Altair > Case Studies > Pioneering Real Wireless Power Delivery at Ossia Inc.: A Case Study

Pioneering Real Wireless Power Delivery at Ossia Inc.: A Case Study

Technology Category

Networks & Connectivity - RF Transceivers
Networks & Connectivity - WiFi

Applicable Industries

Electrical Grids
Telecommunications

Applicable Functions

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Onsite Human Safety Management
Transportation Simulation

Services

Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
Testing & Certification

About The Customer

Ossia Inc. is a privately-held company headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, dedicated to revolutionizing the mobility and connectivity of people and industries. The company empowers industry leaders and service providers to create ecosystems for delivering smart wireless power to small devices, which is a game-changer for the entire energy industry. Ossia's patented wireless power Cota® technology is delivered much like WiFi, is inherently safe, and provides real wireless power through the air and over a distance, even while the device is in motion. The technology was first launched publicly in 2013, and since then Ossia’s team of engineers has continued to evolve and improve on its wireless power technology.

The Challenge

Ossia Inc., a company revolutionizing the mobility and connectivity of people and industries, faced a significant challenge in demonstrating the safe transmission of power wirelessly from 2-3 meters away. The company's patented wireless power Cota® technology, which is delivered much like WiFi, needed to be proven safe for humans and within the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandated Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limit of 1.6 watts per kilogram. The technology was designed to provide real wireless power through the air and over a distance, even while the device is in motion. However, the safety of this technology was paramount, especially considering the potential effects on objects or living beings that could unknowingly walk into the path of the wireless power transmission.

The Solution

To address this challenge, Ossia Inc. turned to Altair's comprehensive electromagnetic software FEKO® for simulations. The software's hybridized numerical methods enabled efficient analysis of a broad spectrum of electromagnetic problems. Ossia engineers used FEKO to perform simulations that modeled human tissue with actual characteristics, demonstrating the performance of the Cota technology against the required limits. The team successfully addressed the challenging task of solving 200+ antenna array elements in the presence of a human phantom using FEKO’s hybrid solution. The software's scripting capabilities were also utilized to automate simulations with different array configurations and phantom locations, reducing setup time and minimizing errors. The simulations successfully supported the testing of the technology at Ossia, helping to advance Cota wireless power into a mainstream technology.

Operational Impact

The use of Altair's FEKO software for simulations has significantly improved the operational efficiency and accuracy of Ossia's testing process. The software's scripting capabilities have automated simulations with different array configurations and phantom locations, dramatically reducing setup time and minimizing errors that occur during a manual process. This has allowed Ossia engineers to focus more on improving the technology and less on the tedious setup process. Moreover, the successful simulations have supported the testing of the Cota technology, helping to advance it into a mainstream technology. This has not only validated the safety of the technology but also its potential to revolutionize the way we live and do business.

Quantitative Benefit

The Cota receiver chip is small, only 3mm x 3mm, and easily fits in smartphones, wearables, sensors, and other IoT devices.
It can receive up to four watts of incoming radio frequency (RF) power from as many as four antennas simultaneously.
A single Cota transmitter can power an entire room or vehicle.