Seeing the 'Low Battery' alert on your smartphone is enough to send anyone into a frenzy. But a group of researchers have developed a solution that not only lets you power your own device, but allows you to share your charge with others in need - without using a power pack.
手機顯示電量不足時我們就會莫名感到焦慮。一組研究人員已經找到了解決辦法，不僅可以讓你自己給自己的設備充電，還可以在沒有電源組的情況下將自己的電量分享給需要的人。

Called PowerShare, this technology consists of flexible coils and docking aids embedded in a smartphone or smartwatch to transfer power to devices just by touching them together.
這款名為“能源分享”的設備主要由軟線圈和對接工具組成，將其貼在智能手機或智能手表上，只要把另一只手機貼上去就可以“借”電來充。

There are a number of products on the market that provide Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) for smartphone users that power their phones without the need of an outlet. Although power packs and mobile hand generators are good back-ups, they can be bulky and a nuisance when traveling.
市面上可供智能手機用戶在無需電源插座的情況下充電的無線輸電設備不在少數。雖然一些電源組和移動手搖發電還可以起到救急作用，但是對于旅行者來說笨重又麻煩。

Once the technology is placed inside a smartwatch or smartphone, simply tap it with another device and watch it charge.
只要在智能手表或智能手機應用此項技術，兩種設備輕輕碰觸便可進行充電。

The creators estimate that around 12 seconds of charging would give users one minute of talk time and two minutes would generate enough power to watch four minutes of a video.
發明者估計，用戶只需充電大約12秒便可通話1分鐘，充電2分鐘可看視頻4分鐘。

The average Wireless Power Transfer gadget consist of at least two coils, one located in the power transmitter and the other in the power receiver, reports LiveScience.
美國生活科學網報道說，通常無線輸電設備至少包含兩個線圈，一個在功率發射器中，一個在功率接收器中。

As electricity moves through the power transmitter coil, it creates an electromagnetic field that sends a charge to the next coil.
當電流穿過功率發射器中的線圈時會產生電磁場，向接收器輸送電量。

To develop PowerShare, researcher experimented with a variety of different power transmitters and receiver coils.
為了研發“能源分享”設備，研究人員對多種不同的功率發射和接收線圈進行試驗。

In order to recreate the magnetic shielding, they used ferrite plate and copper tape placed on the back of coils – this hindered transmitted energy from getting close to human tissue.
他們將鐵酸鹽板和銅帶置于線圈背部形成磁屏蔽，這樣可以避免傳輸的電量過于接近人體。

The researchers also found that flexible coils can be used in the system and are ideal for smartwatch straps.
他們還發現這種軟線圈正好適合，是智能手表帶的最佳選擇。

'Our design emphasizes safety, minimizes form factor, presents flexible coils and shows real world power transfer up to 3.1 volts,' said the researchers.
研究者表示：“我們的設計以安全性為主要考量，最小化外形因素，以軟線圈為材料，真正實現了電力傳輸高達3.1伏特。

However, just like most new technology PowerShare does have its limitations – twice as much energy needs to be transmitted as is received.
然而，與大多數新技術一樣，“能源分享”也有自身的局限性，即接收的電量只有發送電量的一半。

Vocabulary

hand generator: 手搖發電機
electromagnetic field: 電磁場

來源：英國每日郵報
翻譯：吳丹
編審：yaning