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Wireless Charging your Handhelds?

Flibble writes "The BBC has a story about a uk startup offering a mat for charging all your portable devices via magnetic inductive power transfer. Is this the answer to cutting the mountain of chargers I have to carry all the time?" God wouldn't that be a dream come true?

10 of 235 comments (clear)

  1. Works for my toothbrush, why not? by Enry · · Score: 5, Informative

    Sonicare toothbrushes (teethbrushes?) can already do this, and there are a few other bathroom-type things (elec. razors) that have this capability. This allows the items themselves to be sealed, so you can drop it in the sink, etc. without destroying it.

  2. Big Deal. by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Informative

    I've had one of these for a tablet PC for over 10 years now. Toshiba released one for doctors for their tablet PC's back in the mid 90's

    Got it with an auction I won that had 20 of those 486 tablet Pc's that used wacom tablets behind the screens for the pointer. Neat device.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  3. Re:Sounds like a great idea.... by Zathrus · · Score: 4, Informative

    Well that's not likely, but people with pacemakers are likely to fall over dead if they get too close to one of these mats.

    Pacemaker + powerful EM field = powerful EM field + corpse.

    I have no idea how close too close would be though...

  4. Lights on ThinkGeek have this by Bander · · Score: 5, Informative

    Charging by magnetic induction. They say, "like magic or something"... Har har. Kinda cool:

    http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/lights/5cf5/

    (I'm not trying to sell you these, I'm not affiliated with ThinkGeek, yadda yadda...)

    -- Bander

  5. Re:Dumb Question by cdrudge · · Score: 4, Informative

    Um...not quite sure what you are asking. There is nothing to short out...well, actually there is internally, but you just lay your device on it and it charges it inductively assuming that you have the SplashModule "receiver" inside your device to "receive wireless power".

    Are you confusing conductive with inductive? Inductive is using EMF to transfer the power. I'm starting to see more and more things use inductive recharging systems. I've had a razor that used it as well as many electric cars use it I believe.

  6. Similar Product by johnkoer · · Score: 5, Informative

    MobileWise has a similar product.

    I saw both of these reviewed on TechTV because they were at the CES show a couple of months back.

    They seem pretty cool but I really do not want to see the pricetag.

  7. Re:What would this do to portable fuel cells? by Oculus+Habent · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'd be much happier carrying around ink cartridge (pen, not printer) sized plastic tubes of alcohol or hydrogen, as long as there are standard sizes. We've had AA, AAA, C, D and more for decades. I inderstand that portable devicees have their own special shape issues, but a single style of fuel cell would be a huge help.

    Motorola developed an alcohol-based battery replacement in early 2000, but no word since then.

    --
    That what was all this school was for... to teach us how to solve our own problems. -- janeowit
  8. Re:Sounds like a great idea.... by hurtta · · Score: 5, Informative
    ... until everyone's head explodes from all the radiation. ;)
    magnetism has not yet been directly related to radiation poisioning
    • Well, also light is radiation.
    • radiation is not necessary same than radioactive
    • variable magnetic field -> variable electrical field == this (combination) is electro-magnetic radiation
    • How about micro wave oven?
    • However; energy levels are probably LOT smaller
  9. Re:Along these lines... by eXtro · · Score: 4, Informative

    Nikola Tesla proposed this around 1890 or so.

  10. Re:Sounds like a great idea.... by sfe_software · · Score: 4, Informative

    ... until everyone's head explodes from all the radiation. ;)

    I know you meant this in humor, but all this basically does is take a standard AC power transformer, and split it into two parts. The "primary" coil is in the charger unit, while the "secondary" coil is in the unit itself. Placing the two cores close to each other will complete the transformer.

    I think it's great. If everyone can standardize on the specs, we can have a single charger for many items. Imagine only having to buy one car charger for all (most) of your portable devices.

    This would NOT be a good idea for something that is magnetically sensitive, as it would effectively erase floppy/hard disks, cassette tapes, etc...

    The "radiation" would be the same that you'd get from any standard "wall wart" plug-in transformer.

    --
    NGWave - Fast Sound Editor for Windows