi-Charge says receivers can charge an internal rechargeable battery or supercapacitor. The value is therefore application-specific, not a universal replacement for batteries, outlets or charging cables.
Recommended Free Tools
The most defensible way to view AirCord is as a potential room-scale power layer for selected low-power IoT devices. Its usefulness depends less on the headline distance than on delivered power at the endpoint, path reliability, receiver integration, interruption tolerance and total installed cost.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
