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Wireless Power Now A Reality

Posted by Zonk on from the just-think-of-the-possibilities dept.

SlashRating© 35 slashdottit! tm CSMastermind writes "CNN is reporting on a breakthrough technology. A startup called Powercast has developed and patented a device, the size of a dime and costing 5$ to make, which allows power to be transmitted wirelessly. The device has already gained FCC approval and the company has inked deals with the likes of Phillips. From the article: 'Powercast says it has signed nondisclosure agreements to develop products with more than 100 companies, including major manufacturers of cell phones, MP3 players, automotive parts, temperature sensors, hearing aids, and medical implants. The last of those alone could be a multibillion-dollar market: Pacemakers, defibrillators, and the like require surgery to replace dead batteries. But with a built-in Powercast receiver, those batteries could last a lifetime. '"

10 of 197 comments (clear)

  1. dupe? by Mr.+Capris · · Score: 5, Insightful

    IIRC, there was something like this last year....

    Although i could be thinking of the "wireless extension cords" on ThinkGeek...

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    1. Re:dupe? by The+Great+Pretender · · Score: 5, Informative

      There was a report on cnet Jan 7 this year. They unveiled the concept and Philips interest at CES 2007 http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12760_7-9673092-5.htm l

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    2. Re:dupe? by saskboy · · Score: 5, Funny

      My calculator has had wireless power - from light, for decades. This is such old news ;-)

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  2. welcome to the late 1800s by smash · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Tesla did this sort of thing prior to 1900...

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  3. Not april fools by benh57 · · Score: 5, Informative
    This one's real kids.

    Write-up from Jan.

    Official Site

  4. Re:wtf by jibjibjib · · Score: 5, Funny

    This one's actually real, though.

  5. Probably NOT an April Fools joke by jsm300 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If this is an April Fools joke then a lot of work went into establishing background for it. According to a CNET article back in January this company (Powercast) attended CES and mentioned Philips as a partner back then. The article referenced here was written on March 30th (although the URL has 04/01 in the name). That article is in complete agreement with the Cnet article. the Powercast website (powercastco.com) was established last October. Then again, Slashdot has a tradition of a bunch of bogus articles on 04/01, but perhaps this isn't one of them.

  6. This story is legit. by aphexbrett · · Score: 5, Informative

    See this arstechnica article from Jan 17 2007.

    http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070117-8639 .html

  7. Lifetime by evilviper · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pacemakers, defibrillators, and the like require surgery to replace dead batteries. But with a built-in Powercast receiver, those batteries could last a lifetime.

    The batteries already last a lifetime!

    As in: when they die, you die.
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  8. This is actually actually real, here's the patent by Tatarize · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=pat& pat=7027311

      Total Assignments: 2
    Patent #:7027311
    Issue Dt: 04/11/2006
    Application #: 10966880
    Filing Dt: 10/15/2004
    Publication #:US20050104453
    Pub Dt:05/19/2005
    Inventors:Timm A. Vanderelli, John G. Shearer, John R. Shearer
    Title:

    METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A WIRELESS POWER SUPPLY

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