Appliance Design - March 2009 - (Page 12)

POWER Cutting Cord Clutter Powermat’s home charger uses a modular design for customization. Sections can be reconfigured into different designs. Wireless power transfer makes advances. T by larry adams 12 applianceDESIGN March 2009 he promise of wireless power transfer has been around since the 1800s, when it was studied by Tesla, Marconi, and others. Throughout the ensuing years, advancements came slowly. Now, it looks as if that promise is coming closer to reality and the timing could not be better. With the millions of portable devices in use, and the chargers and cords that bring them power, today’s wall outlets have become more clogged and countertops more cluttered. And, that doesn’t even take into account the plethora of small appliances and other electronic devices that need to be plugged into a power source, which might benefit from wireless power transfer. Conceptually, wireless power transfer involves the embedding of a line-connected power transmitter into a fixed or movable surface, which then transmits power to a device within a certain proximity without the need for any cord between the transmitting or receiving device. In practice, it may mean embedding the power transmitter into a wall, floor, countertop, or a portable mat that can be placed on any flat surface, such as a table, countertop, or nightstand. An appropriately designed device would then receive its power from the transmitter after being placed near or on the transmitting surface. Such an arrangement might be used to power devices directly, but the initial focus of the technology is directed at the creation of smart, universal charging pads, capable of recognizing and recharging multiple rechargeable devices, eliminating the need to have a dedicated charger for each device. Demonstrations of both direct powering and recharging concepts were on display at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, held in January in Las Vegas. At least two companies displayed the direct-powering concept. Fulton Innovation, Ada, Mich., displayed a blender powered by its eCoupled technology that was embedded in a countertop. The blender had no cord; all the power came through the surface of the counter. And, WiTricity, Watertown, Mass., wirelessly powered a large-screen TV and DVD player, a laptop, and a video projector with its through-theair transfer method. The best-known example of wireless power transfer is the electric toothbrushes found in many homes. These toothbrushes use inductive coupling, which utilizes a primary coil in its charging base to generate an inductive field. The toothbrush itself contains a matched secondary coil. When the toothbrush is placed in the charger, the www.applianceDESIGN.com http://www.appliancedesign.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Appliance Design - March 2009

Appliance Design - March 2009 Contents Editorial Shipments/Forecasts News Watch Transmitting Power Wirelessly Promises to Reduce the Ever-Growing Tangle of Cords and Cables Found in the Modern Home. There Are Different Technological Approaches for Achieving this Goal, and Some Are Already on the Market. Electrochemical Capacitors Can Provide an Extra Peak-Power Boost in Battery-Operated Appliances, Allowing Product Designs to Have Smaller Battery Packs. Metallic Foams Put the Properties of Metals into Lightweight Packages. Applications for this Emerging Technology Include Gas Burners, Heat Exchangers, and Electronics Housings. Hall-Effect Switches Are Compact and Provide a High Degree of Reliability and Durability as They Virtually Eliminate Mechanical Wear, Shock, and Contact Oxidation. Blowing Agents for Polyurethane Foam Insulation Face Increased Scrutiny Due to Global Warming Concerns, but Alternatives with Lower GWP Values May Provide Solutions to Meet These Challenges. Design Marts Association Report: AHAM Advertisers' Index

Appliance Design - March 2009

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