Nokia creates a self-charging phone

Richard Goodwin

Global phone giant Nokia is reported to have filed for a patent on a technique that could see it create a self-charging mobile phone

Published on Mar 9, 2010

The science behind the self-charging phone utilises a “Piezoelectric Kinetic Energy Harvester” that converts shaking into electricity – so it’s also very green.

According to PocketPicks, this kind of mini-generator uses piezoelectric crystals that respond to shaking – or physical movement – by producing a small electric charge.

Piezoelectric crystals have been used in watches for years – although, as we all know, watches don’t require that much juice. Mobile phones, on the other hand, do and Nokia is reportedly the first to find a method using them that can actually produce enough energy to power a smartphone.

By utilising a weighted inner frame, the self-charging battery will charge itself off even the slightest movement – so you won’t have to give it a shake every 10 minutes to get it going.

The technology itself is still in the application process, so there's no release date yet. But if it’s passed, Nokia could have created a way to dispense with the phone charger for good!