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Duke Univ. Device Converts Stray Wireless Energy Into Electricity For Charging

Posted by Soulskill on from the harvesting-the-ether dept.

Lucas123 writes "Engineers at Duke University say they've constructed a device that can collect stray wireless signals and convert them into energy to charge batteries in devices such as cell phones and tablets. The WiFi collection device, made of cheap copper coils and fiberglass, can even aggregate energy from satellite signals and sound waves (abstract). The researchers created a series of five fiberglass and copper energy conductors on a circuit board, which was able to convert microwaves into 7.3V of electrical energy. By comparison, Universal Serial Bus (USB) chargers for small electronic devices provide about 5V of power. The device, the researchers say, is as efficient as solar cells with an energy conversion rate of 37%."

15 of 216 comments (clear)

  1. Units! by olsmeister · · Score: 5, Funny

    7.3V of energy? USB provides 5V of power? Arggh. I think my head just asploded.

    1. Re:Units! by GenieGenieGenie · · Score: 4, Funny

      If you smoke enough pot, as the authors of this cheap attempt at attention-grabbing surely must have, you start seeing double and 5V turns to 55W...

    2. Re:Units! by istartedi · · Score: 3, Funny

      Just relax and drink a few amperes of beer. That'll help.

      --
      For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
    3. Re:Units! by wjr · · Score: 4, Funny

      And if I scuff my feet while walking across the room, I can generate TWENTY! THOUSAND! VOLTS! OF! ENERGY! Someone hook me up to the power grid!

    4. Re:Units! by Arancaytar · · Score: 4, Funny

      charge of many thousands of volts

      You're not helping.

    5. Re:Units! by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 4, Funny

      So you're saying that his house coil didn't resonate well with the utility company?

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    6. Re:Units! by Nethemas+the+Great · · Score: 1, Funny

      Thank you Captain Obvious. What dark alley will you illuminate next?

      --
      Two of my imaginary friends reproduced once ... with negative results.
  2. Too bad by XanC · · Score: 4, Funny

    This summary had such potential, too.

    1. Re:Too bad by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I am resisting the urge to laugh.

    2. Re:Too bad by Billy+the+Mountain · · Score: 4, Funny

      Ohm my god!

      --
      That was the turning point of my life--I went from negative zero to positive zero.
    3. Re:Too bad by Arancaytar · · Score: 3, Funny

      At least this headline is current.

    4. Re:Too bad by Rich0 · · Score: 1, Funny

      Seriously, I'm dyne-ing here. Joule have to come up with a better joke next time.

  3. Resistor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey, I can get -174 dBm/Hz from a 50 Ohm resistor too. Free energy!

  4. Re:Amps? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Approximately zero.

  5. This signal followed me home - can I keep it? by mwehle · · Score: 3, Funny

    Engineers at Duke University say they've constructed a device that can collect stray wireless signals

    WTF is a "stray wireless signal"? This is a signal without an owner? Slipped out of its collar?

    --
    Wir sind geboren, um frei zu sein - Rio Reiser