Solar Powered Battery Pack Recharger

Every little contribution to improve our environment is now a welcome one given the current state of the planet and the direction it is self-destructively heading towards. Batteries, although small as we all know, generate power and constantly replacing batteries, and throwing flat batteries away isn't a particularly useful way of conserving energy and limiting emissions.

Rechargeable batteries are a slightly better option. Although, this process still requires power from a main source to revitalize the current within the battery and bring them back from the dead. So, the next logical step - a way to maintain charge within a single battery for as long as possible - without the requirement of a mains power source to reincarnate the battery.

The solution comes from the sun, the largest energy source available to us. This battery pack can recharge batteries by drawing in the sun's rays and applying the energy as power. The pack also hosts a USB port which allows all other portable devices to play exclusively from the Solar power.

The one current snag is that only batteries provided by the company which have developed the charger will operate - as they warn any other batteries used could combust. The pack is available for around $54.

Csiro Power Jacket Charges Your Portable Devices

Following on from our article on the fire protection suit, we bring to you another jacket, which offers something similar, though with other benefits. The 'Power Jacket' is a new innovation developed by CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization), an Australian corporation, which not only protects but is capable of charging your portable electronics. The organisation recently received a grant of up to 4.4 million Australian Dollars, in an effort to develop a Flexible Integrated Energy Device which can be embedded in an item of clothing.

The Integrated Energy Device is intended to self-generate electrical energy, which in turn powers the wearer's devices, eradicating the necessitate for a power plug and cord. The jacket will be a breath of fresh air, for hill walkers for example, who can remain fully charged despite how far they travel. Never again fear your I-pod cutting out, or your mobile battery dying in the middle of an important call.

The jacket works by transforming the motions and movements of the body, and channelling these vibrations to form electrical energy from kinetic energy. The jacket consists of two major sections, labelled red and blue on the diagram. The red area, which resides over the shoulder, is responsible for the energy transformation process, which continually squeezes and deforms energy.

The blue areas which are located across the back and front of the vest will host a set of durable, lightweight batteries, which will store the charge and pass this onto any connected devices. No release date has been announced as of yet, since the prototype has only just been developed.

I Garment Fire Protective Suit

Raging fires, as we are all aware of, can cause great destruction on both an economic level and more seriously on peoples lives, possessions and memories. Those who tackle the blazes in an effort to control the flames have their work cut out for them, so it is imperative that fire-fighters are given the best protection.

Protection has progressed in the form of a body suit known as the I Garment Fire Suit, which protects the body from flames thanks to the materials used. The I garment also features a set of sensors which monitor vital signals, which in turn are transmitted via wireless to a base station.

The suit was developed by yDreams for the European Space Agency (ESA). Despite offering an enormous degree of protection, the suit also offers comfort and flexibility. The sensors include telecommunication, localization, alert and processing hardware which collect data from the fire-fighter regarding the fighter's vital signs and transmits them, in real time, to a remote station, most probably the fire engine.

The data is then monitored and dissected, which the base can then send further instructions to a fighter's PDA which can inform them of appropriate action to take.

Gsm Jammers Which Mute Those Annoying Ring Tones

We all know that mobile phones have revolutionised the way we communicate in the modern world. The ability to contact people from any location, easily and conveniently makes mobiles many peoples most valuable item which they carry. Despite the obvious advantages, we still have to endure the negatives, such as the annoying crazy frog ring tone sounding in the middle of a theatre, cinema or sporting event.

Regardless of warning signs instructing phones to be completely switched off, there are still a minority who keep their phone on, moreover not even in silent mode. This can be frustrating when you're trying to enjoy yourself in a public venue. In an effort to eliminate this problem, enter the GSM jammer, a device which blocks calls to al phones within close proximity.

GSM jammers are illegal in many countries, so be careful if you decide to purchase one. Jammers are typically expensive and bulky which deter most people, but this new GSM jammer can be held in your palm, can block GSM signals on the 850-1900MHz frequency band in either 10m or 30 ft around. Retaining the jammer in your pocket in a theatre is a discreet way of ensuring no phones will interrupt the occasion.

So live in comfort that your enjoyment will not be spoiled when in possession of this GSM jammer. Although, bear in mind that the jammer should be used sensibly and not in an attempt to annoy those around you needlessly. So, next time you enter the cinema rest assured that no phones will be going off, although it begs the question as to why such venues don't have such jammers pre-installed. Perhaps an imminent addition to a cinema near you.

Mygo Cane For The Blind To Replace Guide Dog

The guide dog has long been the faithful friend for the blind, but the inevitable technological replacement has now been created. Sebastian Ritzler, from the Muthesius Academy of Art and Design in Kiel, Germany, has developed a product known as the Mygo which essentially is a rolling cane, with a sophisticated system designed to simplify and assist movement.

Made from a waterproof substance, the cane is also height adjustable to suit all persons. The Mygo is fitted with a smart sensor and a live camera, which scours the terrain in real-time whilst feeding audio to the attached headset. The wheel on the end of the cane prompts you in the correct direction containing a battery with life of up to 6 hours, not great for those longer walks! The wheel also transmits data about the terrain via the grip.

So will the Mygo eventually replace the guide dog? It's difficult since the connection with an animal is instinctive and a bond created. The cane on the other hand, is a little more difficult to form a relationship with, and how much trust can you instil into a piece of technology? The cane is definitely looking like a useful alternative, although is yet to progress into production, so pricing remains on the backburner.

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REDUCING ELECTRICAL ENERGY LOSS IN LOW-VOLTAGE NETWORKS

FIELD: electrical engineering; power supply.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method and device are designed to control power conveyed from transformer substation by controlling moment of connecting transformers to load.

To this end use is made of fuzzy-logic controller and position of power contacts of circuit breakers is taken into consideration.

EFFECT: eliminating equalizing currents which reduce transformer substation reliability when transformers run in parallel. 2 cl, 1 dwg

Grinkrug M.S., Popovskij A.V., Solov'ev V.A., Tkacheva Ju.I.

Patent number: 2224344
Publishing date: March 23, 2004

FRUIT SHAKING APPARATUS

FIELD: agricultural engineering, in particular, harvesting equipment.

SUBSTANCE: apparatus has vibrator mounted on carrier and fork-grip. Vibrator is made in the form of blade pump with unbalancing devices mounted on pump rotor shaft. Carrier is made in the form of hollow bar. Inlet branch pipe of blade pump is positioned in carrier for longitudinal displacement and connected thereto through spring. Outlet branch pipe is connected to fork-grip. Apparatus may be used for shaking of sea-buckthorn fruit from bush.

EFFECT: simplified construction and enhanced reliability in operation. 2 dwg

Khabarov S.N., Poljakov L.I., Bartenev V.D.

Patent number: 2224406
Publishing date: March 23, 2004