Flibble writes
"The BBC has a story about a uk startup offering a mat for charging all your portable devices via magnetic inductive power transfer. Is this the answer to cutting the mountain of chargers I have to carry all the time?" God wouldn't that be a dream come true?
cool (Score:4, Funny)
Sounds like a great idea.... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Sounds like a great idea.... (Score:2, Informative)
Six months in the future..... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Sounds like a great idea.... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Sounds like a great idea.... (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Sounds like a great idea.... (Score:5, Funny)
Turns off compu-
Re:Sounds like a great idea.... (Score:5, Informative)
Pacemaker + powerful EM field = powerful EM field + corpse.
I have no idea how close too close would be though...
Re:Sounds like a great idea.... (Score:2)
I wonder how the cancer rates will look like in 80 years...
Re:Sounds like a great idea.... (Score:2, Insightful)
This assumes you don't live in a country that the US wants to spray with uranium, of course.
Re:Sounds like a great idea.... (Score:2)
All Necromantic experiments should certainly involve a pacemaker, since pacemakers can turn into corpses. Do you suppose that Dr. Frankenstein used a pacemaker and lightning to produce the monster? It was probably a BIG pacemaker, since it turned into such a big monster.
At the very least, the medical industry should stop asking people to donate their bodies to science, since bodies can be generated by merely applying a powerful enough field to p
Re:Sounds like a great idea.... (Score:2)
- Bob Hope
Re:Sounds like a great idea.... (Score:5, Informative)
I know you meant this in humor, but all this basically does is take a standard AC power transformer, and split it into two parts. The "primary" coil is in the charger unit, while the "secondary" coil is in the unit itself. Placing the two cores close to each other will complete the transformer.
I think it's great. If everyone can standardize on the specs, we can have a single charger for many items. Imagine only having to buy one car charger for all (most) of your portable devices.
This would NOT be a good idea for something that is magnetically sensitive, as it would effectively erase floppy/hard disks, cassette tapes, etc...
The "radiation" would be the same that you'd get from any standard "wall wart" plug-in transformer.
re: magnetically sensitive (Score:3, Interesting)
Are you watching USPTO? (Score:2, Insightful)
Not Bezos and his f****** 10 lines of HTML.
Re:Are you watching USPTO? (Score:2)
Re:Are you watching USPTO? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Are you watching USPTO? (Score:2)
Excuse me, but this patent is NOT on inductive charging. It USES inductive charging, but so what?
Lots of patents get granted for battery-operated things. Following your logic, those patents shouldn't be granted because there's lots of things that use batter
Re:Are you watching USPTO? (Score:2, Funny)
Similar stuff like this has been done before and is already in the market place. For instance the key fob on new BMW never needs the battery changing as it is recharged by induction when it is in the ignition. I don't know if this would affect a patent on this device though
Re:Are you watching USPTO? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Are you watching USPTO? (Score:3, Funny)
Yes, I can see it now... "method and device for transmitting power by means of inductive coupling".
Here's a clue: the transformer been around for about as long as we've known about electricity.
ALso, the idea of using a transformer as the coupling for a charger base has been around for as long as I can remember. As a kid I had an electric toothbrush that did this. It's a great idea for something like a toothbrush, because it's harder to waterproof an e
The whole thing's a con (Score:3, Funny)
Nothing else in patent reform matters before that is resolved.
Re:Are you watching USPTO? (Score:2, Informative)
Inductive charging systems are already used in products like rechargeable electric toothbrushes."
They based it on a principle they did not discover. The technology already exists and all they did was make a slight improvement. So they deserve to own the rights to the technology all of a sudden?
Personally I'm against all patents (Based on many many many many hours of reading about the subject). Yet,
Sounds Great (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Sounds Great (Score:3, Informative)
This is an awesome innovation and just the excuse I've been looking for to upgrade my cellphone
Re:Sounds Great (Score:5, Insightful)
Hey, another patentable feature: put the receiver in a Bluetooth mouse and use the charging pad as a mouse pad. Never EVER needs ANYTHING.
The cool thing is that "compatible" should be a non-issue. Each receiver will probably be fitted with an appropriately valued voltage regulator. The field produced by the mat won't have a "voltage" per se, but rather a "field strength." The receiver side will convert that to a voltage which will then be regulated as needed.
Hmm. I wonder if it'll even make a difference if the pad gets 120 or 220 volts?
Dumb Question (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Dumb Question (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Dumb Question (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Dumb Question (Score:2)
The same thing is used in some cell phones and the occasional electric toothbrush. I also read a while back (no link, sorry) about using a similar system to power heart regulators without placing a "jack" in someone's skin.
Re:Dumb Question (Score:5, Informative)
Are you confusing conductive with inductive? Inductive is using EMF to transfer the power. I'm starting to see more and more things use inductive recharging systems. I've had a razor that used it as well as many electric cars use it I believe.
