Log in

View Full Version : Power Pad Offers Easy Recharge


Jason Dunn
10-31-2002, 05:58 PM
<a href="http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,106482,tk,dn103002X,00.asp">http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,106482,tk,dn103002X,00.asp</a><br /><br />I heard about this technology several weeks ago, and meant to post on it, but didn't - I'm glad PC World ran this article to remind me about it! The potential for this technology is quite incredible. Imagine recharging your devices by simply placing them on a small pad by your computer desk or night stands. No more wires, no more cables. I was led astray by the initial description of this technology I heard earlier - it's not "wireless" but "wire free". Quite a difference - this will require devices to not only have a chip inside to regulate the amount of power it needs, but it will also require metal contact points on the outside of the device. Still, this could revolutionize how we power devices, assuming the costs of these pads will be rapidly driven down to the point where adoption will occur rapidly. Give the article a read - it's very interesting.<br /><br />"Amid the wireless buzz, a company claims to have solved the "last wire" dilemma by eliminating the need to plug in devices to charge them. Startup MobileWise is working with Acer and others to ship (early next year) a pad with a conductive surface capable of powering compatible computing devices that simply rest on top of it--as efficiently as if they were plugged into an electrical outlet."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pcworld.com/news/graphics/106482-n_102902_mobilewise.jpg" /><br /><br />"...An early design of the technology resembles a thick rubber place mat. Metal "connectivity points" span the pad's surface and deliver power to the charging contacts on a compatible notebook, cell phone, or other device that is laid on the surface. A single pad can power or recharge various compatible devices at once, accommodating as many as will fit on the pad, according to company representatives. Each unit will contain the intelligence to identify itself and its specs to the pad. The largest of the first pads is limited to 240 watts of output. Its potential uses are diverse, said Andy Goren, the company's chief executive officer, who demonstrated the technology. One obvious benefit is that a pad, which has a single power cord that plugs into the wall, could replace the multitude of power supplies required for individual devices that fit on its surface." Source: Jeff Curtin

vincentsiaw
10-31-2002, 06:05 PM
hey is the ipaq in the picture really charged by the device? :?:

jweitzman
10-31-2002, 06:11 PM
Why is this a breakthrough? Your average cordless phone has a recharging mechanism that allows you to simply rest the phone on its base and recharge it through two external contacts. My electric toothbrush recharges in its base with no metal contacts at all.

With this pad, instead of carrying a small travel charger around with me, I'd be carrying something the size and shape of a heating pad? No thanks.

Universality is an entirely separate question. If the consumer electronics industry could agree on a single standard with a choice of amperages, we could all have one charger with an amperage switch on it, no matter the form factor.

JW

mookie123
10-31-2002, 06:16 PM
neat! I definitely need more radiation source around the house. does it come with cancer testing kit?

and people are worry about living near highvoltage powerline.

Cortex
10-31-2002, 06:25 PM
you still ned to sync your device...

Jason Dunn
10-31-2002, 06:34 PM
Why is this a breakthrough? Your average cordless phone has a recharging mechanism that allows you to simply rest the phone on its base and recharge it through two external contacts.

Right, but only that one phone will work in that one base - others will likely be physically incompatible. This is the same concept, but it would allow devices with a very minor physical modification to share the same charging point. Looking at the mess of power cables on my desk, I would certainly welcome this.

Jason Dunn
10-31-2002, 06:35 PM
you still ned to sync your device...

One word: wireless. :wink: With a couple of these pads around the house integrated into tables and counters, you'd never need to bring the Pocket PC to your PC again.

Come on people, open your minds to the possibilities!

RobertCF
10-31-2002, 06:45 PM
Well, add yet another item to the Virtually Useless Inventions list. First off, as others posted, how the heck would you sync your device unless you had a wireless setup in your house? And as for "strategically" placing mats around the house, do you really think someone's going to want to have little power mats all over the house? And just how long do you think it'll take before the same clutter we plop down on various counters with any open space on them shows up covering these "strategically placed" mats? About 5 minutes after I get home from work, that's how long. Oh, and what about those "charging contacts"? Ever put a 9v battery in the same pocket you have some spare change? Having charging contacts THAT exposed will certainly invite unintended discharge at best and a possible health hazard at worst. My opinion? Novelty or niche item at best.

toshtoshtosh
10-31-2002, 07:06 PM
Is wireless charging feasible? I know thoeratically it is, I'm just curious if anyone knows how much power you could transfer wirelessly at short ranges (2-3 feet). What frequency would you use and would it cause cancer? :)

Yeah, I realize this one isn't wireless, just wondering.

