Sony develops 60W wireless power
updated 08:00 am EDT, Fri October 2, 2009
Sony preps strong wireless power
Sony finished the week with word of one of the first wireless power systems that could supply significant amounts of energy. The approach uses a magnetic resonance technique that has the device operating on a frequency receptive to that of the energy itself. In doing so, the current form of the invention can supply up to 60W of power over about 19.7 inches, or enough to power many notebook computers and some smaller TVs.
Researchers acknowledge the limits of the technology but also say advancements are likely. A receiver in between the two could extend the range of the wireless link to about 31.5 inches. The system is also only operating at about 60 percent efficiency, and with improvements could drive more power-hungry electronics.
Sony isn't certain at this stage when it might expect a full product but does plan to continue research. The breakthrough could lead to completely wireless devices that only need to sit near a base station or a special power outlet to work properly. At the present time, wireless technology has usually been limited either to experiments with low-power devices or to inductive charging that still requires physical contact, such as the Dell Latitude Z or the Touchstone charger for the Palm Pre. [via Impress]
Inverse Squares Law
10/02, 09:19am reply
Wouldn't the vast majority of the energy be lost? Energy would presumably radiate out in all directions, and only the radiation intercepted by the device would be absorbed and used. This seems incredibly wasteful.
njfuzzy
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2001
Not quite
10/02, 09:37am reply
This is not energy being transmitted into space. It's like a transformer. If there is no load, then the current draw at idle is minimal.
bjojade
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2007
Is anyone worried?
10/02, 10:48am reply
Isn't anyone worried that you'll start growing another hand or something with these (and other) systems that can charge wirelessly? Seems to use similar technology as a MRI machine and you wouldn't want to sit in front of one of those things for 8 hours a day...
Raman
Grizzled Veteran
Joined: Mar 2001
re: Is anyone worried?
10/02, 03:30pm reply
I agree. In theory, it's a fantastic idea but there's already a vocal contingent of people who believe that cellphones cause cancer. Given that the amount of power radiated by something like this would be on the order of hundreds or thousands of times greater than a phone transmitter, you have to wonder. I mean, I can already "wireless transmit power" from my microwave oven into the food sitting inside of the oven, but most of us aren't willing to get in there while the thing is on...
QualleyIV
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001