This video camera is powered by light

#1

Post by praba230890 » Fri, Apr 17, 2015, 6:48 AM UTC

This video camera is powered by light
cs.columbia.edu

Re: This video camera is powered by light

#2

Post by dang » Fri, Apr 17, 2015, 7:47 AM UTC

URL changed from http://www.engadget.com/2015/04/15/self-powered-camera/, which points to this.

Re: This video camera is powered by light

#3

Post by Globz » Fri, Apr 17, 2015, 1:47 PM UTC

This is very interesting!

"it could lead to a fully self-powered solid-state image sensor that produces a useful resolution and framerate"

In this case would it be able to output colors?

Re: This video camera is powered by light

#4

Post by ctdonath » Fri, Apr 17, 2015, 1:49 PM UTC

As we go increasingly wireless, we become keenly aware of recharging batteries. Consequence is greater interest in "ambient power harvesting". A device powered by its own sensor's energy input is insightful. What next? keyboards powered by typing? trackpad/mouse by clicking & movement? Screens with an extra sub-pixel for light collection? Smart watch "self-winding"?

Re: This video camera is powered by light

#5

Post by amelius » Fri, Apr 17, 2015, 1:56 PM UTC

Can it also be used to power other electronics attached to it, such as a CPU?

Re: This video camera is powered by light

#6

Post by grogenaut » Fri, Apr 17, 2015, 2:20 PM UTC

That's the elegant solution I love about welding equipment. They realized hrm super bright light source.... lets use solar cells. Need just enough power in battery form to keep the micro alive. Been doing it since way back in the '90s.

Re: This video camera is powered by light

#7

Post by danbruc » Fri, Apr 17, 2015, 2:20 PM UTC

Globz wrote: post #3

This is very interesting! "it could lead to a fully self-powered solid-state image sensor that produces a useful resolution and framerate" In this case would it be able to output colors?

Color just means putting red, green and red filters in front of the pixels in some pattern and so it is definitely not a principle problem but you will lose a large part of the light spectrum for every pixel and therefore harvest a lot less energy.

Re: This video camera is powered by light

#8

Post by pjc50 » Fri, Apr 17, 2015, 2:56 PM UTC

ctdonath wrote: post #4

As we go increasingly wireless, we become keenly aware of recharging batteries. Consequence is greater interest in "ambient power harvesting". A device powered by its own sensor's energy input is insightful. What next? keyboards powered by typing? trackpad/mouse by clicking & movement? Screens with an extra sub-pixel for light collection? Smart watch "self-winding"?

Backlit screens and backlit watches are never going to be self-powered. It's more feasible that a passive e-paper like display could be self-powered.

Re: This video camera is powered by light

#9

Post by ctdonath » Fri, Apr 17, 2015, 2:59 PM UTC

pjc50 wrote: post #8

ctdonath wrote: post #4

As we go increasingly wireless, we become keenly aware of recharging batteries. Consequence is greater interest in "ambient power harvesting". A device powered by its own sensor's energy input is insightful. What next? keyboards powered by typing? trackpad/mouse by clicking & movement? Screens with an extra sub-pixel for light collection? Smart watch "self-winding"?

Backlit screens and backlit watches are never going to be self-powered. It's more feasible that a passive e-paper like display could be self-powered.

They can at least reduce total power, and perhaps store power when not in use.

Re: This video camera is powered by light

#10

Post by indrax » Fri, Apr 17, 2015, 3:21 PM UTC

danbruc wrote: post #7

Globz wrote: post #3

This is very interesting! "it could lead to a fully self-powered solid-state image sensor that produces a useful resolution and framerate" In this case would it be able to output colors?

Color just means putting red, green and red filters in front of the pixels in some pattern and so it is definitely not a principle problem but you will lose a large part of the light spectrum for every pixel and therefore harvest a lot less energy.

In theory, you could put the filters on for just a fraction of the time to measure the colors, and spend most of the time collecting all the light. I'm not sure how to do that and stay low power.

You could have separate smaller color sensing pixels, using only a fraction of the surface area.

ETA: There are also transparent solar panels which only absorb UV. If that were tuned for visible colors, you could have three transparent layers over an ordinary panel, and maybe not lose anything.