Apple is reportedly interested in a technology developed by a start-up, Eneco, allowing to convert heat generated by a device to electricity.
The "solid state energy conversion/generation chip" technology not only provides energy to the device from its own heat, but also cools it down.
That would let a company like Apple to make devices with longer battery life and with a better cooling. These devices would also be the kings of "green" consumer electronics.
Dell is also interested in the technology which is currently at the early stages of its development. No information is provided on when this technology could be put in production.
If this technology indeed works, this could be a huge breakthrough in energy and heat related issues PC and handhelds manufacturers currently encounter.
Current devices are mainly powered by Li-Ion batteries, which clearly show their limits in terms of battery-life and sometimes cause fire issues, as seen with Sony's batteries this year.
Delicious
Reddit
Google
Yahoo
Technorati
MacScoop RSS
So what is so new about
So what is so new about this? Thermoelectric coolers have been around for a long time, when you don't supply then electricity they generate electricity.
In fact there are a number of ways to electrical energy from heat differentials. So again what makes this unique? Is it new technology or somebody trying to patent old tech.
Dave
Well Dave, What makes it
Well Dave,
What makes it unique is my powerbook doesn't have it, my dell latitude doesn't have. I know the macbook doesn't have it and the Macbook Pro doesn't have it. The only reason I'm not bying a Macbook or Pro is cause it fries my legs.
So if this ends up in a laptop I'm game!
That's what's unique. Can you imagine a 4GHz laptop running cool instead of hot...
That's great! My PowerBook
That's great! My PowerBook runs so hot that if the heat were converted back to energy, I'd never have to charge the battery again!
INGENIOUS! :D
I am certain that the
I am certain that the efficiency is better and it is miniturized to be applied to chip cooling. It is not too hard to imagine the next generation of such technologies might be in-chip integration of thermo-electric devices.