A Glimpse of the Future? Nokia Developing Self-Charging Cell Phone Battery

While many are turning to solar power as an alternative source of energy, it appears that Nokia has it eyes set on the development of kinetic energy as a potential game-changer for cellular phone batteries. The Finnish mobile device manufacturer has filed a patent in the US for the Piezoelectric Kinetic Energy Harvester, which is a cell phone battery that’s “contained within a first frame that is coupled to a second frame by one or more piezoelectric elements.” The concept involves a battery mounted in a larger frame and isolated from it by piezoelectric element. From this, enough kinetic energy is said to be harvested to “at least partially recharge the device battery.”

“A battery for an electronic device is contained within a first frame that is coupled to a second frame by one or more piezoelectric elements. The second frame is coupled to a device chassis by one or more additional piezoelectric elements. In response to translation and/or rotation of the electronic device, portions of forces induced by the battery mass are transferred to the piezoelectric elements. Electrical energy output by these piezoelectric elements is received in a power controller and can be applied to the battery. Additional device components can also be contained within the first frame so as to increase the total mass that induces forces applied to the piezoelectric elements.”

While the thought of self-perpetuated batteries in mobile phones is quite intriguing, it may be a while before we see the fruits of Nokia’s patent. Still, when considering some of the other cell phone battery patents that have been filed in recent years, the time and resources being put toward developing alternative sources of energy in the mobile phone world will eventually result in a much more eco-friendly product than those currently available.

Category: Battery News