Kre
10-31-2002, 07:57 PM
Well, I would welcome this. This would eliminate about three miles of wires, a dozen huge block adapters and base stations, and giant power strips in my home. Having one pad on my nightstand with ONE wire, and being able to simply lay down all of my gadgets and have them all recharge at once without plugging anything in would be fantastic. It would make for a nicer, cleaner, more minimalist environment, conserve space and eliminate miles of spaghetti by eliminating all of the crap I mentioned above. All a person might need is one on the nightstand and one by the desk. They wouldn't need them all over the house.

As far as exposed contacts on devices are concerned, if this would present a problem, it could be addressed simply by having a small cover that would slide open to reveal, or slide closed to protect, the contacts. So that's not a big issue.

Although, I would have to say that AC adapters would still be necessary to have as an option, because sometimes, and perhaps only in the case of a laptop, you need an adapter because #!, battery life stinks in most laptops, #2, you may have to work longer than what your batteries will last, and #3, maybe you can carry a spare laptop battery, but you need not only instant, but continual power that only an adapter can provide and you don't have time to wait for a battery to recharge. So of course this pad would be pointless in those situations. But only under those circumstances would you need an adapter. For small devices, you never would. One day, when super long lasting methanol fuel cells arrive for laptops and everything else, along with this pad, adapters wouldn't be needed at all.

I also have to add that I wouldn't use this pad for data transfer. To me, that makes no sense. Bluetooth is a much better solution for data transfer than a pad. But for recharging batteries, I'm all for it.

Paul P
10-31-2002, 08:02 PM
Well, add yet another item to the Virtually Useless Inventions list. First off, as others posted, how the heck would you sync your device unless you had a wireless setup in your house?

Is that really a huge concern considering we already have integrated Wi-fi in the e740, built-in bluetooth in the 3800/3900 and the Loox, and both of those capabilities in the upcoming iPaq(s)? Though this is not completely innovative technology, it certainly brings out new possibilities to the market place. Not to mention the affordability of setting up a wireless network in your home.

And as for "strategically" placing mats around the house, do you really think someone's going to want to have little power mats all over the house? And just how long do you think it'll take before the same clutter we plop down on various counters with any open space on them shows up covering these "strategically placed" mats?

These are just the first steps. Those 'mats' are first prototypes. I am sure we will see more constructive ways and means of incorporating this technology in the future. Maybe a mat in your car or places other than your home - where charging and not syncing is your priority.

Kre
10-31-2002, 08:08 PM
Well, add yet another item to the Virtually Useless Inventions list. First off, as others posted, how the heck would you sync your device unless you had a wireless setup in your house?

Is that really a huge concern considering we already have integrated Wi-fi in the e740, built-in bluetooth in the 3800/3900, and both of those capabilities in the Loox and the upcoming iPaq(s)? Though this is not completely innovative technology, it certainly brings out new possibilities to the market place. Not to mention the affordability of setting up a wireless network in your home.

And as for "strategically" placing mats around the house, do you really think someone's going to want to have little power mats all over the house? And just how long do you think it'll take before the same clutter we plop down on various counters with any open space on them shows up covering these "strategically placed" mats?

These are just the first steps. Those 'mats' are just prototypes. I am sure we will see more constructive ways and means of incorporating this technology in the future. Maybe a mat in your car or places other than your home - where charging and not syncing is your priority.

I have to agree with those points. And having recharging capability built into a small section of surface in your car, for instance, to me, would be great. You could keep your gadgets at high or full charge throughout the day, while eliminating wires in your car as well.

I can't stand wires. Never have. The fewer the better. And if this pad can help achieve that, then once again, I'm all for it.

jweitzman
10-31-2002, 08:16 PM
RobertCF is right, lay a metal pen on that thing and what happens? Or spill a drink? Might be fun to put them around a "coasters" at parties, though!

Jason, my point about universal charging was that the while the charger in your phone base is specific to that phone, the only reason that is true is because the industry hasn't agreed on a charging standard. There's nothing about the technology that would make it hard to use the same charger for any device.

I can't see these guys having any more luck creating a universal charging standard than anyone else has so far.

