After I bought the "Glamour Switch" it was on to the next item in my list. The battery for my PADD. The problem is that I do need somekind of a rechargeable power supply which can handle all the electronics yet slim enough to fit into the PADD. The thickness of the PADD is about 11mm, with the front and rear layers taking 3mm each, I have 4 mm to play with.
So, normal batteries are out of the question and so are coin cell types. I did think of using a Mobile Phone battery but they have problems such as thickness and/or insufficient output. While searching, I came across a new battery called Lithium Polymer which does suit my requirement. Unfortunately, this means ordering from Overseas as I have absolute confidence that it is not available here in Malaysia.
And since today is a nice day, I was so glad my theory was proven wrong. Someone has left a battery catalogue on the shelf and after looking at it, they do have the Li-Po I am looking for. Since they do not sell the catalogue nor acknowledge it is theirs, I took down the address of their office and paid them a visit. So, I got one today, but unfortunately, the thinner (2.7mm) LiPo I wanted was not on sale anymore since it is, according to them, slow dischage which is also a slow moving stock (ha ha) and I have to redesign the PADD so that it can accomodate the fatter one. No sense in buying that thin LiPo which they do not bring in anymore. And bummer, they do not have a LiPo charger was well.
After speaking to them, I now have another problem as Li-Pos cannot be charged beyond 4.2 volts and cannot be discharged below 2.5volts. So, this means I have to creat a circuit to monitor the darn thing. There are stories about Lithium (not Lithium Polymer, but you get my drift) batteries in Mobile Phones exploding and now, I am starting to believe in them after seeing this. You can read the full thread here.
Darn! Now I have to source and make more circuits!
So, normal batteries are out of the question and so are coin cell types. I did think of using a Mobile Phone battery but they have problems such as thickness and/or insufficient output. While searching, I came across a new battery called Lithium Polymer which does suit my requirement. Unfortunately, this means ordering from Overseas as I have absolute confidence that it is not available here in Malaysia.
And since today is a nice day, I was so glad my theory was proven wrong. Someone has left a battery catalogue on the shelf and after looking at it, they do have the Li-Po I am looking for. Since they do not sell the catalogue nor acknowledge it is theirs, I took down the address of their office and paid them a visit. So, I got one today, but unfortunately, the thinner (2.7mm) LiPo I wanted was not on sale anymore since it is, according to them, slow dischage which is also a slow moving stock (ha ha) and I have to redesign the PADD so that it can accomodate the fatter one. No sense in buying that thin LiPo which they do not bring in anymore. And bummer, they do not have a LiPo charger was well.
After speaking to them, I now have another problem as Li-Pos cannot be charged beyond 4.2 volts and cannot be discharged below 2.5volts. So, this means I have to creat a circuit to monitor the darn thing. There are stories about Lithium (not Lithium Polymer, but you get my drift) batteries in Mobile Phones exploding and now, I am starting to believe in them after seeing this. You can read the full thread here.
Darn! Now I have to source and make more circuits!
The badass Lithium Polymer battery
574490 2,400mAH battery
574490 means 5.7mm height, 44mm width and 90mm long
Checklist:
1) PADD Design - Done
2) Electronics to light up the view area - Sourcing
3) Electronics to control the LEDs - KIV
4) Electronics to control the switching On/Off - KIV
5) Battery issue - Sourcing. Need controlling circuits
6) Redesign of PADD actrylic due to fitting of Electronics - KIV
7) Viewscreen design - KIV
8) Types of spray paints that does no react with the acrylics years from now - KIV
9) The correct colours for the PADD - KIV
Note:
If you'd like to have an ultra accurate PADD kit, you can contact Matthew Munson at matthewmunson_@_yahoo.com (You need to remove the "_" from the E-Mail first as these spam bots are nasty). And, if you like to have THE ULTIMATE PADD that has lights and sound, you can give Gerhard Mros a call at gmros@cogeco.ca and you will not be disappointed.
Just a side note:
At first I thought I could make use of this paper thin technology but then again, I would need more help on creating the displays and also, the Prototype Kits are USD3,000!!!! Still, E-Ink is going to make some news with their first joint venture with Seiko on the latest watch. You can read more from here.
2) Electronics to light up the view area - Sourcing
3) Electronics to control the LEDs - KIV
4) Electronics to control the switching On/Off - KIV
5) Battery issue - Sourcing. Need controlling circuits
6) Redesign of PADD actrylic due to fitting of Electronics - KIV
7) Viewscreen design - KIV
8) Types of spray paints that does no react with the acrylics years from now - KIV
9) The correct colours for the PADD - KIV
Note:
If you'd like to have an ultra accurate PADD kit, you can contact Matthew Munson at matthewmunson_@_yahoo.com (You need to remove the "_" from the E-Mail first as these spam bots are nasty). And, if you like to have THE ULTIMATE PADD that has lights and sound, you can give Gerhard Mros a call at gmros@cogeco.ca and you will not be disappointed.
Just a side note:
At first I thought I could make use of this paper thin technology but then again, I would need more help on creating the displays and also, the Prototype Kits are USD3,000!!!! Still, E-Ink is going to make some news with their first joint venture with Seiko on the latest watch. You can read more from here.
