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Hand Recharged iPod Shuffle

Posted by Zonk on from the ye-olde-ipod-shuffle dept.

randomErr writes "In one for the first article on the new O'Reilly MAKE magizine we see how to recharge your iPod with a crank. The "Torronesque" project was based on the idea of coming up with a project and buiding it even if it has no immediate purpose. Imagine getting a little power charge every time you press a key or open your phone or laptop."

10 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. Old idea by Spy+Hunter · · Score: 5, Informative

    It was patented in 1999 (the keyboard idea). here.

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    main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
    1. Re:Old idea by Spy+Hunter · · Score: 5, Informative

      Just because it was patented doesn't mean it's a good idea of course; I believe the amount of power that can be generated by this method is too small to be of much use, even at theoretical 100% efficient conversion. Instead of allocating extra space, weight, and manufacturing cost for this complex charger system, simply including a bigger battery will improve battery life more. There is some interesting discussion along these lines in the original Slashdot story about the patent (also from '99).

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      main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
  2. Heard of it already by deutschemonte · · Score: 5, Informative

    I heard of this like 2 years ago (or more) for cell phones. They had a charger that you could crank by hand, a mini solar charger you could put on your dashboard or roof of your car, and a fan that sat on the outside of your car. Admittedly I don't remember the company, but this is really old news.

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    The preceding message was based on actual events. Only the names, locations and events have been changed.
  3. not really a post by whatsup_will · · Score: 2, Informative

    come on, this is a bit nifty, but not slashdot material, this should be on hackaday not on slashdot.

  4. Re:Done before, but still cool by kanweg · · Score: 3, Informative

    It is about the iPod shuffle, which has no
    - backlight because it has no display.
    - hard drive but a static memory chip (pay attention: this is what introduced the rumor that music from an iPod shuffle contained static).

    The size of the battery could be smaller to accommodate for the power-generating mechanism. Weight and size of the mechanism are less of a problem than in a watch.

    Motion powered flashlights exist.

    I still can't exclude that the idea is feasible.

    Bert

  5. Can we say Trevor Baylis here? by DrogMan · · Score: 4, Informative

    Nothing new. Move along. Clockwork Radio The man himself

  6. That's not how it works by blorg · · Score: 3, Informative

    The number of recharge cycles is measured on a nominal 'deep' discharge/recharge cycle. Partial top-ups and discharges don't count as a full cycle, and are recommended with LiIon due to the lack of a 'memory effect.' Apple have a good page explaining this.

    The greater problem with LiIon is that they loose about 20% capacity per year from the date of manufacture, irrespective of whether they are used or not.

    1. Re:That's not how it works by moonbender · · Score: 2, Informative

      And Wikipedia has a good page explaining the memory effect. Necessary reading for future communications satellite owners.

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  7. not a full charge cycle by chasingporsches · · Score: 2, Informative

    ideally in ideal circumstances on an ideal day when everything is perfect in the world, new batteries such as those in the ipod and laptops can be partially charged all the time and work fine. however, that's the ideal theoretical situation, and doesn't really happen. most ipod users will have their battery crap out after a year to a year and a half mainly because of partial charges, because you have to recalibrate it which few do. charging a cell phone when you open it or whatever might be an immediate payoff... but not long term when you have to buy a new battery.

  8. Re:Now all he needs to do is... by Hognoxious · · Score: 3, Informative

    There are solar powered streetlights in Italy.

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    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."