Power-Scavenging Batteries

Inexpensive chips harvest mechanical energy to charge batteries for wireless sensors.

MicroGen Systems, a startup based in Ithaca, New York, is developing energy-harvesting chips designed to power wireless sensors like those used to monitor tire pressure and environmental conditions. The chips convert the energy from environmental vibrations into electricity that's then used to charge a small battery. The chips could eliminate the need to replace batteries in these devices, which today requires a trip to a mechanic or, for networks of sensors that are widely distributed, a lot of legwork.

Source: http://feeds.technologyreview.com/click.phdo?i=c29f7e6131355b528c24e457842de6ea

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