Kre
10-31-2002, 08:35 PM
RobertCF is right, lay a metal pen on that thing and what happens? Or spill a drink? Might be fun to put them around a "coasters" at parties, though!

Jason, my point about universal charging was that the while the charger in your phone base is specific to that phone, the only reason that is true is because the industry hasn't agreed on a charging standard. There's nothing about the technology that would make it hard to use the same charger for any device.

I can't see these guys having any more luck creating a universal charging standard than anyone else has so far.

They said that spilling liquid on it would not short circuit or damage it in any way, which makes it more rugged than anything else with electricity running through it. They also indicated that it only would activate with a special recharging chip. So laying a metal pen or metal anything down on it won't do anything. If it did, they'd never be able to market and sell the thing.

And it's not just about a recharging standard. It's about physical size and shape. No other handheld is going to fit into an Ipaqs recharging base, and a Sony phone isn't going to fit into a Panasonic phones base station. This pad eliminates the limitations of molding the plastic of a recharging base into a shape proprietary to only one device, while elimating the need for wires, big block adaptors, and half a dozen outlets. Nothing else does that. Nothing else can accept and recharge many devices simultaneously regardless of size, shape, and power requirements, while once again, eliminating all of the wires and junk that I mentioned above.

Jason Dunn
10-31-2002, 08:40 PM
And thinking ahead, imagine being able to integrate this into desks, tables, etc. If it was unobtrusive, safe, and cheap, there are hundreds of surfaces that could be turned into remote charging terminals.

I guess the question is whether or not this comes too late - it will take 1-2 years before we see this come to the market in any real way, and if we have fuel cells by 2004, will we need this? Hmm.

Kre
10-31-2002, 08:48 PM
And thinking ahead, imagine being able to integrate this into desks, tables, etc. If it was unobtrusive, safe, and cheap, there are hundreds of surfaces that could be turned into remote charging terminals.

I guess the question is whether or not this comes too late - it will take 1-2 years before we see this come to the market in any real way, and if we have fuel cells by 2004, will we need this? Hmm.

I agree with your first point. But in terms of your question, I believe there will always be room for this device. Methanol fuel cells will last a long time, but they're batteries and will have to be recharged like anything else, naturally. I think the whole point of this device, is to eliminate the clutter and need for many outlets. And when would that not be welcome? I think the only thing that would be eliminated when fuel cells and this pad arrive, are the big clunky, heat generating adapters that we have to mess with.

szamot
10-31-2002, 09:06 PM
I don't know guys. If someone gave me a Tesla Coil I would say nuke my brains out but this to me seems worthless. First of all you would have to have the divices made to fit or be able to use this, which means that there are exposed termintals which menas they can be shorted when the device is in your pocket. It is possible.
Second I would ask you this. Why would any OEM want to built this into their device only to give up a very lucrative portion of its accessory market. Have you guys seen what chagres cost in the store, or travel kits for that matter. By the time you buy everything you need and misplace it once or twice you might as well buy a new device. Not to mention that all older devices would not work with this so not only are you carying a rubber mat but also all the cables for the stuff it does not support.
If this was truly wireless technology like Tesla Coils then we would not need a pad, but it is not. The idea is good the execution is not there.

TrojanUO
10-31-2002, 09:06 PM
you still ned to sync your device...

From the article:

The technology can also transfer data, and could someday replace a notebook docking station, which is used to distribute electricity as well to act as a connection point to the Internet and peripherals, Goren says. For example, a digital camera placed on the pad would automatically transfer stored images to the hard drive of a notebook also on the pad. Or the pad could be used to synchronize data between a PDA and a notebook.

szamot
10-31-2002, 09:42 PM
I fail to see why I would need a pad to sync stuff if I can do it over IR, Bluetooth, or WiFi or whatever else gets trown at us. It seems a bit pointless doesn't it?

Kre
10-31-2002, 09:49 PM
I don't know guys. If someone gave me a Tesla Coil I would say nuke my brains out but this to me seems worthless. First of all you would have to have the divices made to fit or be able to use this, which means that there are exposed termintals which menas they can be shorted when the device is in your pocket. It is possible.
Second I would ask you this. Why would any OEM want to built this into their device only to give up a very lucrative portion of its accessory market. Have you guys seen what chagres cost in the store, or travel kits for that matter. By the time you buy everything you need and misplace it once or twice you might as well buy a new device. Not to mention that all older devices would not work with this so not only are you carying a rubber mat but also all the cables for the stuff it does not support.
If this was truly wireless technology like Tesla Coils then we would not need a pad, but it is not. The idea is good the execution is not there.

