Pages

Dec 6, 2010

This Generator the Size of a Pencil Tip Shakes Up Big Power

Japanese researchers have cooked up a minuscule kinetic battery capable of generating more energy than anything of its kind. Through only the slightest vibrations, the tiny device cranks out 22 milliwatts—20 times more than anything similar before it.

Twenty two milliwatts might not sound like terribly much—certainly a long way from powering your PS3—but could revolutionize the way we use smaller, button-sized batteries—just imagine a tiny way to store and generate power that could be tucked away anywhere. Devices that suck small amounts of juice could power themselves just by being in your pocket.

The secret behind the microgenerator lies in its use of Galfenol, a magnetic material developed by the US Naval Research Laboratory in 1998—it's super tough, and can take temperatures over 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit.
 
 

23 comments:

Smatchimo said...

wow, i wonder how much a slightly bigger one would produce, maybe our cell phones wont need batteries any more

Willow said...

@Smatchimo - one can only hope! lol

cooperlife said...

wow, this material was made in over a decade ago and they are just NOW finding the usefulness of it?

Vapor said...

We're now that much closer to nanotechnology!

SuciƓ Sanchez said...

TI make a range of ultra low power micro-controllers. they'd go very well with this.

April said...

Wow that's pretty cool, and it would be nice to have fewer batteries to worry about.

Anonymous said...

I really hope theres no more cell phone batteries

Pawawanpi said...

Now that is amazing, I hope we can see some applications to this technology.

stm said...

a breakthrough in batteries has been long overdue. they don't even begin to keep pace with advances in the technology they're comparing.

The Liquor Guy said...

Can it power a pencil?

Copyboy said...

Wow! I'm waiting for the ones that power cities.

Jeff said...

put one in a shoe, charges with every step,one battery in your phone, the other charging in your shoe.

Cowbellrocker said...

That's cool. Cant wait to see what the future holds.

Sinisa said...

nice...

Sam said...

leave it to the Japanese to uncover a new and better energy source

Gurney said...

thats awesome

Unknown said...

very cool

The Game Store Guy said...

Holy crap. The implications for something like this are astounding. At larger sizes, handheld devices of literally every type just WOULDN'T need replacement/charging of batteries anymore.

Anonymous said...

It's the small things that matter!
I can only agree with everyone; can't wait for less batteries to worry about.

Lemmiwinks said...

Kewl story, bro!

mrecan said...

hope i will be able to live to see when humanity efficiently uses these gadgets

MRanthrope said...

OWNed again! Thanks Japan....paybacks a bitch a suppose eh?

Mister Sharaf said...

nothing weird, Japan people are something special when its came about science .