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.
Its about time (Score:5, Informative)
My electric shaver recharges this way, and i've been wondering why we don't just have a pad that we can toss our electric gadgets onto for recharging.
My wish has been granted!
As for efficiency, I'll refer you to DansData, because he knows the answer to everything.
Your Answer Here [dansdata.com]
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 f
Re:Two hits in the efficiency chain? (Score:2)
-everphilski-
Re:Two hits in the efficiency chain? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Two hits in the efficiency chain? (Score:2)
If it works like this, there would only be one conversion thats only slightly less efficient than the standard power adaptor. Also, most
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.
see GM EV1 (Score:2)
It was quite efficient (>85%?), but many complained it wasn't as efficient as conductive charging.
Did they get ahold of Tesla's research? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Did they get ahold of Tesla's research? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Did they get ahold of Tesla's research? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Did they get ahold of Tesla's research? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Did they get ahold of Tesla's research? (Score:2)
fashion news... (Score:3, Funny)
Oooh, saves me a whole 2 seconds! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Oooh, saves me a whole 2 seconds! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Oooh, saves me a whole 2 seconds! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Oooh, saves me a whole 2 seconds! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Oooh, saves me a whole 2 seconds! (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Oooh, saves me a whole 2 seconds! (Score:2, Insightful)
---John Holmes...
Re:Oooh, saves me a whole 2 seconds! (Score:3, Insightful)
You are assuming that one pad will charge every device. It would be very possible to make a "standard" DC port for every device. Chargers would be universal and easy to use. Heck USB is very close right now.
The problem is none of the companies want it. They all make good money off of selling extra chargers.
Re:Oooh, saves me a whole 2 seconds! (Score:2)
Re:Oooh, saves me a whole 2 seconds! (Score:2)
You can sort of hack such a system together, using Radio Shack's adapt-a-plug system. You just need a plug that splits into two parallel plugs (like this [radioshack.com]), repeat as necessary (and a PSU with enough current capacity to power all the parallel devices, of course - you can buy wall warts
Re:Oooh, saves me a whole 2 seconds! (Score:2)
Re:Oooh, saves me a whole 2 seconds! (Score:2)
Re:Oooh, saves me a whole 2 seconds! (Score:3, Insightful)
-cell phone
-PSP
-digital camera
-laptop
-iPod
-GameBoy Advanced
-her own cell phone
-her own notebook (yes, I realize this part is overkill, but _you_ try telling a 16 year old girl she needs to leave it at home)
In my bedroom I have a rats next of courds to se
Wireless Mouse Pad (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Wireless Mouse Pad (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Wireless Mouse Pad (Score:2)
Re:Wireless Mouse Pad (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Wireless Mouse Pad (Score:2)
Re:Wireless Mouse Pad (Score:2)
Re:Wireless Mouse Pad (Score:2)
afroman's already done it (Score:3, Informative)
still, i'd like it if this became mainstream.
philo
Re:afroman's already done it (Score:2, Funny)
Heh (Score:2)
Afroman [xtremzik1.free.fr]
Re:afroman's already done it (Score:3, Interesting)
Isn't this just inductive power? (Score:2, Insightful)
It's not "wireless" as the devices have to be pretty much touching the pad.
For things like mp3 players and cellphones, it's really useless unless you're completely lazy or hate charging wires with a passion.
No chance of brain cancer here, really.
Re:Isn't this just inductive power? (Score:2)
Are there wires running from the device to the charger? No? Then it's wireless.
It may not be what you think of when you think of wireless, but it is wireless.
Re:Isn't this just inductive power? (Score:2, Insightful)
That's me exactly. I absolutely hate having a power cord for my phone floating around in my car. I would love a pad built into the small holding tray (or whatever it could be called) that's in my center console. I already take my cell phone and PDA out of my pocket and place them there anyway, why not add effortless recharging to it?
Re:Isn't this just inductive power? (Score:2)
You really don't need to hate the wires with a passion. All you need is for two ore more rechargable items to stay on to of. Right now in my house, I have a digital camera, 2 cell phones, two mp3 players, a PocketPC, Nintendo DS, and two laptops. Can you imagine what it'd look like to have all these chargers on one outlet? Having a pad you could just lay your rechargables
nice plan but... (Score:2, Interesting)
Transformer? (Score:2)
Sounds like they are using a basic transformer here. Only difference is that they didn't build the two coils in one solid piece
Re:Transformer? (Score:2)
From what I have seen of bulk erasers, they tend to be, well, bulky among other things. Usually the coil wires are 2 or 3 mm thick with only a few dozen windings, and they charge up to release a whole lot of emf at once, consuming a kilowatt or so. This would be a much lower power device only consuming a few watts at most. Also, I think that hard drives can protect against some "lower power" emf. Otherwise you would
Wireless power is simple (Score:2)
Nice, but... (Score:2)
To power my mac and accessories I have twelve separate powercords and seven different adapters making a mess under my desk. Shouldn't it be possible to make a single adapter to power all the smaller devices, and have some neat way to daisy chain little power cords for the stuff that doesn't need much power (which is most of the devices on my desk)?
