“Witricity”- Wireless Power

Introduction

Imagine a future in which wireless power transfer is feasible: cell phones, household robots, mp3 players, laptop computers and other portable electronics capable of charging themselves without ever being plugged in. Some of these devices might not even need their bulky batteries to operate. Power cast, wireless power, is a technology that uses a low-level radio frequency electromagnetic field to recharge small electrochemical cells and batteries. It can be used with low-power electronic devices such as cellular telephones, portable media players or hearing aids. A classic example, set of wine glasses, each filled to a different level so that it can vibrates at different sound frequency. If a singer hits a pitch that matches the frequency of one glass, the glass might absorb so much acoustic energy that it will shatter while the other glasses remain unaffected. Therefore, wireless power technology is based on transmitting electricity to devices without the need of the cables we have for long depended on for power.

History

The history of wireless power transmission at microwave frequencies is reviewed with emphasis upon the time period starting with the post World War II efforts to use the new microwave technology developed during the war. The idea of Wireless Power Transmission was first explored in 1899 by Nikola Tesla. According to Technology Review website, in the late 19th century, the realization that electricity could be coaxed to light up a bulb prompted a mad dash to determine the best way to distribute it. At the head of the pack was inventor Nikola Tesla, who had a grand scheme to beam electricity around the world. Having difficulty imagining a vast infrastructure of wires extending into every city, building, and room, Tesla figured that wireless was the way to go. It was experienced with long-range wireless energy transfer and has worked on highly directional mechanisms of energy transfer such as lasers as stated in BBC News. A...