RCA Announces WiFi Powered Battery

[Polaris573]

RCA has named the batteries AirPower and envisions they will serve as a backup power source to normal battery charging methods. While it is obvious that enough power couldn't be gleaned from a wireless network to keep an active device running, an AirPower not in use could charge in as little as 6 hours. Naturally this is abysmally slow compared to current wired charging technologies. However, if the batteries are priced right they might give you one less thing to worry about since you wouldn't have to worry about plugging in and unplugging unattended batteries.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[zithe]

OMFG. You can make breadsticks connect to the internet now!

 

[Polaris573]

I keep making terrible typos. This is awful. Bta is going to kill me.

 

[Steevo]

Really with all the wifi radiation and new low power devices they should become more mainstream.

Your fired.

 

[mtosev]

I keep making terrible typos. This is awful. Bta is going to kill me.

Bta? isn't W1z the boss?

 

[newtekie1]

I think that should be "as little as 6 hours".

Anyway, this could be very nice. However, what I would like to see is batteries that picked up on any wi/fi radiation and charged any time possible, this could greatly extend runtime on devices.

 

[Frick]

However, what I would like to see is batteries that picked up on any wi/fi radiation and charged any time possible, this could greatly extend runtime on devices.

Isn't that what this do or have I misread the entire thing?

 

[Trigger911]

Yea does it get hit with the wifi beams or what I think that would be sweet and having a laptop "ipood" or zune or what ever like that would be sweet. its about time they use that radiation from somthing besides microwaving our brains.

 

[wahdangun]

wow, a really cool device,

i never thought this thing was real

 

[newtekie1]

Isn't that what this do or have I misread the entire thing?

From what I read, this is for charging batteries that are not in use, like swappable batteries. So you can use one battery in your cell phone while the other just sits on your desk charging. At least that is the way I read it.

 

[Gzero]

From what I read, this is for charging batteries that are not in use, like swappable batteries. So you can use one battery in your cell phone while the other just sits on your desk charging. At least that is the way I read it.

Quick patent that idea someone, a battery that discharges and charges at the same time.

This will come out at a high price and fail.

 

[Polaris573]

I don't think there is anything that precludes it from drawing power from WiFi while a device is in use, but it won't charge the battery it will just die slower.

 

[Trigger911]

I don't think there is anything that precludes it from drawing power from WiFi while a device is in use, but it won't charge the battery it will just die slower.

I agree

 

[Mussels]

I don't think there is anything that precludes it from drawing power from WiFi while a device is in use, but it won't charge the battery it will just die slower.

agreed.


that said, devices like wireless mice and keyboards with low power draw, could run almost infinitely...

(sure mice arent too low, but they also sit idle a lot)

 

[OnBoard]

Now this would have been nicer April Fools, compared to W1zz leaving

So 6 hours WiFi signals hitting you is the same as couple hours of licking charger plug

 

[driver66]

Now this would have been nicer April Fools, compared to W1zz leaving

So 6 hours WiFi signals hitting you is the same as couple hours of licking charger plug

ROFL

 

[Polaris573]

Now this would have been nicer April Fools, compared to W1zz leaving

So 6 hours WiFi signals hitting you is the same as couple hours of licking charger plug

April fools has been over for days. Will everybody please stop saying every news posts is an april fools joke.

Look Nokia had a cell phone concept last year that used this technology to charge. RCA is just bringing it to market sooner.

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/bits/2009/06/19/nokia-developing-the-never-charge-handset/1

more info.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_power

 

[Mussels]

even the wii has wireless rechargers now, they're just very limited in range.

wireless charging is the 'new' cool tech - and it really does have a lot of cool implications

 

[Frick]

I don't think there is anything that precludes it from drawing power from WiFi while a device is in use, but it won't charge the battery it will just die slower.

That's what I thought.

This is really nice. Tesla would be happy. If only we could pull 360V through the air..

Seriosuly though, this is really cool. I'm living in the future!

 

[n-ster]

That's what I thought.

This is really nice. Tesla would be happy. If only we could pull 360V through the air..

Seriosuly though, this is really cool. I'm living in the future!

Sorry for being off-topic but I'm a Tesla fan smart die that gets incredible misfortune, and even gets scammed by Thomas Edison!!! Tesla would be mighty proud that the world has started to work on his idea and is making it work

This thing would be good in an airport though right? the long waits can be a bit useful now lol

 

[pr0n Inspector]

Transmit Power 42 mW (range: 1 - 251, actual max depends on Country selected; default: 42)

LOL yeah right. charge my ass with that kind of power.

 

[Mussels]

42mw is enough for most cordless mice and keyboards to run live, let alone charge at idle.

 

[pr0n Inspector]

42mw is enough for most cordless mice and keyboards to run live, let alone charge at idle.

....assuming you can "collect" all the transmitted radio waves then convert them to DC. and then there are conversion losses. and the charging voltage for nimh is 1.5v and 4.2v for li-ion/li-po.

 

[OnBoard]

April fools has been over for days. Will everybody please stop saying every news posts is an april fools joke.

Look Nokia had a cell phone concept last year that used this technology to charge. RCA is just bringing it to market sooner.

even the wii has wireless rechargers now, they're just very limited in range.

wireless charging is the 'new' cool tech - and it really does have a lot of cool implications

Yeah sorry. I've just plugged everything in/used batteries my whole life and this is as close to real life Science Fiction that I can remember.

Flying cars have been "around" a century and this thing comes true in a year? I find it truly remarkable and hence the 5 day old pun.

 

[Mussels]

....assuming you can "collect" all the transmitted radio waves then convert them to DC. and then there are conversion losses. and the charging voltage for nimh is 1.5v and 4.2v for li-ion/li-po.

true, but who says new batteries with lower charging voltages arent part of the design?