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Microsoft Researchers Use Light Beams To Charge Smartphones

Posted by samzenpus on from the power-up dept.

angry tapir writes A group of Microsoft researchers has built a prototype charger for smartphones that can scan a room until it locates a mobile device compatible with the system and then charge the handset using a light beam. The researchers say they can achieve efficiency comparable to conventional wired phone chargers. The biggest barrier? Smartphones don't (yet) come with solar panels attached.

10 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. It would be much more interesting... by ctrl-alt-canc · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...to zap smartphones with a beam of light whenever they are not properly silenced.

    1. Re:It would be much more interesting... by OzPeter · · Score: 3, Funny

      ...to zap smartphones with a beam of light whenever they are not properly silenced.

      Screw zapping the phone, the phone doesn't know any better. Zap the user instead.

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  2. Unanswered questions by war4peace · · Score: 2

    1. Would infrared work just as well?
    2. What happens if the phone orientation is incorrect? Light beam reaches its side or the phone lies face-up.
    3. What happens if multiple phones are detected?
    4. What happens if the phone is turned off?

    --
    ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
    1. Re:Unanswered questions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      5. When can we strap this to a shark.

  3. Another solution looking for a problem. by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 2

    If the charger can see your phone, it's not in your pocket or purse. So if you're not carrying it around, just stick it on a window ledge (for a much shorter time) or under an incandescent light source (we still have them, eh?)

    This also would not be for use outside the home - leaving it hang around to charge is a good way to lose it. Chargers are cheap - bring one to the office and everyone will love you when their phone is dying :-)

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  4. What they need by Chrisq · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is "a laser capable of emitting a beam of pure anti-matter".

  5. Caution: do not charge remaining eye by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 2

    http://cdn.computerworld.com.a...

    That's the sort of thing one of my bosses would draw up in two minutes and say "See? Only eight boxes. It's easy. Now you go and make it work in half a day."

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    1. Re:Caution: do not charge remaining eye by Citizen+of+Earth · · Score: 2

      You could get it down to one box labelled "Charge all smartphones in room". See? Super-easy!

  6. Not as efficient: TFS is wrong by hackertourist · · Score: 2

    TFA says: "Using a light beam to charge a smartphone could be as quick as many wired chargers, the researchers found, depending on the size of the PV panel."

    Efficiency is going to depend on the efficiency of the PV panel in the phone, but at 20% it's a long way off from the efficiency of a wired charger.

    The lengths to which people will go to avoid plugging in a wire still amaze me.

  7. Can some one explain the efficiency claims? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 2

    IMHO it is impossible to even come close to the efficinecy of a wire.
    With transformation losses and heat etc. the wire is still certainly above 85% efficiency.
    On the other hand, creating light is already below or at 85% efficiency and transforming it back to current with the very best 'solar cells' is at 48%. So bottom line we are minimum below 42%. That is less than half of the efficiency of a wire, without counting any further losses after the solar panel.

    --
    Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.