WBC86TX, WLC38RX, STSW-WPSTUDIO Datasheets and Software

[SRiesi]

We bought the following evaluation boards to test a wireless charging concept:
STEVAL-WBC86TX
STEVAL-WLC38RX

Now it seems that the datasheets of the evaluation boards and also from the chips that they use got pulled from the website. The control software STSW-WPSTUDIO also is nowhere to be found.

Is there some way to get all these files still or are they just gone for good due to some restrictions...?

[Didier HERROUIN]

Dear customer.
The support for mass market has been restricted, and documentation has been retrieved from the website.

I can provide you the GUI on demand, please open a case on st.com (https://www.st.com/content/st_com/en/support/support-home.html#), you ticket should be re-directed to me and I will be able to support you directly.

[SRiesi]

Thanks for the fast reply! I opened case 00238225.

[cyber_v1]

Hi @SRiesi I'm sorry for chiming in, but I opened the case 00238307 about the software, and I was told "It may be available with some quantity qualifications with a direct ST contact. Usually, this type of support requires a sales volume of about $1 million/year."

I can't believe my eyes; have you received a similar response?

[Didier HERROUIN]

Dear customer,

I just answered to your case, providing the documentation you miss.

We did not set a threshold to 1M$ minimum, but it is true that support to mass market project may be reduced.

It depends also on your constraints (for instance, if you want to design your own coils, it becomes much more complex).

[cyber_v1]

For what's worth, we haven't received any software in 00238307. We've been advised "to ask a question in our very active community forums" :clown_face:

[AnkhInnovationsLLC]

Yup. Welcome to ST. $1,000,000 is ridiculous.

That's 333,333 tx or rx chips in a single year. Like who does that kind of volume? Not many.

For alternative Qi products freely available on the market check out:

 

 

Manufacturer Transmitter (Tx) IC Receiver (Rx) IC Pair Notes

Renesas (IDT)	P9038 (up to 8 W)	P9025AC (5 W)	Available as matched reference kits—P9038-R-EVK and P9025AC-R-EVK for turnkey integration datasheetbank.comrenesas.comDigiKeywe-online.com
Texas Instruments	BQ500210 (Qi Gen‑2 Tx)	BQ51013 / BQ51013C (Rx)	TI’s bqTESLA portfolio includes the Gen‑2 transmitter BQ500210 with matching Rx BQ51013 Texas Instrumentsti.com.cn. For Qi v1.3 compliance, BQ51013C works with BQ500212A or other Qi transmitters Texas Instruments
Generalplus / Infineon / NXP / ROHM	Various Qi Tx ICs	Qi receivers of choice	These companies offer transmitter ICs but not paired Rx solutions (i.e., no packaged pair) AllDatasheetWikipedia
Powermat Technologies	Transmitter hardware	Receiver hardware	Powermat offers both sides for their AirFuel and Qi-compatible systems—more of a system-level product rather than IC pair Wikipedia

[cyber_v1]

@AnkhInnovationsLLC unfortunately when I was investigating it, I noticed all ICs by Renesas are now obsolete, TI BQ500210 is NRND, and BQ51013 is a bit big for small wearable devices (and I confirmed with TI they're not going to release a version of it in WLCSP). I also heard from them a product can't be Qi-certified unless it follows the latest standard, Qi 2.x (if I understood them correctly).

It's also interesting to note these things started happening in mid-2023, and what else happened in 2023?
Qi 2.0 April 2023 15 W - Incorporates Apple's MagSafe standard for alignment and mounting ...

Hence my suspicions this was done deliberately so that Apple can later say they're the first to release a Qi 2 charger with the latest features.

[AnkhInnovationsLLC]

What about from Infineon?

Looks like they have Qi 2.0 and dev kits available

WLC1115 

 

[AnkhInnovationsLLC]

So I don't believe they are only certifying 2.x at this time. You just can't mix BPP and MPP.

You can mix BPP and EPP.

 

[cyber_v1]

Indeed, WLC1115 may be the solution!

I saw it before but was scared off by the authentication *** (needs another chip?). Hopefully it's optional.