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Battery-free Game Boy (2020)

freethegameboy.info

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Re: Battery-free Game Boy (2020)

#141

Post by whoisthemachine »

jetbooster wrote: post #121
hbn wrote: post #110

It's a neat proof-of-concept, but the video gets a little optimistic and hand-wavey about how practical this could actually ever be. "Right now we have interruptions, but[...] that interruption amount is going to continually decrease as we make these systems better and more energy-efficient." Is that really the case? The limiting factor here is not just the efficiency of harvesting energy. The energy being harvested…

Without concentrating the sunlight, the max efficiency of a solar panel is about 68% conversion. With 1kW/m², and a solar panel the size of a 0.01m² phone (6.1 inch, 16:9) that's 6.8W to play with, at the theoretical maximum. A quick check states a Raspberry Pi 4B at 100% CPU draws 6.4W, so in perfect conditions with a perfect panel, it's just about approaching feasible to run a chip on a phone sized panel. However a…

That's interesting, with so much juice available, it seems like it would be worthwhile to pursue this project with the original hardware rather than adding in the snapshotting and emulation, which definitely makes a more robust system, but adds lots of extra power consumption.

Re: Battery-free Game Boy (2020)

#142

Post by initramfs »

LeifCarrotson wrote: post #127
hbn wrote: post #110

It's a neat proof-of-concept, but the video gets a little optimistic and hand-wavey about how practical this could actually ever be. "Right now we have interruptions, but[...] that interruption amount is going to continually decrease as we make these systems better and more energy-efficient." Is that really the case? The limiting factor here is not just the efficiency of harvesting energy. The energy being harvested…

The efficient processor they've chosen requires on the order of 20 microamps per megahertz at 1.8V to run code out of Flash, or 1.7 milliwatts of power. It draws only about 0.004 milliwatts in deep sleep, and takes less than a microsecond to enter and exit deep sleep. Their energy-harvesting switches produce 0.33 milliwatt-seconds when pressed or released. So you want to be efficient and enter deep sleep whenever pos…

The processor used was an Ambiq Apollo3. The 22nm Apollo4 is out and uses around 5uA/Mhz. Ambiq is also working on a 12nm Apollo5 with an interest in developing a linux SoC: https://ambiq.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/A-Vision-for-Am... p.10 "Explorations of Linux/Android-grade processors in an "Apollo-like" power footprint"

Re: Battery-free Game Boy (2020)

#143

Post by initramfs »

LeifCarrotson wrote: post #127
hbn wrote: post #110

It's a neat proof-of-concept, but the video gets a little optimistic and hand-wavey about how practical this could actually ever be. "Right now we have interruptions, but[...] that interruption amount is going to continually decrease as we make these systems better and more energy-efficient." Is that really the case? The limiting factor here is not just the efficiency of harvesting energy. The energy being harvested…

The efficient processor they've chosen requires on the order of 20 microamps per megahertz at 1.8V to run code out of Flash, or 1.7 milliwatts of power. It draws only about 0.004 milliwatts in deep sleep, and takes less than a microsecond to enter and exit deep sleep. Their energy-harvesting switches produce 0.33 milliwatt-seconds when pressed or released. So you want to be efficient and enter deep sleep whenever pos…

Yes continuously. This capacitor has 11mAh capacity, which could run a flip phone with an Ambiq processor and a monochrome screen for 2-3 hours continuously. The 250F size has the equivalent of 90MAh. They used a capacitor that has much lower capacity, and Lithium-Ion Capacitors were not very common in 2020: https://www.farnell.com/datasheets/3816249.pdf

https://www.farnell.com/datasheets/3816250.pdf

Re: Battery-free Game Boy (2020)

#144

Post by boomboomsubban »

vanderZwan wrote: post #104
boomboomsubban wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, they just didn't want the wire snaking through the center console. Maybe not wanting to lose the lighter was a secondary goal, but I doubt there was any lesson behind their decision.

Well, I think most parents put a lot more conscious thought into these things than their children give them credit for, simply because as a child you're not aware of all the things they have to consider. I've noticed I've started re-evaluating childhood memories of my parents since my partner and I had a child. So I'll give your parents the benefit of doubt and suggest that there is a possibility you are the one unde…

Yeah, I'm not. I already read a ton, and I'm the one who asked for the rechargeable batteries for the gameboy. Plus, they had tried the adapter in a different situation and definitely had issues with the cord.

