How about wireless power supply by using laser

[Mr.DJ]

Hi,I just wonder if i can make a little device which can turn laser into energy？and of course i know MIT just using magnetic filed to transport the energy,but it was too complex to me,and can sb. give me some data,all i want to do is just let my POV system work by using laser as power solution.

POV is short for Persistence of vision , and the whole system including a low voltage MCU（3V）,60 LEDs and some other components.

Any information is welcome.

Edited March 30, 2012 by Mr.DJ

[CaptainPanic]

Well, solar cells can convert light into electricity. As far as I know, they are the only commercial application that does this efficiently. But I don't think it's efficient enough for your idea.

 

Note that ordinary laser pointers have very low power (as little as 5 mW). Also note that your conversion from electricity to light, and back to electricity will come with significant losses... you will probably lose at least 80% of the energy in the process.

[Enthalpy]

It had been proposed to dispatch small power to many uses in aeroplanes, where optic fibres would carry both information and a few mW of power, thus saving the mass of electric wires.

 

The best lasers (semiconductors) have some 50% power efficiency, the best photovoltaic cells illuminated by a single wavelength would have 50% if they were matched with the laser... Good news: semiconductor lasers can output hundreds of watts, like the ones used to pump other lasers - dangerous then.

 

What is simpler? At a few cm distance, induction is pretty simple, and a pair of wires are even simpler. If your application shall produce light at a distant location, you might also consider producing this light where power is available and transport the light by lenses, mirrors, fibres or broad transparent guides (PMMA).