Ultra-high-frequency power supplies for laptops: 4 times smaller and 6 times lighter than usual

The startup FINsix , founded by graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has opened a pre-order for power supplies for laptops of the new generation (so far only the version for an American outlet is available). With a power of 65 watts, sufficient for most laptops, they are so compact that they are one piece with a plug, as much less powerful phone chargers. In addition to the cable to connect to a laptop, it has a USB connector, so that it can simultaneously recharge mobile devices with a laptop. The gadget will be presented to the general public at the International CES 2014 exhibition, which will be held January 7-10 in Las Vegas.

The power supply was made so compact due to the use of converters operating in the VHF frequency range (30-300 MHz). FINsix argues that a miniature power supply for a laptop is just the beginning, and in the future their technology can be used in any other devices that require conversion between alternating and direct current. The fundamentals of the technology were developed at the MIT Laboratory of Electromagnetic and Electronic Systems ( LEES ) under the leadership of Professor David Perrot (here is a list of the most cited articles under his authorship, many of which are related to high-frequency current transducers and can give an idea of ​​the principles of operation of such power supplies)

The prospect of getting rid of the bulky “brick” that you have to carry with your laptop looks very tempting. In addition, another important event happened the other day - the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) announced the creation of the first official specification for a universal charger for laptops. The text of the specification will be published in early 2014. Using a single standard for notebook power supplies will not only make life much easier for users, it will also save millions of dollars and significantly reduce the amount of e-junk on a global scale.
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