Nokia wants patent on self-regenerating phone batteries, piezoelectrics and much magic involved

In Nokia's own words, what we're looking at is a "piezoelectric kinetic energy harvester." Working along the same principles as kinetic wristwatches have done for a long time already, Nokia's idea is to capture the energy generated by the phone's movements and to refashion it into beautiful, clean-as-a-whistle electric power. By allowing the heavier internal components to move on rails within the phone as part of a "force-transferring assembly," the Espoo think tank has figured out a way to capitalize on all the small forces of acceleration and rotation that we subject our phones to on a daily basis. It would seem overly ambitious to expect this to replace the trusty old charger, but we give credit to Nokia for even thinking about it. Check out some schematics of how this would work after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[glamajamma Posted Mar 8th 2010 8:38AM]

This would have made more sense with Magneto.

[Plazmic Flame Posted Mar 8th 2010 10:21AM]

Nokia +1

[John52 Posted Mar 8th 2010 10:30AM]

Wolverine says: "Buy me or Ima cut you bitch!"

[N900 Posted Mar 8th 2010 11:04AM]

@Kunta Kinte QQ

[pythaes600 Posted Mar 8th 2010 11:35AM]

This just in. Apple has patented Finland. Espoo is in turmoil.

[WickedEast Posted Mar 8th 2010 11:59AM]

@Kunta Kinte

No, because this is not about some generic UI shit like the "gesture on an image to unlock" crap.

[barry99705 Posted Mar 8th 2010 12:43PM]

I love how they always draw Wolverine's claws longer than his forearms.

[GGG Posted Mar 8th 2010 2:06PM]

@firstain

1. Go away, preferably to some Apple article.
2. My Nokia had video calling in 2005.

[Lawlgen89 Posted Mar 8th 2010 2:10PM]

I think it would be a bit uncomfortable having a phone with the insides moving. Maybe have the energy come from pushing the buttons on the keypad, or a slider phone would be good for that too.

[saschaisking Posted Mar 8th 2010 4:07PM]

well it's about goddamn time.

if you need another idea nokia, attach those horrible little cellphone keychain things to a small crank. then i can twirl my phone about by the neck of hello kitty and proceed to call someone who cares.

don't thank me until you see my invoice for dropping such gems.

[frogger Posted Mar 8th 2010 6:12PM]

so what's new? I have read about this technology potentially being used for phones for quite a while. really cool to see a major company going after it though!

[Aaronneyer Posted Mar 8th 2010 9:12PM]

So basically a hybrid car. Obviously won't be able to completely stop the need to charge up your phone but it should definitely increase battery life.
Now here's an idea. Get some piezo pants with a battery in them, then use the powermat kind of technology on the inside of your pocket, so that your pants charge while you move, and then your phone charges in your pocket.

[fourzero40 Posted Mar 8th 2010 10:10PM]

Now this is something innovating and revolutionary. Apple, take notes.

[crunkykd Posted Mar 9th 2010 11:53AM]

This is one stupid idea as anyone who has actually worked with human motions and piezos knows. There's simply not enough motion, and piezos couple too little of what there is into electricity.

[sagi446 Posted Mar 15th 2010 9:20AM]

lol nb4 people charge their phones like Travis Touchdown