Brother shakes up expectations with vibration-charged low-power batteries

Lithium-ion battery technology keeps improving by (theoretical) leaps and bounds, but what good's that to you when you're faced with a dead TV remote? Brother Industries has a plan, and it doesn't involve ink for once -- the Japanese printer company's developed a set of prototype batteries you simply shake to charge. AA and AAA models are already in the works, though you shouldn't expect to slot them into cameras or R/C cars, as the miniature electromagnetic induction generators inside are designed for infrequently used gadgets and provide as little as 10mW (or as much as 180mW) when shook. Of course, when it comes to TV remotes there's an even lazier way for couch potatoes to squeeze the juice, but we have to imagine standard-sized cells have a slightly better chance at market.

[DefPoet Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:25PM]

The answer to perpetual motion is to place these in a well used female toy

[Jeremiah Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:27PM]

@DefPoet Exact same thing I thought.

[That guy 2 Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:32PM]

@Jeremiah Or inside your right hand, and when you hold the device the energy flows from your hand

[DefPoet Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:37PM]

@pple is poo
its 8======D (0)

[Lord Vader Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:41PM]

l-(o)-| Tie-Fighter

[fischju Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:43PM]

@DefPoet 8======D (»80% charging)

[metanup Posted Jul 17th 2010 6:38PM]

@DefPoet its also a handy toy for a wanky boy.

[VAVA Mk 2 Posted Jul 17th 2010 6:39PM]

@DefPoet

First thing I thought of as well lol

[treef rt Posted Jul 17th 2010 6:51PM]

@DefPoet
I don't get it.




/s

[BigD145 Posted Jul 17th 2010 10:21PM]

@DefPoet Those individuals with the so-called "restless leg syndrome" will get a kick out of these.

[manofchao5 Posted Jul 18th 2010 1:51AM]

@DefPoet Or tape it under the bed of a happy couple :p

[hilllmie87 Posted Jul 18th 2010 3:25AM]

@DefPoet This battery might actually be perfect for wii remotes, u know with the shake and all

[skatekarate Posted Jul 18th 2010 9:28AM]

@hilllmie87 I am afraid of you people.

Also, shouldn't it say "when shaken" instead of "when shook"

[boxieblue Posted Jul 19th 2010 4:21AM]

@DefPoet
shake it before you use it :p

[fischju Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:28PM]

Shakeweight with an fm radio?! Ooh, Shakeweight battery charger...

Or, you know, maybe a wiimote...

[That guy 2 Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:31PM]

No the answer to perpetual motion is the energizer bunny...or in a girls toy

[SARDOG Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:31PM]

Perfect idea for remotes. Can't wait to pick up a set.

[Wiggy Fuzz Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:32PM]

rechargeable wiimote. this cannot be stressed enough.

[Professor Hubert J Farnsworth Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:38PM]

RELEASE THE SEX TOY JOKES!

[Psyclotr0n Posted Jul 17th 2010 6:00PM]

@Professor Hubert J Farnsworth
Wwelease Bwian!

[Loonie Posted Jul 17th 2010 7:41PM]

@Psyclotr0n :

Release the Kraken!

[bob e Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:42PM]

That is one sexy battery and I've never thought of batteries that way.

[Psyclotr0n Posted Jul 17th 2010 6:00PM]

@bob e
sounds like you should get out of the house more

[broli Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:45PM]

FAP FAP FAP FAP FAP

[Colin B Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:48PM]

Longest run-on sentence ever! Also, shaken is more gramatically appropriate than shook (or stirred).

Brother Industries has a plan, and it doesn't involve ink for once -- the Japanese printer company's developed a set of prototype batteries you simply shake to charge AA and AAA models are already in the works, though you shouldn't expect to slot them into cameras or R/C cars, as the miniature electromagnetic induction generators inside are designed for infrequently used gadgets and provide as little as 10mW (or as much as 180mW) when shook.

