James Delahunty
21 Aug 2008 21:40
Back in 2006, Dr. Marin Soljacic at the MIT Department of Physics and Research Laboratory of Electronics demonstrated the transmission of Electricity using using magnetic resonance. On Thursday, Intel was to demonstrate some progress in the wireless charging technology, which could be used to charge laptops, MP3 players and mobile phones without the need to connect any wires.
Intel was to demonstrate that it has cut the previous 50% loss in power to between 40% and 25% loss. However, Dr. Izahr Matzkevich, cofounder of wireless developer WildCharge, warned that the technology still has a long way to go before it becomes more efficient and more practical in use. Soljacic's original demonstrations could transmit electricity to portable devices up to 7 feet.
Present technology requires that wireless rechargers must be in contact with recharging bases or recharging mats. "Resonance technology like the MIT demonstration requires a heavy infrastructure -- right now, with coils of at least two feet -- to accomplish even a small distance," he said. "Add to that a 35 percent loss in power, this is not insignificant."
There is also the problem of interference with other electrical equipment. Nevertheless, the technology is still worth developing.