Splashpower Boasts Wireless Power 246
Sullivan writes "Maccentral is running a story on a startup called Splashpower that hopes to be able to wirelessly recharge all of our handheld devices. They have a working prototype that already recharges an iPod Mini and a cell phone. Now we can look forward to yet another way to get brain cancer."
but what about lost efficiencies? (Score:5, Interesting)
I think this is a very cool device and have often wondered why more devices haven't come with wireless re-chargability (think electric toothbrushes). But I wonder about the efficiency of this method. Is it? And if it's not, how less efficient is it than direct contact recharging? As more and more gadgets and devices become rechargable technology this would seem to be more important. I don't know much about electronics at the engineering level, so any erudite replies would be appreciated.
Lawsuits are a comin' (Score:1, Interesting)
The "I'm getting cancer and my kids have ADD because of the powerlines in my house" crowd and their lawyers are going to have a field day with this!
nice plan but... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:afroman's already done it (Score:3, Interesting)
Two hits in the efficiency chain? (Score:3, Interesting)
However, if you look at the photo [macworld.com] of the splashpower base, it looks as though the base itself uses an AC adapter (the cord appears to have a male DC-power connector). If that's the case then you really have to hits in the chain, and the system is ultimately 50% efficient (.7 for the adapter that powers the base, times
You don't put it on your head (Score:5, Interesting)
The efficiency is probably not at all bad; the magnetic field is short range and, in the absence of a receiver, the only thing in the magnetic circuit to absorb energy is the hysteresis of the inductor in the transmitter. Which, with modern ferrites, can be pretty small, unless of course they are using a purely air-cored system at the transmitter end, in which case it's tiny.
The huge potential benefit of this system is that it eliminates the second most unreliable part of electronic systems: connectors. Anyone who has worked at the sharp end of electronics knows that connectors suck, big time. Designs proliferate. There are far too many of them and they are far too unstandardised. And connectors designed to be repeatedly made and broken are the worst of the lot. Although the designs have come a long way (the fact that gigabit copper Ethernet connectors work is a small electronic miracle in itself) they are still the worst part of any system, after the batteries.
So here we have a system which if widely adopted allows most of the tiny connectors used in portable devices to disappear, and possibly reduces the demands on batteries because people will find recharging easier. Those are big pluses.
Sealed iPod? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:I love my new ... (Score:3, Interesting)
One good thing about wired chargers (Score:2, Interesting)
None of this would work with this wireless charger. Not that I wouldn't like one laying around...
Re:Oooh, saves me a whole 2 seconds! (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Its about time (Score:3, Interesting)
My Braun electric toothbrush does too and you can recharge it just by setting it next to a CRT-based monitor.