Flexible, Plastic Sheets of Power

bethr writes "Imagine never having to plug in an electronic device to get power? Researchers at the University of Tokyo have demonstrated prototype plastic sheets with copper coils that wirelessly supply power to any device that touches its surface. You just put down your laptop and the pad sends it power: 'An array of organic transistors that detect the position of the gadget and direct current flow.' Apparently, the researchers had enough time to create a spiffy video of their doll house model, complete with a mini Christmas tree, showing off the technology."

Comments

Cost?

[Harmonious Botch]

Last time I was buying them at home depot, a socket was 79 cents and a cord was a few bucks. Why should I want to replace an already mature, tested, cheap, reliable technology with something that costs a whole lot more, and may direct power to where it is not wanted?

Re:Cost?

[djupedal]

Concept...you know - an idea that prompts another idea, as an example?

Your .79c socket matured decades ago, and will willingly flow power to any conductor able to penetrate one of the hot slots. And despite your very rigid non-stated Edwardian beliefs and desire to put-down something that falls outside that dormant little box you live in, these sheets won't be available @ HD any time soon at any price, so put away the fud and go back to reading by candle light :)

They are simply another proof-of-concept...something the Japanese love to put on display, of course. I can imagine being able to lay devices on such a device to charge my cell-phone, etc. - anything needing charging...flashlite; iPod; bluetooth headphones; police radio; personal vibrator; PDA...a circuit to detect and communicate with whatever is in contact would be trivial, and an obvious part of any marketable product. You could drop conductors on it all day long, including water, and without a controller to initiate power to the contact zone, nada. Lick it for all it cares.

Recall the topic here recently about China and South Korea moving to standardized chargers? This falls into the same area, being concept-driven, as it seems to be. Additional/separate & wired chargers would be 'standardized' (as in gone) because they would not be needed with something like this around. The charger-less product would then sell for less, since your home or apartment or hotel room or office desk or car/boat/plane/train armrest would already have one of these built-in.

Re:Cost?

[DDLKermit007]

Thing I don't get is why manufacturers don't move to a USB standard charger connector. Even allows data transfer if you want to let the phone do that (no stupid assed, weird serial cables). Motorola for one has been using those on their phones for a while, and other mobile devices. It's nice China & South Korea are showing some initiative though. It'll take time for us to see though as to if manufacturers will actually do it. A penny more for a licensed connector vs something you build yourself for a penny less causes stupid decisions.

Re:Cost?

[magicchex]

I got my last charger shipped to my door for $3 on eBay... works great.

i don't understand

[name*censored*]

How does it differenciate between the different wattages that all my devices take? I don't want to start cooking my ipod because this thing is giving it laptop voltages...

Re:Great idea!

[Tablizer]

Nicola Tesla would be proud...

Indeed. He wanted to "charge up" the entire planet such that you didn't need wires. I don't think they worried much about environmental movements back then.

Practical Applications

[Joebert]

Here's a few things I'd like to apply this stuff too.

1) Wireless mouse pad
2) Magnetic track-type lighting
3) Stove top -- Pots/pans/ect would have their own unique heating elements & the entire stove top would be usable

I'm sure there's plenty of practical applications for somthing like that plastic power...
4) Power strips with 100% usable surface area.
... power strip stuff.

Re:Slashpads?

[Anonymous Coward]

How efficient are these things? I would imagine it takes more watts to do it wirelessly than it would if you used a normal wire.