/grammar police

[Sean Hollister Posted Jul 17th 2010 6:42PM]

@Colin B There was a period. Then it was gone, like magic. I've since replaced it.

[broli Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:51PM]

little billy: *fap fap fap*
"mom enters on billy's room"
mom: O lord what are you doing billy.
little billy: I'm recharging my batteries mom
mom: oh....do you need help with that?

[broli Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:51PM]

little billy: sure mom, here you go
mom: *fap fap fap*

[Technetux Posted Jul 17th 2010 7:22PM]

@broli girls dont fap, they schlick

[trihy Posted Jul 17th 2010 5:55PM]

overcharging circuit protection really really really needed....

[cdf74dc9 Posted Jul 17th 2010 6:14PM]

I'll stick with the current disposable battery ty because it's less expensive and can have more power at one time.

[cdf74dc9 Posted Jul 17th 2010 7:08PM]

@pple is poo

By the time you shake these, the lawn need a cut.

[Mongoos150 Posted Jul 17th 2010 6:16PM]

Just think of the applications of this technology for electric cars...

[Yankee Posted Jul 17th 2010 6:35PM]

"Lithium-ion battery technology keeps improving by (theoretical) leaps and bounds". Really? To me it seems we're using the same Li-Ion batteries from 10 years ago. Capacities haven't improved at all. All smartphones have the same 1400-1500mAh and that's been the case for years.

[jakey Posted Jul 17th 2010 7:25PM]

@Yankee
Ten years ago there weren't even smart phones. The Palm Treo 180 (800 mAh) and Blackberry 5810 (900mah) came out in 2002. The T-mobile/HTC Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition also came out in 2002, but that did have a 1500mah battery.

But the battery size doesn't tell everything. You need to know the weight and volume of each pack to really see the improvements.

In terms of the laptop battery market, the batteries have definitely been improving (and I'm sure this will also be the case for the li-poly pack in most cell phones if you could find the specs for them). Panasonic has already started producing 3100mah 18650 cells. In 2000, the largest 18650 cells were in the 1900mah range.

[GTechZero Posted Jul 17th 2010 6:38PM]

imagine cars with these bateries, you would never need to charge your car again because of the vibration when your driving on road or not...

[waducu Posted Jul 17th 2010 7:25PM]

@GTechZero

You never need to charge the batteries? Do you mean to say you just found a solution to the "perpetuum mobile" ?
Ahem.. we need an nobel prize over here asap!
:))

[Sp4rky Posted Jul 17th 2010 6:59PM]

When shook??? Oh for crying out loud. Shaken is correct. Good grief.

[grub Posted Jul 17th 2010 7:51PM]

@Sp4rky Yeah, at first I thought I was reading a kdawson submission on slashdot.

[b0rndead Posted Jul 17th 2010 7:18PM]

Bike lights anyone? IT always skay riding a bike - and its bad if you run out of batteries on a dark road. Would that be enough to power e good led light? I'm not familiar with currents of those things.

[Loonie Posted Jul 17th 2010 7:42PM]

My Logitech VX Rev and nano would love a set of these.

[Dr Yusuf AlKindi Posted Jul 17th 2010 9:23PM]

Doesn't anyone proof read for grammar?

WRONG: and provide as little as 10mW (or as much as 180mW) when shook.

RIGHT: and provide as little as 10mW (or as much as 180mW) when shaken.

[Aguiluz Posted Jul 17th 2010 9:33PM]

@Dr Yusuf AlKindi

Personally, I don't care if the English is slightly off as long as the message is given.

[klinbest Posted Jul 17th 2010 10:10PM]

this sure gives the phrase "squeeze a juice" another meaning..

[HektikLyfe Posted Jul 19th 2010 12:05PM]

"I was charging my remote...I SWEAR!!!"

[XinJiang Posted Jul 24th 2010 11:37AM]

environmental-friendly and good for your twist...shake remote when watching TV...
could it be used in Wii remote? then it could become a non-stop power supplier...