According to the Daily Telegraph of September 15, Fujitsu, a Japanese technology company, has created asystem capable of simultaneously charging multiple portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras and laptop computers without the need for cable connections.
Electric cars users may also eventually be able to charge their vehicles wirelessly using the same technology,said the company, which unveiled a prototype system at the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers conference at Osaka Prefecture University. Claiming to be the world's first of its kind, the technology works on the basis of the transmission of electricity using magnetic fields between the charger and the electronic device.
The system enables wireless charging at distances of up to several metres, with the ultimate aim of installing public "charging spots" on the streets in order to enable easy charging around the clock. Scientists at Fujitsu Laboratories are planning to commercially sell products incorporating the new wireless charging system as early as 2012 but did not disclose how much they would cost.
"This technology paves the way to integrating compact wireless charging functions into mobile phones and enabling multiple portable devices to be charged simultaneously without any restrictions on their position with respect to the charger," the company said in a statement.
Mobile phone users in Japan can currently top up their batteries using disposable portable plug-in battery-operated devices, available at most train stations and convenience stores. However, phone companies warn prolonged use can damage the phones.
The company added: "We are also looking at applying the results of this work to fields other than portable electronics, including power transmission between circuit boards or computer chips, and providing mobile charging systems for electric cars."