A New Wireless Power Transmission Sheet

Roland Piquepaille writes "Several companies have started to sell power 'pads' that can charge your cellphone when you put it on the pad's surface. But these silicon-based pads are expensive — and relatively 'specialized.' Now, Japanese researchers have built a plastic sheet which could power all the devices placed close to it. So far, this 4-layer sheet, which uses printed organic transistors and plastic MEMS switches, can deliver up to 40 watts of power — enough for some laptops. The technology is apparently efficient and inexpensive to produce. But as the devices to recharge will need to incorporate a special receiver, don't expect to see these plastic power sheets on sale before several years."

Comments

Re:This is stupid

[drinkypoo]

Sorry to be blunt, but this is just stupid. Plug your phone into the little wire, and be done with it.

If you were right, bluetooth would not exist, and we'd just use the little wire.

but you're wrong. wires are a bitch. and now that you can transfer the data wirelessly, it's highly desirable to be able to transmit power wirelessly as well.

This is also absolutely necessary in a hospital setting; currently you have to have covers over all ports. Eliminate the ports, eliminate the covers, make the device more fluid-resistant, it's a win-win-win situation.

Aftermarket receivers will come first...

[TBone]

Just like every Chinese fab is making electronics accessories for laptops and cell phones and such, expect that, if these things get cheap enough, we'll start seeing adapters to clip onto the bottom of phones that will take power from the pad.

Shortly after that, expect to start seeing universal adaptor kits at Radio Shack with a switch-selector voltage output, and 87 plugs, to connect to a generic charger. Maybe a charger base with 3 outputs.

The application for such a pad is MUCH larger than the article implies. It won't require manufacturers to integrate such receivers until well after their acceptance, which will drive down the price per unit to incorporate them into devices.

Re:i remember this

[jusDfaqs]

Oh yea, Tesla was playing with this a while back :-)

Re:How Efficient?

[Big_Breaker]

Wall warts are probably worse for wasting energy, especially since they stay plugged into the wall even when the gadget is not recharging. That burns energy 24/7.

One pad - even with transmission losses - is probably better than the typical 3-6 wall wart chargers in use at a given time.

Re:This is stupid

[xenotrout]

Sure, this sheet does require a wire, but that wire can be plugged in once and left connected. Especially useful if many devices can be charged by one pad. In the case of charging and powering mobile devices, the wire isn't as bad as having to plug it in and unplug it, possibly keeping track of multiple plugs and wires. Minor difference for a single device but a larger difference for multiple devices.

Re:How Efficient?

[hotdiggitydawg]

And all it's doing is charging cell phones or mp3 players, it would be on for only a few hours a day, at most. Rubbish. Its sole purpose for existence is the convenience/laziness of not having to plug your device in. Do you seriously think anyone lazy enough to want such a charger will bother to turn it off? And "standby" mode is largely useless in cheap electronic goods from an environmental perspective.

Additionally, it is only 40 watts now. Who's to say it won't be capable of, say, 1000 Watts in a few years time? Wireless kettle/microwave, anyone?

Ye Another Ridiculouxs Tesla Power Idea

[Ancient_Hacker]

Folks, *think*. People worry about microwave ovens leaking milliwatts.

Here someone is suggesting letting free many watts.

Just ain't going to ever be approved.

It doesn't take much power, under a watt, to make instant cataracts. Ask any old radar operator.

Re:This is stupid

[FrankieBaby1986]

Wouldn't simply using one adapter for all your devices suffice? If cellphones, pda's etc would STANDARDIZE their power adapters (they won't, so cingular, LG, etc. can continue charging $30!!! for a cellphone charger!) to a standard form factor and voltage, then you could use one, more efficient, auto switching power supply. Then a simple daisy-chain style connector could be created, and bingo, less mess. Devices would simply require a diode-square (polarity protection) and a voltage regulator. Then a simple, two or three pin system could be made (5 and 12 volts). Thus eliminating multiple wall-warts, allowing for daisy-chain or octopus charging, etc. Each extension wire would have a male+female end. This would allow for both chaining and octopus connections. Less loss due to transmission losses, less potentially harmful EM radiation, etc.

Re:This is stupid

[GlL]

In his essay WALDO, Robert Heinlein (ahead of his time again), (link to a synopsis http://www.wegrokit.com/jmwami.htm), raises some concerns regarding the health implications of this type of technology. With all of the radiant energy that we are already pumping through ourselves, what are the health implications of this technology? This won't be adopted in my house until the health implications are sufficiently addressed.