‘Super-battery’ for mobile devices charges in 15 seconds
One of the problems plaguing body cams today is the same for all mobile devices – short battery life, and long charge times. When released, Vindai says its super-batteries should fit inside any mobile device just like the batteries used currently.
However, the super-battery consists of different parts, including a micro-charging bank that uses super-capacitor technology and a high efficiency lithium-ion battery. When a super-battery equipped device is plugged into an electrical outlet, energy is quickly stored in the super-capacitor charging bank, which then charges the inline battery that accompanies it.
The device behaves as though it is plugged into an electrical outlet while in self-charge mode and then the normal battery is used once it is fully charged. This cycle can take place several times. Together, says the company, these technologies can not only shorten charge time dramatically, they have the same effect as tripling or quadrupling the average battery life.
Vindai feels this technology is a critical step to making body cameras a truly viable option for the detection and prevention of police abuses because for the cameras to work effectively, they must be turned on and recording at all times without officer intervention, and without the ability to be turned off. Therefore, the device must remain charged for 12 to 14 hours to last an entire shift.
External battery packs can be used, but they add weight and wires, which can be pulled out in a struggle, making them ineffective at best. The company says it is confident that it is close to a finished product. Further, the super battery technology can be applied to every mobile device.
Vindai Corporation: www.vindaicorp.com