Nov-11-13
Researchers have developed a power-harvesting device able to convert stray microwave energy into direct current voltage large enought to recharge a small electronic device.
Created by a team at Duke University, the device is inexpensive to make and operates on principle similar to solar panels. Made of a series of five fiberglass and copper energy conductors wired to a circuit board, the device is able to convert microwaves (such as those from a WiFi hub) into 7.3V of electrical energy. This amount is comparable to that achieved in solar cells.
The team believes the metametal could be applied to the ceiling of a room to recover a WiFi signal or to improve the energy efficiency of appliances by recovering the power currently lost during use. Additional modifications could see the material built into a cell phone, allowing the phone to recharge wirelessly and potentially harvest power from a nearby cell phone tower.
Large Image: Duke engineering students Alexander Katko (left) and Allen Hawkes show a waveguide containing a single power-harvesting metamaterial cell, which provides enough energy to power the attached green LED.
More Info about this Invention:
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GIZMAG.COM]
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DUKE UNIVERSITY]
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