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.

How Efficient?

[FroBugg]

The article gives some efficiency numbers, but doesn't explain exactly what they're talking about.

The researchers say the transmission of power happens with 81.4% efficiency -- compared to 93% efficiency in the wired grid network as a whole -- with a "quite low" level of leaked electromagnetic radiation.

Now, I may be wrong, but I believe that 93% is the efficiency of electricity being generated at the power plant and then sent to you, however many miles away. So it's not an either-or thing, it's an extra loss. Instead of losing 7% of the generated electricity, you lose nearly 25%. This is ridiculous compared to the effort of just plugging your damn devices in.

Re:40 watts?

[Red Flayer]

Do you really want Sony powering your laptop?

I'm all for Sony implementing this.

Think about it -- when the charging device explodes, there's a chance that your laptop will be blown clear and suffer no harm.