3 ms·

Note: they make a claim that explains why you can't find a source for the transducer: ""In five years, we have invented five completely novel ultrasonic transdu

Note: they make a claim that explains why you can't find a source for the transducer: ""In five years, we have invented five completely novel ultrasonic transducers," she says. "They are the world's smallest, thinnest and most powerful and potentially least expensive transducers that exist. This may seem novel now, but our mission is to have charging become a passive experience. It will fade into the background.”"

jacquesm 9y ago
Regular ultrasonic transducers are already very cheap when bought in small numbers ($2-$3), it would be very hard to improve significantly on that price-wise, the automotive industry uses these by the bucket for park assist systems.
- austenallred 9y ago
  "Potentially" least expensive implies they're not the least expensive currently, but could be at scale.
  - jacquesm 9y ago
    Yes, potentially anything could happen, but they don't know. What we do know is that mass manufactured transducers already exist and what they cost. uBeam is now developing custom transducers which normally would translate into a higher price rather than a lower one so if you don't mind I'd like to see that proven before I believe it given their history to date. What something costs when you make it at scale you tend to find out when you make it at scale, and if they are going to revolutionize the transducer market that alone would be worth a fortune, never mind transmitting itty bits of power to cellphones.
- DannyBee 9y ago
  Sure. But if one assumes it's not complete snakeoil, these may not have good enough characteristics for what they are trying to do. IE if you believe her, it implies the ones they need to make are not that cheap. (Note: I'm fairly familiar with ultrasonics, and certainly the price varies depending on what you are trying to do. The ones in my ultrasonic cleaner are not the same as the ones i use do to sensing tasks)
  - jacquesm 9y ago
    True, the characteristics matter a lot. Even so, a principle demo would require only two transducers and a simple lab setup rather than some fancy stage managed demo for reporters to charge a phone. And it would carry a lot more weight with the tech crowd, they keep on doing these demos that scream 'snakeoil' even if there is an outside chance that it is not. And if the transducers they need to make are not cheap then the whole project is dead in the water anyway. Wireless charging with a custom backing or sleeve over a phone that costs a fair amount of money coupled with a large array of expensive transducers every so many meters in whatever space you're trying to use the system in would likely not take off, assuming they can get the efficiencies working in the first place.

jacquesm 9y ago

Regular ultrasonic transducers are already very cheap when bought in small numbers ($2-$3), it would be very hard to improve significantly on that price-wise, the automotive industry uses these by the bucket for park assist systems.

austenallred 9y ago
"Potentially" least expensive implies they're not the least expensive currently, but could be at scale.
- jacquesm 9y ago
  Yes, potentially anything could happen, but they don't know. What we do know is that mass manufactured transducers already exist and what they cost. uBeam is now developing custom transducers which normally would translate into a higher price rather than a lower one so if you don't mind I'd like to see that proven before I believe it given their history to date. What something costs when you make it at scale you tend to find out when you make it at scale, and if they are going to revolutionize the transducer market that alone would be worth a fortune, never mind transmitting itty bits of power to cellphones.
DannyBee 9y ago
Sure. But if one assumes it's not complete snakeoil, these may not have good enough characteristics for what they are trying to do. IE if you believe her, it implies the ones they need to make are not that cheap. (Note: I'm fairly familiar with ultrasonics, and certainly the price varies depending on what you are trying to do. The ones in my ultrasonic cleaner are not the same as the ones i use do to sensing tasks)
- jacquesm 9y ago
  True, the characteristics matter a lot. Even so, a principle demo would require only two transducers and a simple lab setup rather than some fancy stage managed demo for reporters to charge a phone. And it would carry a lot more weight with the tech crowd, they keep on doing these demos that scream 'snakeoil' even if there is an outside chance that it is not. And if the transducers they need to make are not cheap then the whole project is dead in the water anyway. Wireless charging with a custom backing or sleeve over a phone that costs a fair amount of money coupled with a large array of expensive transducers every so many meters in whatever space you're trying to use the system in would likely not take off, assuming they can get the efficiencies working in the first place.