Re:Nice, but... (Score:4, Insightful)
Most small electric devices operate off of DC power, so no matter what, you have to have an adapter to convert AC power to DC. Since you have to have the adapter anyway, it doesn't really matter what DC voltage you go with, so you pick whatever's going to be cheapest for the situation. Consequently, we have all sorts of DC power requirements.
What might help the situation is for someone to come up with a standard for power outlets that use a standardized DC voltage in addition to AC. Or maybe a handful of voltages. Different contacts could provide your DC voltage(s), in conjunction with your AC voltage.
Device manufacturers could then target those standardized voltages and spend less money on adapters.
Re:Nice, but... (Score:2)
Isolation for devices that place a variable load on the power supply would be a concern, though... it's amazing what strange problems underpowering something can produce.
Re:Nice, but... (Score:2)
Neat-O, but gimmicky (Score:4, Insightful)
My cell phone, my beard trimmer, and my toothbrush already recharge wirelessly... sure, I have to place them in their cradles and line up the contacts, but it's still approximately the same.
What is being offered here is a universal charger system. The rest of it is bells and whistles. What Splashpower needs to do is get the device producers to incorporate the hardware necessary for this, and to get hotels etc. to install the pads.
This is problematic, as stated in the article. Device-makers won't install the charging coil unless the infrastructure for charging is in place; establishments won't purchase the charging pads unless a sufficient amount of devices have the coil installed. There's just no ROI for a hotel chain to install these in their rooms and suites, and no reason for an end-user to purchase an enabled device if chargers aren't available.
Nice idea, but don't buy stock.
Re:Neat-O, but gimmicky (Score:2)
Yet.
You never know - sometimes, ideas that are good conceptually take off at the least unexpected of times.
You'd be surprised.
Re:Neat-O, but gimmicky (Score:2)
This idea has been worked over tons of times, and discarded as unprofitable. The difference here is the ability to charge multiple devices at once. Is it enough? Remains to be seen.
A big problem is that device manufacturers will need to incorporate two sep
Re:Neat-O, but gimmicky (Score:2)
People have been asking for this for years, but I think it might sell well despite that
Re:Neat-O, but gimmicky (Score:2)
I'm not sure it's unfeasable, they'd just need to bankroll the beginnin
Re:Neat-O, but gimmicky (Score:2)
The flip side would be to pay for the chargers in public/common areas like hotel rooms and cafes, and possibly discount the coils to the mfgr as above. Still a huge capital outlay.
The problem that really sticks for me, is that the device mfgrs would ne
Re:Neat-O, but gimmicky (Score:2)
Except that they offer clip-on adaptors for existing electronics, so you can convert all of your electronics before the device manufacturers install the coil internally. If they could create standard pickup coils to fit into the standard size battery compartments, 2-AA, 2-AAA, 9-volt, etc., they could probably sell it to the hotels as a pad that TV remote controls and bedside alarm clocks could be placed on. Add surge protection and a normal AC outlet on the desktop part of it, and it would allow the hot
Re:Neat-O, but gimmicky (Score:2)
Niche market -- frequent business travelers & those with tons of portable devices. Market exists, but that's a steep price point.
I would love universal chargers, but I don't see it happening. Another thought -- why would device retailers (particularly for cell phones) ever want to offer a univers
Re:Neat-O, but gimmicky (Score:2)
grib.
Re:Neat-O, but gimmicky (Score:2)
The problem is getting the device manufacturers to comply, since it would require capital investment for them, and would likely reduce their profits. Cell phone companies make a bundle on the chargers they sell, and most people don't bother finding a third-party vendor for accessories. New phone every 1-2 years? Don't need to get a new charger? Not good for the service carrier, and therefore not good for their phone supplier.
Re:Neat-O, but gimmicky (Score:2)
Uhm, I think you're missing something that's, well, rather obvious: When is the last time you bought a new phone that didn't come with a charger?
If the charger costs Nokia $5 and an embedded coil costs them $1, they might just go with the coil. Saves them the cost of bundling that damn charger. Even if they were making bank selling chargers, what makes you think they
the wire im currently using for charging... (Score:2)
And maybe I'm not getting it, but isn't that thing plugged in?!??! If I'm not mistaken, they have only replaced the plug with a plate. When I first read the article, i was excited to think someone figured out how to charge my devices anywhere... like on a trail.
This is an example of som
One step closer... (Score:3, Funny)
flash memory, hard drives and magnets don't mix... (Score:2)
I mean, it's fine for my toothbrush ( if a tad slow an inefficient compared to a direct cable connection )... but is that cable to my iPod really such a problem, and might it not be a tad dangerous for my precious data to place it directly on an inductive surface ?
