As a science and technology editor, most of the time we get on the poor and their lives under the blue sky to find the craziest coolest new technology, it seems to never have the satisfaction feed reader, but sometimes these usually see the first but not the end scientific and technological inventions, will suddenly be like "food Happening shock" ( Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs ) great food, fell from the sky to fall on the head, people blinking for a moment, and today we introduce "do not need batteries Wireless communications equipment, "and that is the sudden huge food.
The wireless device does not require batteries from the University of Washington (University of Washington) are developed, they use "Environmental back reflection (ambient backscatter ) "technology, developed a new communication device, you can walk around in the environment of radio signals transformed into energy, or links to other communication devices without the need for batteries or power cord.
Environmental back reflection and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems similar to different places in the environment does not require high energy backscattered signal source, signal footprint (footprint) is small, and can be done one on one link communications equipment, and radio frequency identification system tags (RFID tag) can not detect the presence of other devices.
It operates in the end how is it in the original? Imagine you live near a tower, you do not need batteries on hand and a pair of communication devices A and B, when A wants to send a signal to the B, A tower outgoing signal can be 0 or 1 is specified as reflection or does not reflect the signal, and then spread out the reflected signal, these signals will form a tower or other recipients to B alternate paths. General TV or mobile phone is designed to solve the problems alternate path signal, but the signal from B but they can change, untied A message.
Environmental technologies coming back reflection is widely used
This technology can be a variety of devices to wirelessly connect, for example, the wireless device can be mounted on a key ring, and smart phones to communicate. Once the key fell out of his pocket and got into the sofa crevices, wireless devices will be after you leave the phone to send a reminder message. Likewise, when the battery runs out, the phone is still able to take advantage of the TV signal from the surrounding energy to send the message.
At present, this technique signal stability, and transmission speed is yet to be resolved, but if the development Ideally, the initial application is very suited for applications requiring simple text matching and general transfer purposes, or home network, such as the installation in the building. Can also be applied to future wearable devices such as Google Glass, smart watches, etc., if a higher stability of the equipment, as well as the opportunity to threaten such as NFC short-range wireless technologies.
( photo credit: University of Washington)