As I mentioned once before, you could just have something that slid over the contacts to protect them. On the other hand, I had a StarTac phone that had exposed contacts on the bottom and I never had a problem.

Second, the CNet article explains that the company is considering developing a small external circuit that would plug into the power port of a device to allow for compatibility of older devices, so don't rule them out yet.

TrojanUO
10-31-2002, 10:50 PM
I fail to see why I would need a pad to sync stuff if I can do it over IR, Bluetooth, or WiFi or whatever else gets trown at us. It seems a bit pointless doesn't it?

You don't NEED a pad to sync. But it could be possible to Sync through the pad, which was just a point that someone else brought up. That even if you could lay your PDA down on the pad to recharge, you still need the cradle to sync. Just pointing out that no, you don't need the cradle to sync.

I also don't think you'd take this thing with you. It's far more beneficial built into your desk surface, or a nighttable.

Come home at night, through your PDA, Phone, and and Bluetooth Headset down on the night table. By morning, your PDA is fully charged, and synced with your desktop computer, your phone is charged and synced as well and your Headset is also fully charged.

What's not to like?

Rob Alexander
11-01-2002, 03:20 AM
I believe there will always be room for this device. Methanol fuel cells will last a long time, but they're batteries and will have to be recharged like anything else, naturally.

Well, no, that's the whole point of fuel cells. The 'recharge' comes from the methanol (or whatever provides the hydrogen). Once fuel cells are in use you'll have no need for anything like this, and that's what's going to kill it. It'll take years for manufacturers to agree on standards and more years to implement them. By the time this thing gains enough momentum to be useful, we'll be using our fuel cell PPCs in our fuel cell cars, which we'll park next to the fuel cell power plant that provides the electricity for our home. Saying 'I need to plug in my PPC' will sound about as quaint then as saying 'go out to the well and get me some water' sounds now. And it's not far away... you'll be able to buy that fuel cell power plant for your home any time now. 8)

http://www.gepower.com/dhtml/distributed_power/en_us/microgen/index.jsp/

Kre
11-01-2002, 08:48 PM
I believe there will always be room for this device. Methanol fuel cells will last a long time, but they're batteries and will have to be recharged like anything else, naturally.

Well, no, that's the whole point of fuel cells. The 'recharge' comes from the methanol (or whatever provides the hydrogen). Once fuel cells are in use you'll have no need for anything like this, and that's what's going to kill it. It'll take years for manufacturers to agree on standards and more years to implement them. By the time this thing gains enough momentum to be useful, we'll be using our fuel cell PPCs in our fuel cell cars, which we'll park next to the fuel cell power plant that provides the electricity for our home. Saying 'I need to plug in my PPC' will sound about as quaint then as saying 'go out to the well and get me some water' sounds now. And it's not far away... you'll be able to buy that fuel cell power plant for your home any time now. 8)

http://www.gepower.com/dhtml/distributed_power/en_us/microgen/index.jsp/

I read some info from the link you provided, and according to what I read, these enclosed, self-contained batteries require only an oxygen source to recharge. I also understand what you're saying, but based on what I read, I have a very difficult time believing that we're ever going to see batteries like that widespread in all of our gadgets or anything else, in this lifetime. Not because of technological reasons, but rather, for political and economic ones. First of all, this GE power source (from the link you provided) requires replacement of its power stack every four to six years, but beyond that requires no more than mere oxygen to recharge and provide complete power even to a big home. A battery that never has to be recharged from electricity from an outlet? Never has to be refilled with a fuel, but merely recharges itself through access to oxygen? And only has to be replaced every four to six years or so? I don't believe that will ever see the light of day on a mass scale. Don't get me wrong - I'd LOVE to see that. But my understanding is that fuel cells in computers for instance, will be designed to have a limited run time. They'll run for many, many hours, and maybe even days, but will need to be recharged. My understanding is that they won't be self-contained power sources that last indefinitely merely with access to oxygen. I would think that if they showed up in cars or homes widescale, it could put entire industries practically out of business and create severe disruptions and damage to the world economy. That's not to say that we won't see some examples out there, but I think anything beyond this may be wishful thinking. I would tend to think that progression of this nature would be highly regulated to a certain degree by the power industries anyway. The concept of the technology is nice, though.