Finally! (Score:2)
Anyone Remeber Tesla? (Score:2)
Saw one a few years ago... (Score:2)
Re:Saw one a few years ago... (Score:2)
I wonder if they're working on 100:1 lossless compression as well...
Re:Saw one a few years ago... (Score:2)
what does wireless bring here? (Score:2)
But for other stuff, this only adds complication. I mean, you might as well just say all devices should have the same charging connector so you don't have to have multiple wall warts. That would work as well as this.
And no better.
There's still problems with voltages/power draws and trying to charge multiple devices at once.
I can think of 5 other steps which are a lot better than this one, and each is clos
Sounds Familiar? Try Another! (Score:2, Informative)
OTOH, this [cityu.edu.hk] maybe a bit more refreshing.
Solar? (Score:2)
Also, why is it that so many
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:Sealed iPod? (Score:2)
Kids, don't forget to take your iPills today? (iTamins?)
sounds like a great idea (Score:2, Troll)
doesn't sound like a good idea to me. i'll stick with throwing mine on its dock.
universal adapter VS. charge pad (Score:3, Insightful)
How many of you read this first thought you could recharge remotely, say within 100 feet of this device? Now THAT would be convenient.
Contactless (Score:2)
uhh.. wow.. (Score:2)
It's already been done (Score:2)
Cost Reduction (Score:2)
this would be neat if.. (Score:2)
My PDA, phone, and bluetooth head set. And my wife's PDA and phone. That's five devices. A nice little "dock" by the front door where we could plop all our devices at night and grab them on the way out. Instead of a mess of transformers and a power strip to accomodate them.
Unfortunately as the article mentions, this wouldn't happen until the device makers all supported it. So they'd have to push for that first.
Now, I would
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...
The problem (Score:2)
In reality portable devices have already overcome the problem of needing a wire once charged we are good to go. Its TV's , consoles, vcrs, hifi's and speakers are wher
Nothing New (Score:2, Funny)
Splashpower is terrific! (Score:4, Insightful)
Splashpads are quite interesting in that they are active devices. When you drop something onto the pad, there's some communication that goes on between the pad and the device. The pad delivers power to the right place on the pad to recharge that device, and only that place. You don't have to orientate the device correctly, and there's no contact made. You can have multiple devces recharging at once.
If you drop your keys onto the pad then they won't electrocute you when you pick them up. And they won't heat up. If you drop electronics that's not enabled onto the pad, then it won't get electrocuted either.
There is a chicken-and-egg problem. On the other hand, I would not be at all surprised to see at least one cell-phone manufacturer adopting their system, and the first step in widespread adoption is to get individual manufacturers to commit to it. They also have the advantage that past a certain penetration point it becomes a de facto standard.
There are several other competing companies. In my opinion the Splashpower system is one of the best and most likely to succeed providing they can move past initial adoption.
Re braincancer. Deeply, deeply unlikely. Worry about the X-rays emitted from your CRT first.
Re:Wait a second... (Score:3, Insightful)
Not sure I am keen on the potential healh affects though.
Re:I love my new ... (Score:5, Informative)
Also the cell phone brain cancer [betanews.com] thing is becoming less and less likely.
Re:I love my new ... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:I love my new ... (Score:3, Informative)
The earth also has an electric field of about 100 volts per meter, so the potential at your feet (if you're an average-sized adult) is different from that at your head by about 200 volts. Doesn't cause cancer.
Re:I love my new ... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:I love my new ... (Score:4, Informative)
Just having 1,000,000 volts above your head means nothing if there's little amperage and it's a DC power source. Alternating currents cause electromagnetic fields to propogate, and large amounts of current causes them to be more powerful. This is why you can get a flourescent tube to light up when you stand underneath high power transmission lines - The electromagnetic field from them is inducted into the tube and there is still enough power to excite the mercury atoms. Last I checked the Earth's magnetic field couldn't do something like that...
I can see why the brain cancer/cell phone controversy exists - Basically you have a very, very powerful source of EM in a concentrated spot next to your ear. The problem is that nobody can seem to prove conclusively that it causes cell mutations.
Re:I love my new ... (Score:2)
I do? My cell phone has a tiny little battery that probably couldn't even keep my ears warm on a cold day. How does a battery like that cause my phone to emit such a powerful blast of EM?
Re:I love my new ... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I love my new ... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Put in a car with one of these... (Score:2)
iPod Pico (Score:2)
All your dollars are belong to Apple!
-everphilski-
Re:Lawsuits are a comin' (Score:4, Funny)
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!
Yeah ... especially when the attorneys (whose suits will still cost more than their laptops and cell phones) are typing away on their laptops using WiFi and mobile phones with Bluetooth!
Case ... dismissed!
Re:Lawsuits are a comin' (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Wireless Power (Score:2)
And here I was hoping, "Yay! Finally someone has figured out a way to (safely) beam power over (fairly) long distances." Feh. "Wireless power"... give me a break.
Re:A "cable-free" PC? (Score:2)