HDTV Almanac - No-Battery Remote

[alfredpoor]

It’s a small problem, to be sure. A pair of penlight batteries in a typical TV remote control will last for years. But when you add up the millions of TVs (and DVD players and set top boxes and other devices that use remotes), that means an enormous number of batteries still end up in [...]

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[BobDiaz]

I have several flashlights that have a magnet and a coil of wire. All I need to do is shake the flashlight to generate enough electricity to run the LED for a while.

In the case of a remote, the amount of shaking would be minimal and the electricity could charge a capacitor. Possible, but I wonder how people would reach to having to do a shake or two on their remote before they can change channels?

[alfredpoor]

I think that the hand-crank or shaking idea is great for a remote, provided that they are small enough. But the point of energy harvesting (which isn't really met by this first design) is that it generates power from the motions that you'd make anyway, like pressing a button. I think the future of remote controls may be in a gestural interface (as in "Minority Report") where the wand or token that you hold while doing it scavenges the energy it needs from your motion. Your sliding battery approach may be enough now, as people pick up and put down the remote. I agree that it shouldn't take much.

In any case, these devices will have to cost little more than the battery-powered alternative if they are to catch on.

Alfred

[ragnars]

While besides the topic, the story reminded me of the earliest TV remote control by Zenith corporation. In this the remote contained spring loaded buttons that struck metallic reeds that vibrated at supersonic frequencies. The supersonic sounds were picked up by a microphone in the TV and the signal then activated a stepper motor that then turned the 12-channel turret tuner with a loud clunk to the next channel. Using the supersonic remote drove the family dog crazy, and anybody passing by could change channels by just jangling a set of keys. Lots of fun! But no batteries.

[alfredpoor]

My grandmother had one of those, and my uncle's dog would make the TV go beserk whenever she shook her collar. It's really not so far removed from this new concept.

Alfred