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Vibration absorbing, self-charging batteries

Catwell
New self-charging AA and AAA batteries are about to be introduced by Brother Industries Ltd. This "Vibration-powered Generating Battery," as the company labeled it, uses electromagnetic induction to generate power. The faux battery body houses the generator and a 500mF capacitor. Currently, the AA-size generator produces about 10-180mW.The target use is for devices that don't always draw power, like remote controls or flashlights. The output sounds fairly weak in the press release, but hopefully the technology will improve before launch, and battery waste will be a thing of the past.
 
 
If you are in Tokyo around July 21-23, 2010, be sure to check out Brother Industries's booth at the Techno-frontier 2010 Expo.
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Cabe

  • An AA Duracell is good for about 8500 joules (9.5 hours to 0.8V at 250mW discharge power - from data sheet)..

    Brother claim "The average output of the AA-size generator is 10 to 180mW (frequency: 4-8Hz)"

    I did some rough calcs and I think you'll need to shake it VERY hard to get that.

    Lets take it as 50mW so that's 47 hours of serious exercise !!!

    If I were you I'd forget the remote and get up and use the switch on the telly !

  • in reply to michaelkellett

    Michael,

     

    I thought the exact same way. Perhaps everyone should put their electrical devices in a vibratory rock tumbler when not in use. And If the rock tumbler ran off batteries; perpetual motion.

     

     

     

    It really depends on the Brother Industries inductor setup. I can't seem to find any data on that aspect yet.

     

    Another issue I see is the actual output of the device. The energy storage portion of the vibration is a 500 mF at 3.2V or 2.8V, for AA and AAA sizes respectively. Taking the AA option, that is roughly 2.56 Joules at the theoretical maximum capacity. J/s = 0.0426 Watt-seconds. If you can keep it fully charged at all times, that is only ~ 43mW. I suppose if there are several 500mF caps in there it could work. Three would give the 120mW proposed output.

     

    We will know soon enough as details from the Tokyo show roll in.

     

    Cabe

  • in reply to michaelkellett

    Hi Michael,

     

    Who told you that a remote control only works with fully charged batteries? :-) The fun of this device is that it can be used of extremely low power application, like the remote. It is probably true that you would have to shake the device several seconds (maybe even 5 seconds) to have it fully functional. And if so, the invention is a no-go for me. The other problem will be the voltage drop which is typical for a discharging capacitor but not for a battery. How will a circuit cope with a decreasing supply rail? You will need a customized circuit for that. Anyway, we have to embrance all attempts to improve our environment. I should proceed with this topic in another group...

     

    Best regards, Enrico Migchels

  • Lights for a mountain bike would seem to be ideal application, plenty of vibration there to harness.

  • Where are my vibration absorbing double A batteries already?

     

    E

  • in reply to M0DCD

    Strap one of those small 'shaker charging' flashlights to your steering neck.

    Free energy, lol!

  • in reply to michaelkellett

    Michael Kellett wrote:

     

    An AA Duracell is good for about 8500 joules (9.5 hours to 0.8V at 250mW discharge power - from data sheet)..

    Brother claim "The average output of the AA-size generator is 10 to 180mW (frequency: 4-8Hz)"

    I did some rough calcs and I think you'll need to shake it VERY hard to get that.

    Lets take it as 50mW so that's 47 hours of serious exercise !!!

    If I were you I'd forget the remote and get up and use the switch on the telly !

     

     

    Looks like Brother just solved childhood obesity

  • I think the idea is good but the technology isn't there yet.  But isn't that how any new product starts out.

  • interesting read, and of course the use of batteries in a Vibrating environment (if we ignore the perpetual motion idea), I`m sure there`s a joke in there somewhere!? 3678.contentimage_403.png

     

    the Mountain bike is a good idea, but you`re more likely to get more from a simple Dynamo, so maybe the 2 combined, or a cars glove compartment?

    perhaps a keychain LED device?

     

    I was quite surprised when I read only a 500mF cap though? I have a pair of 10F caps rated 2.5V that would easily fit into an AA batt (both of them at the same time with room left), I can run a PIC chip with 20 LEDs set up as a "Larson scanner" for a good 47 minutes before fail with these.

    the idea`s Great! the applications are Few but non the less there, I like it!

  • in reply to Catwell

    After reading the comments, I had a brilliant idea.

    Above ground wires require dampers to keep the wind from setting up oscillations.  We could put these energy collecting batteries all over the place and when you look at the scale, they could produce a lot of wattage by just "hanging" around the wires.  They would keep the wind gust loading down on the wires and get charged, thereby solving two problems at once.

     

    Technology advancements will make them more efficient and increase their power generation, all we need to do is set up the devices and create a current collection subsystem and we get additional power.

     

    Just a thought,

    DAB