Some decisions had deep thoughts behind them, some were made because they spilled their drink while driving.

Re: Battery-free Game Boy (2020)

#145

Post by initramfs »

bee_rider wrote: post #138
initramfs wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can power the same processor with a lightbulb https://hackaday.io/project/177716/gallery#96cfdbf5cc550d520...

That is pretty cool. Although, it seems like a fairly inefficient way of connecting to the grid.

That wasn't the point of the prototype, but to develop a mobile device, which wouldn't need the grid. Like Back to the Future "Where we're going, we won't need roads" :)

Re: Battery-free Game Boy (2020)

#146

Post by mryingster »

anthk wrote: post #107
Shish2k wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The original Gameboy ran on two AA batteries for 12-20 hours (depending on whether the light was on) I wonder if you googled for this? Googling for “original gameboy battery life” gives nearly this exact quote, but then reading the wikipedia article that it came from reveals that this is talking about the Gameboy Light (1998 - arguably “the original hardware with modern technology to reduce energy consumption”). I…

No one but Japan got the GB light. Everyone had either the GB and many more people had the GB Pocket because of Pokémon.

While true, my prized possession as a kid was my GameBoy Light that was imported from Japan. Other people had regular GameBoy pockets or even colors, but I'd rather have that awesome backlight. My kids still use it to this day to play Zelda.

Re: Battery-free Game Boy (2020)

#147

Post by Fatnino »

agentwiggles wrote: post #115
Shish2k wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The original Gameboy ran on two AA batteries for 12-20 hours (depending on whether the light was on) I wonder if you googled for this? Googling for “original gameboy battery life” gives nearly this exact quote, but then reading the wikipedia article that it came from reveals that this is talking about the Gameboy Light (1998 - arguably “the original hardware with modern technology to reduce energy consumption”). I…

Ah, you just triggered fond nostalgia for me, of pillaging my dad's stash of batteries for my ever hungry Gameboy Pocket. It ran on two AAAs and my parents must have lost a few sanity points from my constant requests to stop at a gas station for batteries on long road trips (which were almost always denied, gas station batteries ain't cheap).

I got much better battery life out of my Gameboy pocket with the help of electrical tape, some bits of wire and a pair of D cell batteries.

9 year old me was particularly proud of the self made spring that fit between the batteries.

Adult me would probably put the batteries side by side though.

Re: Battery-free Game Boy (2020)

#148

Post by anthk »

mrguyorama wrote: post #133
anthk wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No one but Japan got the GB light. Everyone had either the GB and many more people had the GB Pocket because of Pokémon.

The gameboy color also ran on two AAs and had long battery life and slightly better specs

I know, I had one with Pokémon Crystal, Cannon Fodder and some N in 1 multicart.

Still no backlight.

Re: Battery-free Game Boy (2020)

#149

Post by nunobrito »

ddevault wrote: post #75
dizhn wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like the changes but I think the original has merit too. Along with the comments it is documenting the parameters/bounds that apply to this device where they are actually being used, making the code a kind of documentation for others who want to implement similar things. Having these defined in constants elsewhere would require some back and forth if this "document" is used as a reference.

Well, I said upfront that the level of comments here is fine. Just offering a perspective on how it could still be good code with less. In general I think it's fine to expect a reading of the code to be paired with a reading of the documentation/specification; in the absence of such a resource for the GameBoy the comments here are well-justified. I would definitely add more constants, though, and I would anticipate t…

Most people will argue that this is nitpicking, however, I've learned something new today. Thank you.

Quite a difference in code readability to the point where the code becomes self-evident. Few people are able to reach a more verbose level of documentation, let alone make sure the code remains understandeable in the future.

Re: Battery-free Game Boy (2020)

#150

Post by [deleted] »

testmasterflex wrote: post #125
rexreed wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd love to make that as well or find a source for it. Curious as to costs to manufacture and ease of reproducibility. Any tips / pointers / guides?

Can’t find the tutorial I used but here is one https://reddit.com/r/electronics/comments/efz9xf/my_nfc_powe...

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