How to get your Qi project certified by the Wireless Power Consortium
By aligning with the Wireless Power Consortium and Qi standard—the way big name brands like Apple, Samsung and Avnet have—you can help verify the quality of your product to new customers.
The Qi logo signifies that these products aren’t just “compatible,” but have gone through rigorous testing for not only functionality and backwards compatibility but also user safety.
Registration also lists your product in the Qi Certified Product Database. This allows someone to search directly for your product.
Although there are some quirks that require only two-step certification (think previously certified products that are rebranded or installed into automobiles or furniture), usually there is a six step process to getting your Qi project certified:
- Manufacturer administration
- Logo licensee administration
- Testing by an authorized test lab
- Testing by an interoperability test lab
- Finalizing description
- Final approval and certification
Before your product even begins the process of certification, you’ll need to apply for membership to the Wireless Power Consortium. There are three membership types – associate, regular and full – with fees ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 annually and different rights with which you can participate in the consortium. A fourth, small business meant for those with annual revenue of less than $10 million, pay $2,500 per product to be certified and entered into the database.
Once you join, you’ll apply for use of the Qi certified logo for your products.
After that, there are two sets of testing:
- Initial testing: Done by one of more than a dozen authorized testing labs, these test the viability of your product and ensure it matches specifications. This is also where safety tests occur.
- Interoperability testing: The other test is for interoperability to make sure it is backwards compatible with all other tests.
Once both are passed, then the WPC finalizes descriptions and certifications and you’re ready to sell your Qi product.
If at any point in the process, you’ve got a problem, AVID can be a resource to help diagnose if issues arise. AVID, an Avnet company, has been actively supporting the development of the Qi standard for years. Plus, as a member of the Wireless Power Consortium, the team has helped a myriad of companies nurture this technology, paving the way not only for their Qi products to succeed – but for the standard as a whole.
Once you’re officially ready to begin the process, as well as for more detailed information, included special cases and subsystem testing, visit the Wireless Power Consortium’s certification program page.
