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• Power on Skin developed by researchers at Future Interfaces Group

• Technique transfers power to wearable devices using the human body

• Paves the way for battery-free devices that work with skin contact

Self-winding watches have been around for a century, but manufacturers are still finding ways to make modern wearable devices battery-free. A new research paper from Carnegie Mellon University may answer this question: Scientists have developed a technique that will power next-generation wearable technology through skin contact.

researchers Future Interfaces Group They found a way to transfer power to wearable devices through the human body. The method is called Power-over-Skin and it could be the gateway to the future. best smart watches You no longer need a built-in battery.

Simply put, this method sends power from a single battery-powered transmitter worn on the body to a series of battery-free devices worn on the skin. Research found that the human body effectively transmits 40 MHz RF energy; This is the energy that Power-over-Skin uses to distribute power across the skin.

Researchers Andy Kong, Daehwa Kim and Chris Harrison discovered that they could transmit power from a single transmitter to the entire body. They also found that the amount of power they could transmit depended on the proximity of the transmitters and receivers. For example, having a transmitter on the forearm and a receiver on the wrist provided higher microwatt ratings.

In their tests, the researchers were able to power an LED earring, a calculator, and a Bluetooth ringer with joystick control. They have also tried embedding transmitters in existing objects such as smartphones, VR headsets, and shoes. Since the skin connection is capacitive, it can work through clothing just like having a transmitter in your pocket.

skin in game

The benefits of Power-over-Skin are many. By eliminating built-in batteries, wearable devices can be made much smaller and lighter, unlocking the potential for a variety of versatile applications. One mentioned in the research paper is a thin medical patch that tracks health metrics. Since there is no battery to replace, it can theoretically remain in the patient indefinitely.

Another net gain of Power-over-Skin is that sharing power from a single transmitter source, rather than equipping individual wearables with their own batteries, reduces environmentally required resources.

As technology improves, improvements will lead to greater efficiency in power distribution. While Power-over-Skin is unlikely to provide enough energy to power high-powered devices, it seems reasonable to assume that the technology will also be used in devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers in the near future.

Researchers conducting their tests proved that Power-over-Skin can power microprocessors, digital displays and wireless communication modules, even though they are optimized for the technology. There are many possibilities for future wearable devices thanks to proper placement of the transmitter and receiver and improvements in component efficiency.

It would be concerning whether using the body as a conduit for RF energy would have any negative side effects on the user’s health. One of the factors discussed in the article is the need to avoid hot spots, where RF energy passes through a small contact area.

According to the study, no participant experienced discomfort or pain during the test. Assuming there are no complications from long-term exposure, Power-over-Skin could mark a major shift in the way wearable devices are designed and operated.

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