Mass market
bendable devices may be a step closer as Panasonic unveils a flexible lithium
ion battery at Japanese technology fair Ceatec.
The battery could
be used in wearables such as watches, fitness bands and smart-clothing.
Its capacity is
small, meaning it would not be suitable for power-intensive smartphones at this
stage.
Experts said it
was "an exciting development" but Panasonic was not the first company
to work on this.
Ben Wood, an
analyst with research company CCS, told the BBC: "Other manufacturers such
as LG and Samsung are also putting huge efforts into more flexible technology,
be that in batteries, screens or more."
"I'd wager
that Panasonic's new technology is just one piece of a more complex jigsaw, and
it will be some time before we see truly disruptive devices emerging."
Sea-of-sameness
Designed for use
in "card-type and wearable devices", Panasonic's flexible battery is
0.55mm (0.022in) thick with a maximum "bend" of 25 degrees.
The company said
that the battery could "retain its characteristics" even after being
repeatedly bent.
Smart-cards,
often carried in wallets and pockets, require internal components that can
withstand bending and twisting, but they can also degrade as they are flexed.
Curved
smartphones have been around for a while, but foldable displays remain
conceptual.
Designing such
batteries could "provide scope for disruptive new curved designs,"
said Mr Wood, something all manufacturers craved as they "seek to deliver
exciting new devices in the growing sea of sameness that characterises
electronic products".
But, he added,
there remained challenges ahead.
"Flexible
batteries alone do not solve all the design challenges as the other materials
and components also need to be flexible," he said.
Samsung is
believed to be working on a flexible phone, and recent patents revealed
on Patently Mobile appear
to show designs for a rolled up smartphone.
Panasonic's
bendable batteries would begin shipping at the end of October, the company
said.
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