Microgenerator powers electronic devices

November 29, 2004 | Source: KurzweilAI

A tiny microgenerator developed at Georgia Tech can produce 1.1 watts of power, enough to power a small electronic device like a cell phone, and may soon be able to power a laptop.

The microgenerator is about 10 millimeters wide. When coupled with a similarly sized gas-fueled microturbine (or jet) engine, the system, called a microengine, has the potential to deliver more energy and last 10 times longer than a conventional battery.

The microelectromechanical system (MEMS) produces useful amounts of electricity by spinning a small magnet above a mesh of coils fabricated on a chip.

Georgia Institute of Technology news release