Re:Dumb Question (Score:4, Funny)
Uh, it like, uses technology, or something.
Re:Dumb Question (Score:5, Insightful)
One non-green point: How much power is dissipated with no devices on it, or with fully charged devices? But then, how much power is dissipated by plugged in "wall warts".
Re:Dumb Question (Score:5, Interesting)
Not a dumb question. Magnetic circuits can be shorted just like electrical circuits. In fact, proximity sensors work because any metallic object absorbs enough energy to be detectable by its electronics. In this case, I assume they have done their homework and made the energy field low enough not to fry your hand if you are wearing a wedding ring, say.
Re:Dumb Question (Score:3, Informative)
Please please please (Score:5, Insightful)
Works for my toothbrush, why not? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Works for my toothbrush, why not? (Score:5, Funny)
What about energy waste? (Score:2)
People with transformer isolated data centers know that you typically loose 2% to 5% of the energy going into the unit as raw heat.
I can't imagine this thing would get better than 60% efficiency.
damage (Score:2, Interesting)
I don't know (Score:3, Funny)
Cool (Score:3, Interesting)
If true this could be awesome
Wouldnt there be a problem with devices with magnetic drives though? I'm guessing either those devices have to be shielded, or they have to be devices not using magnetic drives (say compactflash cards, or optical drives...) ?
Finally, the future is here (Score:3, Insightful)
I imagine this would be useful in a car as well.
Dream on. (Score:3, Interesting)
Big Deal. (Score:5, Informative)
Got it with an auction I won that had 20 of those 486 tablet Pc's that used wacom tablets behind the screens for the pointer. Neat device.
Re:Big Deal. (Score:2)
I doubt it. There have been power mats - basically just big LiPoly batteries - for ages, but not inductive power units. They're very different things.
not very efficient (Score:2, Interesting)
Lastly they technology is not very efficient. I recall that it is less than half as efficient as a transformer [aka, adapter].
He said, getting into his SUV... (Score:2)
Efficiency for a 300kW car engine on the other hand...
Lights on ThinkGeek have this (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/lights/5cf5/ [thinkgeek.com]
(I'm not trying to sell you these, I'm not affiliated with ThinkGeek, yadda yadda...)
-- Bander
Re:Lights on ThinkGeek have this (Score:2)
What is slashdot trying to do advertising a product which breaks a patent held by an affiliate?
Along these lines... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Along these lines... (Score:2)
Re:Along these lines... (Score:4, Informative)
practical application. (Score:2)
Re:Along these lines... (Score:2)
Imagine the number of people heading to their physicians to pull out the buds.
And the lazy teens who NEVER pull em out. You could bug them with a linux-programmed PDA that emits shrill sounds.. great tool for examiners making sure students arent cheating.. just turn the PDA on and stare at the faces, see which one twitches first.
Or more seriously have satellite power companies beaming power down to subscribers all the time.. hmm
Re:Along these lines... (Score:2)
Easier solution... (Score:3, Funny)
Oh wait - I didn't say turn it on!
It Works for Great Toothbrushes (Score:5, Interesting)
Anyway, this technology worked so well that I'd think this is almost an obvious idea for recharging electronic items, especially if it's not going to screw up hard drives and electronic media. So the question is, why haven't other companies taken this technology beyond toothbrushes?
Overall, I was disappointed by the BBC article. It would have been great if the author had sought out an EE authority, and had her/him mention the disadvantages of this charging approach. I have a feeling that this charging solution is likely incredibly wasteful of electricity. But maybe this waste doesn't matter much if you're talking about minor charging needs like cellphones. Anyway, surely there's somebody on here with a EE background who can speak to whatever shortcomings are inherent in this technology.
Integrate this with seat warmers (Score:5, Funny)
Of course, as long as you don't mind putting your future progeny's genetic material on and induction coil...
Hmm. Nevermind.
Re:Integrate this with seat warmers (Score:3, Funny)
Of course, as long as you don't mind putting your future progeny's genetic material on and induction coil...
Not a problem. Given the way I feel right now about my four "past progeny", there ain't gonna be no future progeny, no way, no how.
Yes, the two year-old got into my books and CDs. Again. But now he knows how to open the shampoo bottle. And after the yesterday's incident with my wife's computer and the peanut butter...
Similar Product (Score:5, Informative)
I saw both of these reviewed on TechTV because they were at the CES show a couple of months back.
