Tiny Generator Runs Off Vibrations

Warbothong writes "Researchers at Southampton University in the UK have developed a tiny generator that uses local vibrations to output microwatts of power. The device is smaller than one cubic centimeter. It shows promise as an alternative to batteries for applications where frequent battery replacement would not be feasible. The devices are currently being used in industry where 'there is the potential for embedding sensors in previously inaccessible locations,' but its creators imagine it could be used in devices such as pacemakers, where the beating of the heart would produce ample movement to power the magnetic mechanism."

Comments

animal tracking

[WindBourne]

This could be useful for tracking animals. Allow a capacitor to store the energy and when high enough, then give a burst radio signal. Likewise, the moon has a load of tiny trembles that occur. It may be possible to build small sensors and/or radios that make use of that.

Bluetooth mice?

[xjerky]

Could a bluetooth mouse take advantage of this, avoiding the need to ever replace batteries again?

Re:Bluetooth mice?

[Anonymous Coward]

Keep in mind that while 802.15.4 is transmitting (ZigBee uses this as the underlying radio technology), Bluetooth and 802.15.4 are prety much similar as far as power consumption goes - ZigBee gets any powqer gains from sleeping and not maintaining a baseband signal. For devices with many frequent updates, the battery life difference isn't very much.

It's only when you get towards low duty cycle things that power savings come out.

Re:Old tech

[AKAImBatman]

Couple this with a nice, but small capacitor, with a capacity for 2-3 shocks (probably 5-15mA per discharge will be sufficient), and you've got a nice little pacemaker that recharges itself.

Amusingly, self-charging pacemakers have existed for the better part of 40 years. Pacemakers used to be powered by radioisotopes which had a power-producing lifespan far in excess of the patient's remaining expected lifespan. The only catch with such pacemakers was that they had to be removed after death to recover the valuable Pu-238 materials for remanufacturing and reuse.

According to this article by a Dr. David Prutchi PhD, the devices fell out of favor due to the availability of lithium batteries capable of lasting a decade before replacement. However, one does have to wonder if the public fear of all things nuclear didn't contribute to the downfall of such devices.

Re:Old tech

[steveo777]

Not sure who developed it first, but I do remember being somewhat enamored with Seiko's Kinetic watches. They had a off-center flywheel attached to a generator and gearbox that powered a small capacitor. Apparently the watch would run for 2 weeks on a full charge and all you had to do was walk around with it for a few hours. But that was a few years ago.

Re:Old tech

[Vellmont]

However, one does have to wonder if the public fear of all things nuclear didn't contribute to the downfall of such devices.

I doubt it. People were afraid of all things nuclear in the 70s and 80s as well. I also think knowledge of the nuclear battery in pacemakers wasn't very widespread (I never knew about it, and while not a medical expert I'm fairly well informed).

My guess is it's much like the article says. A 10 year lifespan is long enough to consider replacing the unit with better technology. I bet it's also considerably cheaper to use a lithium power source than a Pu-238 one.

Re:Erm..

[Firethorn]

So you provide enough storage to perform the jump start, continually topped off by the generator.

I fail to see how it's a catch-22 any worse than the battery in a car: It provides the power to start the engine, yet has it's energy provided by the engine itself.