Energy sources for the future gadgets Bashny.Net

Gadgets inexorably becoming smaller in size, despite the obvious limitations of human anatomy. And gradually become more "wearable", closer to the body. Notable examples - fitness trackers, which took place wristwatches were displaced from use massive spread of mobile phones. Now watch, regroup and received reinforcements, launched an offensive in the form of a "smart". Points are also gone into hiding due to contact lenses may soon catch up after hours.

Naturally, this is not the limit. In the near future we can expect the emergence of even more compact gadgets. Perhaps they even will use the human body . And the greater the problem should get power gadgets. On the one hand, the degeneration of the element base may result in reduced energy consumption. On the other hand, batteries also have to reduce in size to somehow preserve the compactness and elegance products. And everything will be even more difficult in the case of using the human body as an active component of the gadget. So now is the time to pay attention to alternative methods of power that can be a good tool now.

In particular, давайте consider using body heat, sweat and channeled light.

The usual nightly charging gadgets can be uncomfortable for some wearable gadgets. And in some cases, for example, implanted devices - even impossible. At the time, received wide publicity experience Harbissona Neil (Neil Harbisson), who in 2004, during a clandestine operation implanted in the head unit on a 30-cm arm, allowing to distinguish colors. The fact that Neal suffers a rare genetic disorder that manifests itself in the absence of color vision. Of course, he did not suddenly gained the ability to distinguish colors. In short, the camera image is transformed to the sounds of different frequencies depending on the recorded colors. And Harbisson versed in multicolored peace by these sounds relayed implant .

In 2013 Harbisson upgrades, adding Bluetooth-module, which allowed him to upload images from your mobile phone, which he sent by other people. Harbisson also became the first person officially recognized as a cyborg - a British passport service has set a precedent. But also by example, he demonstrated features of the "exploitation" of the implanted gadgets.

There is no doubt that sooner or later, the use of wearable electronics become if not a trend, it is quite common. The reason is simple - it's very convenient. It is much easier to fasten, glue, or even implanted tattoo yourself or that gadget. For example, the phone can not be implanted anywhere forget, lose, drop into the water, accidentally sit on it and crush.

The market is already firmly established wearable gadgets that use a variety of ways to "mount": bracelets, stickers, clips, pendants, implanted sensors and "smart" clothing, including weaved and sewn electronic components. Perhaps already tried all possible ways.

And the main problem wearable gadgets already (or too) is the power supply. Do not save even increase energy efficiency. In the case of traditional smartphones, tablets and other devices we simply put them at night to charge, but this is not always convenient for owners of portable gadgets. And what about the implanted device? Cut to the quick, and change the batteries?

Of course, scientists continue to work on reducing the energy consumption of gadgets. For example, looks very promising этот chip , can radically improve the situation. And in case of success of this development for a long power devices will be enough energy even from the "environment". Perhaps, at first, it will be used in addition to the main battery.

Obtaining energy from outside h4> All potential external energy sources for gadgets can be divided into five types: photovoltaic (light), thermoelectric (heat), piezoelectric (mechanical pressure / compression) electrodynamic (vibration / movement) and biological (organic chemistry, for example, using fat or sweat). Over the last 2-3 years have been conducted dozens of studies on which to judge the progress in all five categories. But almost all the progress remains limited laboratory walls, apart from a few exceptions like «биометрических Headphone ».

In addition to the scientific and technical challenges of using external sources of energy, there is an important factor in psychological unpreparedness consumers. Devices that "eat" the warmth of our bodies or other types of energy will become more acceptable for people to take some time when wearable gadgets become accustomed as modern smartphones. The first generation of wearable gadgets will still use traditional rechargeable batteries, but for just some few years, consumers will be ready for the "next step».

Alternative Energy h4> Yet this is not the key point. The main driving force behind the introduction of alternative energy sources remain scientific and technical progress. The most promising areas today appear:

• Convert warm person into electricity using fiberglass . Laboratory model has been developed flexible glass cloth in thickness of a thermoelectric generator 500 microns and a density of about 0 13 g / cm2. The minimum bending radius is 20 mm, and the performance of the generator does not change during the 120 bending cycles.

• Channeling light с using organic photovoltaic cells , woven into the fabric. They are flexible and soft tissue patches on an area of ​​5 cm2. To date, their efficiency is about 1, 79% in the bright sun density generated current reaches 13, 11 mA / cm2.

• Conversion of lactate from human sweat into electricity using "biotattoo." This is not a classical tattoo, and the temporary coating substance, wherein the chemical reaction occurs electricity generation. Now scientists have achieved production of about 4 microwatts at the area of ​​contact with the skin of 6 mm2. When using larger "Tattoo" managed to reach 70 microwatts.

• Using the радиомагнитных Fields for wireless power biometric implants and "self-propelled" devices for targeted drug delivery.



Probably in the next few years we will see the first commercial devices using the above alternative power sources. Of course, if we talk about medical devices, the first thing the new technologies will be used for non-critical life goals, certainly not for pacemakers.

Surely the first effectiveness of alternative power systems will be low. It is possible that 90% of the time they store energy, contributing little to the overall energy supply devices. But one day the situation will change and we will carry batteries and accumulators are simply a safety net. A gadgets will work fine without them.

Brave New World.

Suppose that in the next six months to a year will be able to dramatically increase the efficiency of the described technology. Which of these could be applied in modern devices, such as new generations YotaPhone? The most obvious - thermal and photovoltaic.

Integration into the outer casing of the smartphone heat absorbing elements would significantly extend the operation of the device. And not necessarily all the time to keep it in his hands, and enough pockets, just to close to your body. In addition, acquired a very different meaning to the phenomenon of heating gadget on intensity. Instead useless dissipation of heat to the outside can be used for its electricity supply of the device. Recovery of pure.

In the case of photovoltaic technology, the benefits of getting to those who are more likely to use a smartphone on a fairly bright light. Although it does not add comfort when working with traditional LCD displays, but is beneficial when working with EPD, electronic ink. It would be logical to place light-absorbing elements at the ends of the device. Alternatively, you can think of quick-smart covers for photovoltaic generating energy in the light and immediately charging its contents induction method.

And what are ways to implement alternative technologies power smartphones come to your mind?

Source: habrahabr.ru/company/yotadevices/blog/237049/