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As we go increasingly wireless, we become keenly aware of recharging batteries. Consequence is greater interest in "ambient power harvesting". A device powered

As we go increasingly wireless, we become keenly aware of recharging batteries. Consequence is greater interest in "ambient power harvesting". A device powered by its own sensor's energy input is insightful. What next? keyboards powered by typing? trackpad/mouse by clicking & movement? Screens with an extra sub-pixel for light collection? Smart watch "self-winding"?

pjc50 12y ago
Backlit screens and backlit watches are never going to be self-powered. It's more feasible that a passive e-paper like display could be self-powered.
- ctdonath 12y ago
  They can at least reduce total power, and perhaps store power when not in use.
- mfisher87 12y ago
  Depends on how you define the phrase "self-powered." Today, an "electric-powered" car may not necessarily mean to the exclusion of gasoline as an additional power source. If a backlit device harvests the unused light from its own backlight, it would surely be powered by itself. Not _purely_, but it would be harvesting its own outputs for energy.
  - MrBra 12y ago
    Unused light? What did you mean by that? Fueling an electric car with gasoline has has nothing to do with self powered ambient harvesting machines. It looks like you're just trying to stretch concepts to suit your initial arguments.
    - mfisher87 12y ago
      I apologize for not responding sooner. LCD displays operate by partially blocking or completely blocking the backlight to produce an image. The blocked backlight photons are not used to generate the image. As opposed to a CRT or OLED display, which generate light to produce an image. What original argument? This is my only comment on this thread. My point was that "X-powered" does not mean "powered-solely-by-X."
booruguru 12y ago
> Screens with an extra sub-pixel for light collection? Hmm, that sounds intriguing. You might be on to something. EDIT: The screen's backlight could be used to (partially) recharge its own battery.
- mfisher87 12y ago
  That's a really interesting thought -- after all, the "off" subpixels don't have a job except to sit and block light from passing by.

pjc50 12y ago

Backlit screens and backlit watches are never going to be self-powered. It's more feasible that a passive e-paper like display could be self-powered.

ctdonath 12y ago
They can at least reduce total power, and perhaps store power when not in use.
mfisher87 12y ago
Depends on how you define the phrase "self-powered." Today, an "electric-powered" car may not necessarily mean to the exclusion of gasoline as an additional power source. If a backlit device harvests the unused light from its own backlight, it would surely be powered by itself. Not _purely_, but it would be harvesting its own outputs for energy.
- MrBra 12y ago
  Unused light? What did you mean by that? Fueling an electric car with gasoline has has nothing to do with self powered ambient harvesting machines. It looks like you're just trying to stretch concepts to suit your initial arguments.
  - mfisher87 12y ago
    I apologize for not responding sooner. LCD displays operate by partially blocking or completely blocking the backlight to produce an image. The blocked backlight photons are not used to generate the image. As opposed to a CRT or OLED display, which generate light to produce an image. What original argument? This is my only comment on this thread. My point was that "X-powered" does not mean "powered-solely-by-X."

booruguru 12y ago

> Screens with an extra sub-pixel for light collection? Hmm, that sounds intriguing. You might be on to something. EDIT: The screen's backlight could be used to (partially) recharge its own battery.

mfisher87 12y ago
That's a really interesting thought -- after all, the "off" subpixels don't have a job except to sit and block light from passing by.