Wireless Power at CES 09
January 19, 2009 by UltraFuture
UltraFuture covered wireless power back in July in Goodbye wires, Hello WiTricity. This years CES 2009 featured a product that looks like we are moving closer to a commercially viable solution. Powermat is a mat-based charger that you place electronic devices on top of. It charges using magnetic induction.
Imagine office desks, meeting rooms and conference tables where everyone’s laptop or mobile phones gets charged while working or in a meeting. No more labyrinthine wires to navigate and untangle.
Powermat displays new wireless charging systems at CES 2009, a convenient wireless alternative to mobile phone, computer and appliance chargers. The system uses magnetic induction to transfer energy to almost any device.
So, what’s next? As discussed in the Goodbye Wires article 100% wireless (without the charging pads) is also a concept that is in the works. The concept seeks to employ magnetic resonance coupling power production and transmit the energy directly through the air to devices.
Fast Company has a new article on wireless electricity:
THE INDUCTION SYSTEMS are only the beginning. Some of the most visually arresting examples of wireless electricity are based on what’s known as radio frequency, or RF. While less efficient, they work across distances of up to 85 feet. In these systems, electricity is transformed into radio waves, which are transmitted across a room, then received by so-called power harvesters and translated back into low-voltage direct current. Imagine smoke detectors or clocks that never need their batteries replaced.
Link: Wireless Electricity Is Here (Seriously) | Page 2 | Fast Company
RF induction systems are a lot less efficient right now, but could slowly charge small devices up to 3 meters away (10 feet) wirelessly, through the air.
Thanks to Will from Tomorrows Trends for the original article.
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Wireless Power offers a breakthrough to enable portable devices to behave in a truly wireless manner.
Inductive uses a magnetic field, and is largely creating a relatively efficient transfer of energy over short distances (centimeters). This is broadly described as near field powering. If the distance were to great, the magnetic field would be disrupted, and therefore the receiving coil would not harvest energy efficiently. eCoupled, Wi Power are two companies leading in this space. The idea is that convenience drives us to integrate near field powering into countertops, vehicles, furniture and so on.
RF uses electro-magnetic field, and is largely creating a relatively low power transfer of energy over longer distances (meters). Powercast is the leader in RF power. We have harvested useful energy up to 120′. But unlike Inductive, where there is typically a transmit and receive … one for one relationship. RF is highly valuable when many devices need powered. Lights, sensors, switches, micro-processors or rechargeable batteries/capacitors. The point being that at 5% efficiency, a point to point link is not very exciting. But at 5% efficiency, the ability to power 10’s of devices is incredibly valuable, as each as an equal, fair ability to harvest the same power.
Lastly, there is ambient power. Ambient power does not have transmission. The most obvious and successful type of ambient is solar power. But wind power, kinetic power and RF power also provide a means for harvesting energy. Mostly, the energy harvested is very low wattage and very inefficient, but creative designs can provide a wide range of applications. As a reference, solar power is roughly 18% efficient (US Dept of Energy). Again, these ambient solutions are not simply a transmit and receive site. They can be configured into all sorts of multi-point applications.
It is important that these subtle issues surrounding the value of wireless power be clear. Once they are, it is very valuable to start moving towards implementation and design. This is really too exciting a paradigm to sit on the sidelines.
[...] Wireless Power at CES 09 | UltraFuture [...]
Steve, thank you for your comments and clarifications.
I have had some people ask about about research into potential health risks from exposure to the EM field that transfers power in RF systems. Any thoughts?
Wireless power sounds amazing, as long as there isn’t a spike in brain tumors!