Sound-Charging Cellphone Could Let Your Power Your Phone By Talking

In the future, you could charge your cell phone just by chatting.

Researchers at South Korea's Sungkyunkwan University have developed a new technology that converts soundwaves into electrical energy, The Telegraph reports. With the sound-harvesting tech, batteries could be charged by everything from the human voice and music to the sound of highway traffic.

Researcher Dr. Sang-Woo Kim said, "The sound that always exists in our everyday life and environments has been overlooked as a source. This motivated us to realise power generation by turning sound energy from speech, music or noise into electrical power."

Currently, the researchers have created a prototype that converts sounds around 100 decibels (think: noisy traffic) to 50 millivolts of electricity. Here's how it works: a pad absorbs sound waves and causes zinc oxide wires mounted between electrodes to compress and release, creating an electrical current that can be used to charge a battery.

Fifty millivolts isn't enough to charge a mobile phone, but Dr. Kim said that the technology could be improved by using different materials. Fortunately, the current prototypes create enough energy to be usable in small, low-power sensors and implantable devices.

Comments

[thinker3t]

04:11 AM on 05/12/2011

If this tech of Sound power was Set up in New york City,, they could cut down on like 3rd of there power need, that city always alot of sound,

[JackHoffman]

07:09 PM on 05/11/2011

If it works with nagging my wife will finally be useful.

[DaneAZ]

04:06 AM on 05/11/2011

Can't they make it so I can charge my phone...you know...by like...rubbing it a certain way?

[Clare53]

05:48 PM on 05/11/2011

Hahaha!

[Corey Ferguson]

02:14 AM on 05/11/2011

Any idea how much energy is in a millivolt? Basically none. This is dumb

[frank day]

08:05 PM on 05/10/2011

This actually sounds promising.

[Benjamin Rosenfeld]

11:55 AM on 05/10/2011

Too bad you can't recharge them by throwing them against the wall.

[rcozad]

10:00 AM on 05/10/2011

Actually it doesn't actually charge the phone but by yelling you find out you don't need the phone after all.

[trojoe]

09:14 AM on 05/10/2011

Any other navy vets out there remember the sound powered phones onboard ship?

[Bradley Dharam]

11:24 PM on 05/09/2011

'Researcher Dr. Sang-Woo Kim said, "The sound that always exists in our everyday life and environments has been overlooked as a source. This motivated us to realize power generation by turning sound energy from speech, music or noise into electrical power."'

Fascinating!

[propermoose]

07:55 PM on 05/09/2011

You have to admire the creator of this idea. To conceive of and idea, and publicise it knowing it will make you the most reviled human being in the history of human beings takes a brass pair the size of watermelons. Or a total detachment from reality.

[rbarry647]

07:19 PM on 05/09/2011

Didn't Mo_nsters Inc. already come up with this idea

[AG creative]

05:53 PM on 05/09/2011

Put those chargers in AA meetings, malls, Southern Baptist churches, brothels, rave parties and along the coast, factories & other noisy places!

[TruEngineHearing]

11:11 AM on 05/10/2011

Yes, FOX could fuel the world...

[AG creative]

03:19 PM on 05/10/2011

Say that 3 times, fast.

[Plunger 2x]

05:33 PM on 05/09/2011

They should line the subways and rails with this technology and route the power to the electircal grid.. viola renewable energy!

[Stilyagi]

05:24 PM on 05/09/2011

This will do nothing for the "text-me" generation.

[Jim Anderson]

05:16 PM on 05/09/2011

As much as I use a phone, mine would be power dead all the time.