"Today's Smartphones use much more power, increasing the need for a more
efficient way to recharge when on the go," said Steven Schwartz, Vice
President of Merchandising and Product Development at Brookstone.
"Lilliputian's groundbreaking technology provides power, wherever and
whenever you need it. This breakthrough aligns well with our commitment
to innovative solutions that make life easier."
Fuel cell maker Lilliputian Systems today announced that Brookstone will
be the first retailer to carry its portable USB power source, which
will be sold under Brookstone's brand. The fuel cell device is about the
size of a thick smartphone, and the lighter fluid-filled cartridges are
about the same size as a cigarette lighter. It's a big step forward
both for Lilliputian Systems, a 10-year-old spin-off from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and for portable fuel cell
technology in general. Several fuel cell companies have developed
portable power systems, but a number have failed. The new fuel cell will
charge any device that has a USB cable.
In a test lab, Lilliputian systems engineer Souren Lefian plugged a white iPhone charging cable into the Mobile Power System prototype and forwarded a few watts to my phone. There wasn't much that was thrilling about the process, aside from knowing that I can now claim to have gassed up my iPhone. Then, Lefian (pictured at left) switched cables and charged up his Android phone. On Lefian's computer screen, a graphic showed how much fuel was left in the MPS' tank, as well as how many watts it was sending to the phone, and how full the phone's battery was.
According to the manufactuer, the device will be able to charge an iPhone 4 between 10 and 14 times with one
cartridge, which can work out to approximatly one or two weeks of use
for most users.
Price 100-200$ (~ from author)
Lilliputian Systems, Inc. has developed the world’s first Personal Power™ solution for
Consumer Electronics (CE) devices, a revolutionary family of products
targeted at the $50 billion portable power market. The Company’s
breakthrough solution delivers the only viable small form-factor battery
replacement that provides the enormous run-time improvements demanded
by today’s CE devices. Lilliputian’s patented Silicon Power Cell™
technology is based on highly-efficient solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)
and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) wafer fabrication methods, and
is fueled by recyclable high energy butane cartridges. The technology
is reliable, U.S. Department of Transportation approved and
environmentally friendly. Lilliputian’s solution enables a 5-10X longer
run-time versus similarly sized batteries. The Company’s elegantly
designed solution both complements today’s devices and can seamlessly
integrate into future devices – all while ensuring the consumer enjoys
an essentially infinite supply of Personal Power™ for their CE devices.
