The feasibility of wireless power transfer integration in contemporary furniture

A range of furniture pieces which allow inductive charging of low power devices have entered the market. Usually, the wireless charger module is cut through the furniture surface. As a consequence, the surface is not entirely smooth, which is aesthetically a disadvantage. It would be preferable if the wireless charger would be invisible, implying integration underneath the surface of the furniture. In this paper, we study the feasibility of inductive wireless power transfer with the most common used table top materials and coatings. We install the transmitter coil beneath the furniture surface so the wireless charger module remains invisible. We also measure the efficiency and power transfer of a typical bedside table with inductive powering, already available on the market, as a case study in order to obtain a reference for future furniture applications. Our main conclusion is that the presence of the most common furniture panels and coatings does not adversely influence inductive power transfer.