Comments on: Nokia powering up self-charging cell phone

While Palm has created a wireless charger for the Pre, Nokia Research Labs is working on technology for a self-charging cell phone that uses ambient radio waves.

[myles taylor]

This is technology Tesla pioneered over a century ago. He not only proved that it worked, but demonstrated it to a large number of people. The only thing keeping us from this technology is the unwillingness of the power companies to give up their hold on regulating power.

[Kesteral]

For small amounts of power, this looks to be a great and promising technology, and as the electronics get smaller and more energy effeicent, it will become even more appealing. However, the biggest reason why this technology isn't used more in mainstream is because it isn't safe at high voltages. There is a reason why general broadcast towers have high barbed wire fences with danger signs everywhere. Anyone who gets close to one of those towers must remove all metal from their clothing and be very, very careful about where they put their arms and legs. Otherwise, they can end up a crispy critter.
Tesla did have a working system, but two of his assistants were badly electricuted, and several cows were killed before he was ordered to take it down.

[nafhan]

If the phone needs 20 miliwatts for standby and they could get 50, there are two things you could do with that.
1. Infinite standby time. This alone would make the technology worth it IMO.
2. Trickle charging. The 30 miliwatts above what's needed for standby could be used to (very slowly) charge the phone. My math is probably off, but I think it would take about 30 hours to charge 750 mAh battery at this rate.

You'd probably still want to have a charger as a backup, but very cool, anyway.

[rrod182]

Pair it with solar and kinetic and its perfect.

With all this 'free' electrical energy floating around us all the time, has anyone looked into what this may be doing to the human nervous system? After all, we are just electro-chemical machines ourselves.

I'm starting to think that those so called 'nut cases' who run around wearing aluminum foil hats may actually be more sane than we all realize.

[Soubrause]

You need to use TIN foil to stop the brainwave scanners not aluminum foil.

[jmfb_k7]

HAHAHAHA.

[thewildjoker]

Excellent article!! The technology that is being developed in the cell phone industry is amazing. I can remember my first cell phone, a candy bar style Nokia. I can not wait to see if this idea is translated into a product that hits the market. Personally I would love to not worry about my phone staying charged. I am just curious how users in a rural area that doesn't have the amount of radio waves being emitted as a city would. Keep us posted on what comes of it....

[cdxskier6]

This is FREAKIN SWEET!

[jailbushcheney]

if you want to see a cancer cluster just put that cell tower up. worldwide this is what is happening and thousands of studies from europe now confirm this. not one ongoing study in the u.s.-- WHY? portland or, and los angeles have adopted resolutions that will challenge the 1996 telecom act that forbids (makes it illegal) to challenge the placement of a cell tower for health reasons. imagine that. what did they know and when did they know it. this will lay the groundwork for enormous law suits for a cover up. check out http://www.wirelesswatchblog.com

[VultureTX]

Wow ""thousands of studies from europe" says a guy with no links or supporting evidence on a tech site with a handle of " jailbushcheney "

Let us all be thankful that tinfoil hat nutjobs identify themselves with handles that signify an agenda.

That being said cell towers are not 100% safe (RF energy wise) and no one should remain near 10 meters of one for any duration of days. But since RF energy dissipates according to the inverse square law, the risk zone is fairly small. Please inform yourselves by talking with an RF engineer if you truly believe otherwise.

[Nev]

Good points Rrod82

How about developing tiny solar panels to fit on or in the outer covers of the phones ? For all cell phone owners, especially those in third world countries .. sunlight is free !

[Nev]

... I forgot to add that not only is sunlight free .. it is also freely available in areas where ambient radio waves are not present.

[Yoakum1961]

No ambient radio waves,probably no reception

[TammyLoftheim]

I won and run a Tower/ Communications company in the East. I am not sure about why cows were killed and why people were injured the way these statements say they do. I have employees go up broadcast towers ALL the time. Some of the safety gear is made with metal. Was there something else going on in the area or perhaps even some sabotage? It just doesn't make sence.

[Christo6677]

Check out http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-11515-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=32930&messageID=606557 to get an idea what wireless is doing to bees. Do a Google search on wireless and bees, and consider what our future would be like with out them.

[german2115]

I think your effort is good, but always don't disclose any environmental and health issue. The first 5 mW prototype is a good start. Please try to use the resonant circuit to boost this power output. ok

[BethBTRx]

This could be a business travelers best friend!!!!