Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments
Search

News for nerds, stuff that matters

Slashdot Log In

Log In

Create Account  |  Retrieve Password

Tiny Generator Runs Off Vibrations

Posted by kdawson on Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:02 AM
from the shaken-not-stirred dept.
Power Hardware
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."
+ -
story
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

Tiny Generator Runs Off Vibrations 50 Comments More /

 Full
 Abbreviated
 Hidden
More
Loading... please wait.

  • Old tech (Score:3, Insightful)

    by mulvane (692631) on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:04AM (#19755033)
    Wrist watches have had this for years now. I think it was casio who first started doing it wide scale.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by TheMeuge (645043)
      I think for the watches, the amplitude of the "vibration" needs to be much higher in order to swing the arm. I doubt tiny little vibrations would do it, so for an application such as pacemaker, such a technology wouldn't do.

      But yes, this looks extremely promising. 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.

      • Re:Old tech (Score:5, Interesting)

        by AKAImBatman (238306) * <(akaimbatman) (at) (gmail.com)> on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:29AM (#19755387) Homepage Journal

        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 [comcast.net] 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: (Score:3, Interesting)

          by Vellmont (569020)

          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

    • Wrist watches have had this for years now. I think it was casio who first started doing it wide scale.
      Actually I think it was Seiko. I distinctly remember being told about "psycho-kinetic" watches and thinking they'd found a way to convert brainwave into kinetic energy to move the hands of the watch. Even though the actual tech was still pretty cool I couldn't help but feel disappointed when somebody explained what they really did. Stupid pronunciations...

      • Re:Old tech (Score:5, Informative)

        by red_dragon (1761) on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:59AM (#19755789) Homepage

        I distinctly remember being told about "psycho-kinetic" watches...

        What you actually heard was the phrase "Seiko Kinetic"; their advertisements clearly showed the mechanical parts of the charging mechanism, and made no reference to "psycho" power, whatever that might be. There's more info on it on Seiko's website [seikousa.com].

    • Re:Old tech (Score:4, Interesting)

      by steveo777 (183629) on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:43AM (#19755573) Homepage Journal
      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.
    • Not just old tech, but an old dupe. I'm too lazy to search for it, but I'm certain I read about this same device last year on Slashdot.

      -matthew
    • I've got one on right now. It's an old Seiko, which used to be my grandfather's. If I wear it for the day, then usually it manages to have enough juice/wind to sit on my nightstand when I hit the sack and yet still be keeping correct time in the morning. If I sleep in it usually runs out of juice and stops.

      I'm not sure if it runs on an electric (charging a capacitor) or mechanical (winding a spring) principal though, and as curious as I have been I wouldn't want to pull it apart to find out.

  • woo (Score:5, Funny)

    by WormholeFiend (674934) on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:06AM (#19755065)
    sounds like real free energy, at last!

    suck it, Orbo!

  • Vibrations (Score:4, Funny)

    by Mockylock (1087585) on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:07AM (#19755073) Homepage
    They'll soon have vibrators that are self-powered. Handheld pocket pieces around the globe. This would definitely outsell the solar powered vibrator idea, for those who just can't be away from masturbation when stuck without batteries.
  • Wondering how efficient would it had been to use a piezoelectric generator (like the kind converting vibrations of a record in a record player into electricity)

  • Erm.. (Score:5, Funny)

    by Rob T Firefly (844560) on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:09AM (#19755105) Homepage Journal

    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.
    Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the heart-powered pacemaker! From the same geniuses that brought you solar-powered flashlights, pedal-powered crutches, and a voice-controlled version of Stephen Hawking's talk box.
    • It is my understanding pacemakers are sometimes placed beside the heart and any rewiring (retubing, whatever) is done and they they sew them up, I believe they do the same if you get a kidney transplant, must be pushed for room though.

    • Re:Erm.. (Score:5, Informative)

      by achilles777033 (1090811) on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:19AM (#19755235)
      A pacemaker doesn't beat a heart. It sends a signal (sets a pace) to cause a heart to beat of it's own accord. It is possible that the vibrations from that much moving flesh/blood could translate into an useful amount of energy back into the battery.

      • So, instead of just having to work to pump blood, the heart now has to do extra work to power a generator?

        Interesting idea, and I wonder what odd side effects that might have...if any. Maybe it would be a new-fangled exercise program!

    • While I know you're being funny (successfully), for anyone who doesn't know, pacemakers provide the signal, not the power for heart beats.

