Nokia Developed Wireless Power-Harvesting Phones

Al writes "An engineer from Nokia's UK research labs says that the company is developing technology that can harvest ambient electromagnetic radiation to keep a cellphone going. The researcher says that his group is working towards a prototype that could harvest up to 50 milliwatts of power — enough to slowly recharge a phone that is switched off. He says current prototypes can harvest 3 to 5 milliwatts. It will require a wideband receiver capable of capturing signals from between 500 megahertz and 10 gigahertz — a range that encompasses many different radio communication signals. Other researchers have developed devices that can harvest more modest power from select frequencies. A team from Intel previously developed a compact sensor capable of drawing 6 microwatts from a 1.0-megawatt TV antenna 4.1 kilometers away."

Comments

Re:Why not solar?

[sznupi]

Where do you put your mobile phone when not in use?

Exactly.

Re:Why not solar?

[Nursie]

I'll stop putting my phone in my pocket the moment someone proves that this "possible harm" is anything more than luddite hysteria.