Batteryless Remote Control Pulls Power from Your Button Presses

Developed by NEC and Soundpower Corp., this prototype combines a vibration-absorbing power generator with low-power-use electronics to create device fueled entirely by the user's button mashing. Right now, the prototype focuses on television remote controls, but as the home becomes more and more wired, this technology could expand to a range of different appliances.

pretty neat idea, i know most my battery's go to remotes and controllers, hopefully this will be hitting the commercial market in a couple years.

PopSci

would be cool if this was applied to cell phones..

thought a "hand exerciser" squeezing type lever accessory might be cool to recharge phones too.

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screw the tv remote.

Hook this crap up to Xbox 360 wireless controllers. THOSE buttons are pressed more than the tv remote ones... and CHEW through batteries.


Hell, I could power the city grid if i hooked up the over-flow back into it.



[edit on 21-11-2009 by jephers0n]

s&f for the thread.....generation of electricity to run T.V remotes from pushes of fingers!!!!
and they say zero point electricity generation isn't feasible......

the idea in a mobile is a good one.

just think how much youe phone is in your pocket bouncing around.

Sure we could get some copper wire and a neo magnet and rig up something.

Gaz

Originally posted by prevenge
would be cool if this was applied to cell phones..

thought a "hand exerciser" squeezing type lever accessory might be cool to recharge phones too.

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piezoelectric crystals can't generate enough power to keep a cell phone running for all but maybe the most rabid texters.

Some cities have sidewalks in busy areas that are full of piezoelectric crystals that create small charges with every step people take though. It's not much energy, but enough to keep street lights running.

S&F OP, Too bad all of this battery-less /wireless energy technology could have been released decades ago if Nikola Tesla's inventions and research had not been suppressed.

You know what's funny? I read the title of this thread and thought it had be some kind of joke at first. Not to say the technology isn't cool or whatever but I remember that way back in the day when remote controls first came out, I recall that some of them didn't have any batteries at all in them. I remember that as a kid somebody I knew had a tv with a remote like this. It had like four or five big buttons that would click when you pushed them and it would turn the volume up or down, change the station, or turn the tv on or off. I remember asking where the batteries go and the person telling me it didn't need batteries. I don't think it was a sound thing but maybe. I think that the act of pushing down the big clicky button actually made a small charge. Dunno for sure but if it us I guess the tech isn't all that new, (or maybe just the idea ain't new). Meh??

I apologize for talking in a riddle but this is a familyish site so...

have we forgotten the impact porn has had on the internet?
follow the logic all the way around and i don't need to say it.

a world powered by teenagers...
hahahaha

reply to post by Redwookieaz

My aunt had one of those "high tech" remotes. Sound operated. Each large button would strike a different tuning fork. The thing was kind of buggy as I recall though.

reply to post by Phage


Ah ok! Well the ancient mystery of how those worked, at least ancient mystery for me, has been solved! Thanks. I thought that it was maybe like a little current was generated by the clicky button but I was just a little kid when I saw it and I think it was really old then!

they already have this technology available for light switches

Originally posted by Alaskan Man
fueled entirely by the user's button mashing

That should make watching the television more enjoyable... 1st it is channel surfing... Now charging the remote...

Couldn't they put a little crank on the side or something? Or perhaps more feasible a sliding button on the side of the remote? That would give you a lot more energy ratio then hitting a button.

Unless there is a particular charge button, I don't think I would appreciate hitting channel up 20 times and then when it charges enough, it jumps 2 or 3 channels...

Maybe I should read the article, but just reading "fueled entirely by button mashing"... threw me a bit...

edit: i guess i could block the ir beam until light turns green or something...

[edit on 21-11-2009 by ByteChanger]