Slashdot Mirror
A Universal Power Bus?
mjpalm21 asks: "A friend of mine recently sent me this story on a new universal power technology that charges devices through your desk. This is a cool idea, but it seems complex. I have long wondered why there isn't a universal power bus (UPB) along the lines of universal serial bus (USB). UPB would work like this: You would buy a n port UPB hub for your desk, and then all of your electronic devices (cell phone, PDA, computer speakers, modem, phone, hubs etc.) would plug into the hub via a standard UPB cable. I would think that the device manufacturers would be all over this as it would reduce their product cost (no need to bundle a power brick), reduce their packaging cost (smaller box), increase customer satisfaction (I know I would be happier), and give them another device to sell (the UPB hub and all those cables)! Why hasn't this happened yet and what would prevent it from happening?"
Remember back to the 80s and how clunky things seemed to be? Most of that was due to the battery. Everyone used the same batteries to help bring down costs, but then the final design was around the battery.
Since formed batteries have dropped in price significantly, they can make nice sleek designs and work the battery in rather than the other way around.
Whats this have to do with your question? If everyone could use the same power source, it would mean all devices would be required to support N Volts at N Amps (or set internal resistance accordingly). This means the addition of a step up or down DC-DC transformer to all devices, and taking a step backwards on battery design as you must accommodate the lowest common demoninator again.
However, not all is lost. There is a slim possibility you could add a layer of communications with the block and request a specific voltage from it, thus placing the logistics into the power block.
Figure out how to do that in a small package, and it may simply become the AC outlet. Quite clunky to accomodate at the moment, so specific individual bricks rather than an über brick is far cheaper, smaller, and much less prone to failure.
For now, just be glad the brick isn't an integrated part of the device.
Rod Taylor
I'm really suprised no one mentioned these yet. They're the funny connectors you plug into your internal hard drives. They provide 5V and 12V DC. This should be more than sufficient for the overwhelming majority of trinkets people need power for on their desk.
All that's needed is a sheath around the four wires, and some cute molding between this sheath and the Molex connector.
Why in the world has no one thought of this before?
If molex connectors aren't your thing, then do something with the mini connectors you use in your floppy drive (although if you're sufficiently clueless it is possible to plug these in reverse polarity.).