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Image Credit: © sgroi

According to an article in New Scientist magazine, Nokia has filed a US patent for a cell phone handset that recharges itself by harnessing the energy produced by the owner’s movements.

Simple Design

Nokia sees a phone where the heavier components like the battery sit in a sturdy frame supported on two sets of rails.  The rails allow the frames to slide along two axis, one set of rails for up and down motion, the other set for side to side.

Strips of piezoelectric crystals sit at the end of each rail and generate a current when compressed by the frame.  So when you walk around with the phone in your pocket, or otherwise move the phone about, the motion generates electricity.  That charges a capacitor, which, in turn, trickle charges your battery.

My Thoughts

I can’t say if this system would alleviate the need for a traditional charger.  In all likelihood, it probably wouldn’t.  I’d see this as a means to keeping an already charged (or mostly charged) battery topped up.

Another thing to consider is that this will be totally useless if you are like me and your cell phone spends most of its life sitting on a desk, going nowhere.  Fantastic for walkers, runners, cyclists, and active people though.  Maybe this is Nokia’s way of getting us healthy?

I’ll try to keep an eye on this and bring you any developments as they happen.  Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be able to review a self-charging phone for you.

Till next time…

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1. Horst Günther Burkhardt III says:

   2010/03/07 at 12:17 pm

   Kineticly charged mechanical watch calibres – they so did this first

   Twitter: HorstBurkhardt
   • Steve Youngs says:

     2010/03/08 at 9:12 am

     Yeah I know… those watches have been around for years. But obviously Nokia have come up with something new, otherwise they would not have applied for a patent on their design. They’ve also gotta protect themselves from those Apple iThieves.

     On an unrelated note, Horst, I’ve left you a message on your livejournal (and another 30,000 on ICQ)… can you call me or SMS me please.

     Twitter: SteveYoungs