INDUCTIVE CELL PHONE CHARGERS

Inductance Wireless Charger in 2017 Armada center console.

Wireless chargers are now available that provide a convenience to our customer’s to help them avoid the tangle of wires or having to hunt for charger connectors. Wireless chargers use an inductive coil that creates an electromagnetic field from the charging base which can then be used to transfer a voltage, or charge batteries or run a cell phone.

The first vehicles available to be equipped for wireless charging are the 2016 Altima, Murano (Non-HEVs), Maxima, Titan XD (w/o front bench seat), and the upcoming 2017 Infiniti QX30, Murano, and Armada.

To ensure that the wireless charging module doesn’t power an errant object, the wireless chargers use tiny transmitters that communicate with small receivers in a device, such as a phone utilizing a Qi wireless charging technology.

Wireless charging modules support all the devices that have a Qi (pronounced as Chi) coil built-in or attached to their backing:

  • Phones such as Galaxy S6, S6 plus, and Note 5 have built-in Qi coils
  • Other phones require either a Qi-patch or a sleeve-backing to be able to charge phone wirelessly.

HELPFUL HINT

Inform the customer when they have a wireless charger installed in the front center console, it is within the inside key antenna detection area of the front console antenna.

Therefore, they should remember to not place their Intelligent Key fob into the center console near the wireless charger. The two-way LF (low frequency) communication between the Intelligent Key and the vehicle (BCM) can be affected by the proximity of the Intelligent Key to the charging base when it’s operating.

  • When the push-button ignition switch is pressed, the BCM activates the inside key antenna and transmits the request signal to the Intelligent Key.
  • If the wireless charger is ON charging a device, the vehicle’s engine can be started with the Intelligent Key inside the vehicle. However, there may be a possible interference condition while operating the vehicle if the Intelligent Key is in proximity to the wireless charging module’s electromagnetic field.
  • Our recommendation is to advise the customer to never put their Intelligent Key near the charger or in the center console cup holder (or allow anyone else to), while using the wireless charger.