The idea of using a flexible battery for a supple smartphone is underway. Panasonic Corporation has developed a pliable lithium-ion battery that is suitable for wearable and card-type gadgets.
The Japanese company's latest item has a thickness of about 0.22 inches or 0.55mm. Despite being frequently bent into a radius of 25mm or twisted to a 25-degree angle, the battery is able to maintain its capabilities.
A test by the Japanese Industrial Standards reveals that the battery can be bent to a radius of R40mm with a 15-degree/85.6mm inclination. In addition, the product is safe to utilize on devices that are strapped or positioned close to the human body.
What makes the Panasonic power pack different from slim lithium-ion energy items, which degrades when whacked too often, is its functional retention. Hammering the product will not affect its charging and discharging characteristics.
At present, the battery has a power range between 17.5 to 60 mAh. Compared to the iPhone 7 capacity, which is 1,960 mAh, the amount of energy this Panasonic item can hold is definitely very low. This means that the battery is only vital to devices with less power consumption. To make its product competitive, the Japanese company may have to step up its research and development approach.
The bendable battery is a project that has been around for some time. Panasonic is not the only organization working on the project.
Ben Wood, an analyst for the CCS research company, shares that LG and Samsung are pouring efforts on flexible technologies.
Experts agree that the new venture will pave way towards new avenues of technological advancement. However, the idea of foldable devices has remained conceptual for now. Although curved smartphones are already in the market, it will take some time before the flexible kind becomes truly functional. It should be noted that the internal components of most gadgets are sensitive. Manufacturers need to work on pursuing a concept which will allow devices to retain their functions despite undergoing stressful conditions.