They seem pretty cool but I really do not want to see the pricetag.
aliens ate my brain (Score:2)
Note: Im not a tinfoil hat EMF weirdo, i understand my microwave gives off an emf field yadda yadda... but in order to induct a charge into a device, i must imagine the GOAL of such a device to be a LARGE and POWERFULL field. exactly why we dont want 20,000KV lines next to our houses.. while its not going to melt my skin off, i think were seeing its not a good idea to ASK for such a thing... any clarit
Why not just build this into the carpeting? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Why not just build this into the carpeting? (Score:4, Funny)
And that would matter around here why?
Just a joke. Move along.
sweet (Score:2)
Gadgets with frickin' "laser beams" (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Gadgets with frickin' "laser beams" (Score:2)
better solution (Score:2)
Other applications (Score:2)
There was once a movie 'Electric Dreams' which I've never seen but probably had nothing to do with this.
Best solution (Score:2)
Use as mousepad (Score:4, Funny)
Public places for these mats? (Score:2)
Now wireless parks and cafes could offer tables on which you could put your laptop and use it PLUGGED. If airlines take the idea too, and car manufacturers, we wouldnt need batterly lives of over 4 hours.
To make it worth it, cafes for instance could make their tables coin-op to start powering for say 30 minutes, while you place your laptop and coffe cup over it. I wonder what the effecs of electrolysis are on coffee.
I'm too skeptical of the inductive effects on foodstuff and the human body though.
Re:Public places for these mats? (Score:2)
Nikola Tesla your time has come (Score:2)
But his basic idea is there!
Tesla (Score:3, Informative)
Great idea! (Score:3, Funny)
I want more! (Score:2)
-Alison
Are these things efficient? (Score:2)
Kind of speaks against their "green" argument.
hard to believe (Score:2)
Electro Magnetic Induction + my VAIO? (Score:2)
Well no, it won't reduce the number of chargers (Score:2)
I can see a market for it of course but I fear you might end up with one pad per device instead of one cable per device.
A new technology recharges your laptop without a p (Score:2)
battery packs? (Score:2)
manufacturers charge so much ... (Score:2)
Or else, charger would have been compatible a long time ago.
The barrier isn't technological... (Score:4, Interesting)
The reason there are so many different chargers is intentional incompatibility. Splash Charge themselves shows evidence of this, as they intend to charge "between 25 and 50 dollars" when this ships. How much does a replacement AC adapter cost you? About 10 - 20 dollars in a normal device. How much does it cost the company? Pennies.
Besides voltage settings (12 volts would be pretty even), there is no reason why device manufacturers couldn't have standardized on an 4-mm sized center positive 1.0 Amp plug by now. The ability to charge multiple devices at once is interesting, though one has to wonder how strong such a device could be with a reasonably sized wall wart.
The technology is very cool and I look forward to using it someday. But I expect once that day comes, it will be a propreitary charging pad, able to fit only a specific device thanks to some unnecessary plastic tabs.
Electric cars tried inductive and gave up (Score:2)
Clever, but a possible alternative (Score:2)
Now look at those in-car chargers which are just a plug to the lighter socket with some simple voltage conversion.
What I would like to see is simply a UPS with a suitably large battery and a set of those car sockets round the back, and neat little adaptors for gadgets that plug into those sockets. Maybe the sockets could even go on top and
Great! (Score:2)
RFC3251 (Score:2)
sounds like what they really invented... (Score:2)
Re:Emf? (Score:4, Informative)
Still, I wonder if this "pad" comes with a warning not to leave credit cards, etc. near it?
If you'd taken the time to read the article, you'd have seen that it says that the pad "...will not even wipe credit cards if you accidentally put one on the pad".
Al.Re:Emf? (Score:2)
Once all these rechargeable devices have their half of the inductive coupling built in, you can make your own pad. Glue a coil of wire to a mouse pad, glue another on top of it, and feed it with a wall wart.
Emf? Not a problem, apparently (Score:2, Interesting)
Having read the website, they're saying that it's no trouble for credit cards. If they have to keep the power levels low, then it may hamper the device's usefulness. Perhaps they could have variable speeds, perhaps you could crank it right up and fry eggs on it! Toasty
Re:Emf? (Score:5, Funny)
Using actual words. They were in English too,
amazingly, so that anyone who read the
could also read those informative little squiggles.
Re:What would this do to portable fuel cells? (Score:5, Informative)
Motorola developed an alcohol-based battery replacement [motorola.com] in early 2000, but no word since then.
Re:What would this do to portable fuel cells? (Score:2)
It will do exactly what it's intended to do--prevent their development!
</cynicism>
(I really hope not...I actually _would_ pay cold, hard cash for a device like this)
Re:Old News (Score:2)
Do you know what you're talking about?
No.
Re:Old News (Score:2)
It seems to have worked fine for powered tooth brushes and razors...
Please don't just make stuff up...
Re:Big deal... (Score:2)
Re:Panasonic wireless DECT system phones (Score:2, Informative)
The idea isn't inventive (so stop all the patent whinging now
Troc