So, Apple gadgets are charged with Lightning cables? That’s cute – Nokia
uses actual lightning. No really, Nokia has partnered with the
University of Southampton for the craziest scientist implementation of
wireless charging.
The team managed to get a Nokia Lumia 925 charging from a simulated lightning.
“We were excited by this challenge presented to us by Nokia,” Neil
explained. “Using an alternating current, driven by a transformer, over
200,000 volts was sent across a 300mm gap – giving heat and light
similar to that of a lightning bolt. The signal was then stepped into a
second controlling transformer, allowing us to charge the phone.”
What happened next surprised even the scientists, and Neil adds: “We
were amazed to see that the Nokia circuitry somehow stabilized the noisy
signal, allowing the battery to be charged in only seconds.”
No, the point isn’t to create a franken-Lumia or to have Stephen Elop
dress up as Doctor Doom. It’s that the electric arc is about the worst
wireless charging signal a phone can get, rather than the nice,
specially prepared signal coming from a wireless charger.
“This discovery proves that the device can be charged with a
current that passes through the air, and is a huge step towards
understanding a natural power like lightning and harnessing its energy,” says Neil Palmer, a scientist at the university.
“We obviously aren’t recommending people try this experiment at
home, but we are always looking to disrupt and push the boundaries of
technology and find innovative ways to improve the performance of our
products,” adds Chris Weber, EVP for Sales & Marketing.
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