Solar camera strap could put an end to dead dSLR batteries

June 29, 2010 by Lin Edwards

(PhysOrg.com) -- A new concept introduced by Yanko Designs could put an end to dead batteries on photography excursions. The Solar Camera Strap is a sturdy strap to secure the camera and to power it via thin solar panels across the width of the strap.

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Most digital SLR cameras are powered by lithium-ion batteries that must be plugged into an electrical outlet when they need to be recharged. If the photographer has no spare, a dead battery means the end of the photo shoot.

The Solar Camera Strap concept was the brainchild of designer Weng Jie, and consists of a row of tiny flexible solar panels on the strap that enables the camera batteries to be recharging whenever the photographer is shooting in daylight. A storage battery is built into each end of the strap. It is not clear if the solar strap will also be able to charge the battery inside the camera, and it seems likely cameras would need some modification to allow them to be powered by the solar camera strap itself.

Similar devices have been considered in the past, but for more power-hungry devices such as smartphones. A solar camera strap may be more successful since the power requirements for modern cameras are very low.

The strap is only at the concept stage and is not yet available and there is no word on when or if it will ever be commercialized.

Yanko Design is a website focusing on introducing modern designs in a wide range of fields, including interior design, architecture, fashion, and industrial design. Other designs by Weng Jie include “Cornification,” a pillow made of Velcro sweetcorn kernels.

More information: http://www.yankodesign.com/2010/06/25/power-around-my-neck/

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