I think we have all heard each and every announcement about "free energy", or tricks that claim to dramatically increase the capacity of our batteries. At first glance, anyone could classify Batteriser as one of those hollow promises, however, it is something different. Batteriser is based on proven electronics concepts, and its underlying objective is not to "invent" energy, but to squeeze disposable batteries to the maximum, something manufacturers don't want...
The Problem with Disposable Batteries
The story goes something like this: Suppose you need a pair of AA batteries for one of your devices. These batteries work fine for a while, but once their voltage drops below a certain threshold, the device begins to behave erratically. The difference is not very large: An AA battery generates 1.5-1.6 volts (when not installed), however, simply dropping to 1.2-1.3 volts can cause an accessory to see that battery as 'drained'. The consequence is to go and buy another pair of AA batteries, something big companies appreciate from the bottom of their hearts. The problem is very simple to interpret: The AA battery still has energy, but devices are not capable of using it. How much energy? In the most extreme cases, we're talking about 80 percent. Rechargeable batteries have presented some solutions, but the fact that their 1.2 volts are not enough for some devices is well documented. At the same time, we must not forget that the capacity of an alkaline battery can vary greatly depending on the load, and that the 'cutoff' voltage in each device is different (remote controls have been seen working at 0.9 volts).
What is Batteriser?
And this is where Batteriser steps in. What exactly does this new product do? In essence, it is a miniaturized 'joule thief' or 'boost converter' that maintains the voltage of a disposable alkaline AA battery at 1.5 volts, so that accessories incompatible with lower voltages see the battery as optimal. Batteriser is the creation of Bob Roohparvar, PhD in electrical engineering who became vice president at Broadcom. Roohparvar explains that there is no intellectual property in the circuit, but rather his efforts and the associated patent are concentrated on the miniaturization technique. Batteriser can raise the voltage of an AA battery from 0.6 to 1.5 volts, and the sleeve is thin enough to be installed along with the battery in almost all AA receptacles.
Why Does This Matter?
Why does something like this attract attention? Just across the pond, alkaline battery market reached $3.4 billion last year. Devices with high energy demands are increasingly turning to alternatives like lithium, but you don't need to count every remote control, flashlight, radio, clock, or toy to understand that it's a huge business. The physics department of San José State University seems to have confirmed that Batteriser makes use of "80 percent of the energy that is discarded" in an AA battery, and as if that weren't enough, Roohparvar denounced a case of espionage, including illegal entry into his office and the theft of several prototypes. Still, it will be the public who judges. The Indiegogo campaign begins at the end of the month, and the price will be just $2.5 per sleeve
For more information, visit the official site. Read the source article on PCWorld.
