How come wireless power transfer (WPT) is still not being used to power our cell phones?

[HoustonRealtor]

Nicola Tesla made so many experiments on how to transmit power wirelessly. Experiments were successful but not utilized. If we can use wireless frequencies to transmit data, then we defiantly can also use the same wireless frequencies to transmit power. Some companies such as uBeam use ultrasound waves which didn't seem to be working very well. They say energy could neither be created nor destroyed but it can be converted to other forms of energy and be reused over and over again. Cell phones could simply have a receiver such as a power-harvesting circuit that can be designed to absorb the wireless energy not just as a data receiver but as a power receiver to the phone.

 

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[Hong_Kong]

Nicola Tesla made so many experiments on how to transmit power wirelessly. Experiments were successful but not utilized. If we can use wireless frequencies to transmit data, then we defiantly can also use the same wireless frequencies to transmit power. Some companies such as uBeam use ultrasound waves which didn't seem to be working very well. They say energy could neither be created nor destroyed but it can be converted to other forms of energy and be reused over and over again. Cell phones could simply have a receiver such as a power-harvesting circuit that can be designed to absorb the wireless energy not just as a data receiver but as a power receiver to the phone.

• The energy transmitted dissipates rapidly as distance is increased. Example: If you double the distance, you get 64 times less power.
• Also the economic loss of having to charge your phone once a day or so is not that much. Its probably better from an R&D perspective to invest into improved battery technology.
• You need large electric fields around you, large antennas, etc.

Example of a wireless power transfer that is used in industry currently would be something like an RFID tag.

 

[HoustonRealtor]

• The energy transmitted dissipates rapidly as distance is increased. Example: If you double the distance, you get 64 times less power.
• Also the economic loss of having to charge your phone once a day or so is not that much. Its probably better from an R&D perspective to invest into improved battery technology.
• You need large electric fields around you, large antennas, etc.

Example of a wireless power transfer that is used in industry currently would be something like an RFID tag.

Thank you for the feedback. Do you think the technology is unpopular or unneeded? Carging cell phones is a daily task and the older the phone gets, the lower the battery life. The radio waves are all around us and we are already exposed to a high volume of waves. Why not just figure out a way to harness that limitless power that is literally around us?

 

[Hong_Kong]

Thank you for the feedback. Do you think the technology is unpopular or unneeded? Carging cell phones is a daily task and the older the phone gets, the lower the battery life. The radio waves are all around us and we are already exposed to a high volume of waves. Why not just figure out a way to harness that limitless power that is literally around us?

It could be useful in the future but its not at the level needed currently.

That's true, but considering many people don't keep a phone as long as possible anyway. Also, battery degradation like you mentioned could be minimized by improving battery technology. If you have wireless charging, that doesn't fix the battery degradation problem you mentioned.

In terms of harvesting the energy that is around us there are many ways to do that. Piezoelectric can be used to turn vibrations into electricity (just one of many examples). You can buy piezoelectric generators online, and put them on pretty much anything. But the problem here is the quantity of energy you are generating is extremely low.

Example of a practical application of energy harvesting would be something like this: Goodyear Is Trying to Make an Electricity-Generating Tire

It makes more sense for IoT devices rather than cell phones (a cell phone can be charged, where as an IoT device could be placed in a remote or inaccessible location).

 

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[HoustonRealtor]

Thank you for the insight. Very valuable information for sure!

 

[Roli]

Nicola Tesla made so many experiments on how to transmit power wirelessly. Experiments were successful but not utilized. If we can use wireless frequencies to transmit data, then we defiantly can also use the same wireless frequencies to transmit power. Some companies such as uBeam use ultrasound waves which didn't seem to be working very well. They say energy could neither be created nor destroyed but it can be converted to other forms of energy and be reused over and over again. Cell phones could simply have a receiver such as a power-harvesting circuit that can be designed to absorb the wireless energy not just as a data receiver but as a power receiver to the phone.

I have had two different designs of wireless phone charger (one good, one bad) I have also noticed that on a particular train route here in the South of England, there are wireless chargers on the tables in first class.

So yeah, we're using it, but I'm guessing it has its limitations.

 

[heavy_industry]

A better question would be why do manufacturers insist on making the slimmest phones possible? The battery is gone within a day and the device is so thin that you can barely hold it in your hand without accidentally dropping it.

Why not use bigger and more durable batteries?

 

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[GPM]

A better question would be why do manufacturers insist on making the slimmest phones possible? The battery is gone within a day and the device is so thin that you can barely hold it in your hand without accidentally dropping it.

Why not use bigger and more durable batteries?

Because consumers are morons. They also buy the sleekest and most fragile phone possible, and then the first thing they do is stick a massive case on it. The overall phone would be stronger, smaller, have a better battery, and probably look better if it were designed with protective silicone built right into it. But alas, no one would buy such a device.

 

[HoustonRealtor]

Because consumers are morons. They also buy the sleekest and most fragile phone possible, and then the first thing they do is stick a massive case on it. The overall phone would be stronger, smaller, have a better battery, and probably look better if it were designed with protective silicone built right into it. But alas, no one would buy such a device.

Lithium-ion batteries are popular because they're generally much lighter than other types of rechargeable batteries of the same size. The electrodes of a lithium-ion battery are made of lightweight lithium and carbon. Lithium is also a highly reactive element, meaning that a lot of energy can be stored in its atomic bonds. This translates into a very high energy density for lithium-ion batteries. What if there's a way to make Lithium to be even more reactive so that more energy can be stored in its atomic bonds and increase its life? Another option, what if there's a power-harvesting circuit or a chip in the phone that will absorb energy but will only be activated once the battery is almost out of juice. More like a backup battery and it works only when the battery is 10% or less.

 

[HoustonRealtor]

Lithium-ion batteries are popular because they're generally much lighter than other types of rechargeable batteries of the same size. The electrodes of a lithium-ion battery are made of lightweight lithium and carbon. Lithium is also a highly reactive element, meaning that a lot of energy can be stored in its atomic bonds. This translates into a very high energy density for lithium-ion batteries. What if there's a way to make Lithium to be even more reactive so that more energy can be stored in its atomic bonds and increase its life? Another option, what if there's a power-harvesting circuit or a chip in the phone that will absorb energy but will only be activated once the battery is almost out of juice. More like a backup battery and it works only when the battery is 10% or less.

 

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[HoustonRealtor]

• The energy transmitted dissipates rapidly as distance is increased. Example: If you double the distance, you get 64 times less power.
• Also the economic loss of having to charge your phone once a day or so is not that much. Its probably better from an R&D perspective to invest into improved battery technology.
• You need large electric fields around you, large antennas, etc.

Example of a wireless power transfer that is used in industry currently would be something like an RFID tag.

I read an interesting article talking about how Fluoride-based batteries can hold the charged for weeks!

 

[HoustonRealtor]

I read an interesting article talking about how Fluoride-based batteries can hold the charged for weeks!