      • While I know you're being funny (successfully), for anyone who doesn't know, pacemakers provide the signal, not the power for heart beats.

        But the catch22 is still quite apparent, especially when considering that pacemakers often have a built in jump start function which give a really strong pulse if the heart stops beating.

        • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

          by Firethorn (177587)
          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.
    • Kudos to you! Never let reason get in the way of a good joke.
  • wouldn't that be some sort of paradox...

    • Re:Heart powered pacemaker (Score:5, Informative)

      by rleibman (622895) on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:19AM (#19755229) Homepage
      I'm not sure if you're joking. A pacemaker does not power the heart, what it does is replace the natural pacemaker a healthy heart has, in simple terms, the heart has a bunch of cells in charge of making sure all of the other muscle cells in the heart beat in unison, various causes may make these cells stop working (or working effectively, or their signals breaking down). An artificial pacemaker replaces or enhances the function of these cells. A heart powered pacemaker would work very well indeed, absent a pacemaker heart cells fall out of synch (or pacemaker cells in other parts of the heart take over, again, throwing things out of wack), but they keep on beating, so I imagine vibrations still exist to power this kind of device.
      • You're right. I was thinking of the implanted defibulators. Though it was still a joke. Thank you for the correction.
    • No. A pacemaker doesn't provide the energy to make the heart pump, it just provides a regular signal to tell the heart to pump.
    • People with pacemakers tend to have issues with the 'beat now' signal reaching their heart at the correct time. They tend to have irregular heartbeats, skip beats, etc.

      The body is already providing all the power that is needed, its just got a signalling problem. The pacemaker merely provides a steady signal.

      In many respects its very similiar to the spark system in a car.

  • The solution to the global energy crisis! (Score:5, Funny)

    by cubicle_cowboy (521716) on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:11AM (#19755125)

    Attach a few of these to Shakira's rear end and play "Hey Ya!" on repeat.

    Now where's my Nobel prize?

  • animal tracking (Score:5, Interesting)

    by WindBourne (631190) on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:11AM (#19755127) Journal
    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? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by xjerky (128399) on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:11AM (#19755131)
    Could a bluetooth mouse take advantage of this, avoiding the need to ever replace batteries again?

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by TheRaven64 (641858)
      Bluetooth probably requires too much power. Something like ZigBee might be possible.
    • Heh, took me a while to understand what you meant there.
      I was thinking "Sure it sounds nifty, but what would you actually do with a bluetooth-implanted mouse?".

  • What if... (Score:5, Funny)

    by otacon (445694) on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:11AM (#19755137) Homepage
    You could make it bigger and adapt it to a car, the car vibrates as it goes down the road, in turn powering the device that allows it to go down the road...Perpetual motion automobile...I'd like my Nobel Prize now please...

  • Headline double-take (Score:5, Funny)

    by HangingChad (677530) on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:18AM (#19755227) Homepage

    Did anyone besides me first read that as: Tiny Generator Runs Off Vibrators ?

    Or was that just me?

  • ... You now get perpetual free power for your vibrator, woohoo! We boys still have to do hand cranking, woooo....

  • nothing new here? She has one of those 'self-winding' watches. ok maybe that's recovering mechanical energy from movement but this is recovering electrical energy from vibration, not a whole lot of difference really.
  • At this rate, it won't be long until we have self-sustaining vibrators that don't require batteries.

  • lame! (Score:4, Funny)

    by abes (82351) on Thursday July 05 2007, @11:44AM (#19755599) Homepage
    This is stupid. We already have better technology that can constantly produce clean infinite energy based off of the variances in the magnetic fields. I've read about it in three tech web sites!

    The only reason this article could make the pagers of /. is because the editors are bias and being paid off.

      • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

        by abes (82351)
        Sorry, I forgot the sarcasm tags. Sometimes I get used to talking to normal people. The thing is, even if the humor was beyond your grasp, or even if you didn't find it funny, there's really no reason to be a dumbass about it.

  • Just out of curiosity, how much seismic vibration do you get out of the earth on a typical day? What if you had a huge version of this concept that harnessed power from earth vibration? (say, you had a HUGE weight suspended between springs, and the relative motion of the weight and the earth would generate power?)

    • Or embedded in roads. side walks, floors, shoes, speaker cabinet.

      I tiny bit of energy from millions of places.

      Now, if they can get them to work wit atomic vibration, are poeer problems will be solved.

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the Poster. The Rest © 1997-2009 Geeknet, Inc.