Samsung Monitor Adds Wireless Charging

Samsung has introduced what it says is the first computer monitor with built-in wireless charging, the SE370, using the Qi inductive power standard.

Qi, developed by the Wireless Power Consortium, is one of several standards on the market, with others including Powermat and Rezence, and is supported directly in smartphone handsets from the likes of Google, Motorola, Nokia and Samsung itself, with support via a charging case or add-in coil for other models.

Wireless charging technology – in Qi’s case, using a technique called inductive power transfer – allows devices to charge simply by placing them on a charging mat, eliminating the need for a charging cable. Toyota and Jeep have built Qi chargers into some of their new vehicles, while McDonald’s restaurants and Marriott hotels offer them as well, and Starbucks recently announced it planned to introduce Powermat chargers in some US coffee shops.

A charging mat adds one more bit of clutter to a desk, however, and Samsung said the SE370 is intended to eliminate this by building a circular Qi charging area directly into the base of the monitor’s stand.

Users place the device to be charged on the charging area to initiate automatic charging, confirmed by an LED light, Samsung said.

“Through the integration of wireless mobile charging technology, our innovative SE370 monitor dramatically improves efficiency, convenience and connectivity at home and at work,” said Samsung senior vice president Seok-gi Kim in a statement.

Charging competition

The monitor also includes features such as an eye-saver mode, features to improve visual quality and response time for gaming, and an environmentally friendly mode that reduces energy consumption by dimming screen brightness, according to Samsung.

Samsung announced its support for Qi last year, after having formerly helped found the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP), which develops the rival Rezence standard, and its flagship Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge smartphones support wireless charging out of the box, a charging pad being included with all devices.

The A4WP last year joined forces with the Power Matters Alliance (PMA), which develops Powermat, to create a stronger competitor to Qi, and in January of this year the two organisations said they plan to merge.

Unlike Powermat and Qi, the A4WP’s Rezence uses a technique called magnetic resonance, which the A4WP says offers advantages such as better charging through layers of material.

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