Science News

uBeam Reveals How Safe their Wireless Phone Charging Technology Works

uBeam Reveals How Safe their Wireless Phone Charging Technology Works
Bernadine Racoma

There were doubts when uBeam unveiled its ultrasound wireless charging technology back in 2011, due in part to the company’s refusal to reveal details of its development, but now it is revealing how safe it is to use their wireless phone charging technology.

uBeam’s founder, Meredith Perry has just revealed safety information, research and other details about uBeam – how it works and how it is able to charge and send data simultaneously to several phones and other electronic communication devices inside a room.

The fear of other people copying their technology seemed to have fled, since the access to its research and secrets fully convinced investors to pool $23.4 million to fund the company. Some of them include Katie Jacobs Stanton, Ellen Levy, Mark Cuban and Marissa Mayer. CrunchFund, Ludlow Ventures, AFSquare, Upfront Ventures, Founders Found and Andreessen Horowitz also provided funds for uBeam.

How uBeam’s wireless charging works

The first to be released would be the phone charging case. However, the company also has plans to use the technology to power up flat screen TVs, computers, light bulbs, sensors, tablets as well as hearing aids.

The secret of its wireless charging capability is ultrasound transduction. It works by having a transmitter that converts data and energy into ultrasound waves. The system then detects the receivers of uBeam’s ultrasound waves within the room. The receivers would convert the sound back into data and electrical energy via an ultrasound transducer before sending them to the devices connected to the system so they could be charged.

Limitation

The current limitation uBeam faces it that it needs a clear line-of-sight for its system to work. It there is something that blocks the connection, like a person, window or wall, the transmission is quickly stopped. uBeam’s transmitter connects to the receiver to deliver a directional beam.

Safety concerns

There were questions about how safe it would be to use uBeam since it has enough power to charge devices. Perry explained that the sound could not be heard by humans and
animals and would not harm living tissues or cause health-related problems due to frequent and prolonged exposure. It is designed not to penetrate skin. Perry said that uBeam operates above the 20 Hz to 20 kHz range, thus it cannot be heard by humans. According to a bat expert, uBeam’s frequency would not be able to harm even sensitive animals like bats. uBeam had revealed that it uses the same ultrasound employed in the medical field for fetus imaging, which is why they are positive that it is not harmful to humans as well as other mammals.

On legal issues, Perry said that uBeam’s waves would not interfere with existing electronics or communication systems and could be used in hospitals, offices, cars and aircraft and meets all the regulatory requirements issued by the government, UL and FCC for electronic devices. Investors were satisfied with the results produced by regulatory requirement and third-party safety audits.

Image credit: Nick Bilton/The New York Times

Comment Below
Science News

More in Science News

stone structures

Google Earth Helps Archaeologists Discover Hundreds of Ancient Stone Structures

Brian OasterOctober 24, 2017
Eclipse

The Total Solar Eclipse and Its Aftermath

Brian OasterAugust 22, 2017
Antikythera Mechanism

The Antikythera Mechanism: Astro-Time Computer Remembered

Denise RecaldeMay 17, 2017
faucet

A Solar Purification System for Contaminated Water

Brian OasterMay 4, 2017
mars-2051748_1280

Hawking Says Only 100 Years to Leave Earth for Another Planet

Denise RecaldeMay 3, 2017
cave-2196631_1280

No Bones? Ancient Human DNA Collected From Dirt

Denise RecaldeApril 27, 2017
mastomys-491576_1280

Mice Have Been Living Off Humans for Some 15,000 Years

Denise RecaldeMarch 28, 2017
dna-1903318_1280

Scientists Experiment With Storing Computer Data In DNA

Denise RecaldeMarch 2, 2017
dish

Scientists Pinpoint Galaxy That Emitted Mysterious Fast Radio Bursts

Denise RecaldeJanuary 4, 2017

Day News Corporation

415 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor, New York City, NY 10017

(212) 537-6123

Latest Tweets

DayNewsCo @DayNewsCo

Could not authenticate you.