Seeing the 'Low Battery' alert on your smartphone is enough to send anyone into a frenzy. But a group of researchers have developed a solution that not only lets you power your own device, but allows you to share your charge with others in need - without using a power pack.
手机显示电量不足时我们就会莫名感到焦虑。一组研究人员已经找到了解决办法，不仅可以让你自己给自己的设备充电，还可以在没有电源组的情况下将自己的电量分享给需要的人。
Called PowerShare, this technology consists of flexible coils and docking aids embedded in a smartphone or smartwatch to transfer power to devices just by touching them together.
这款名为“能源分享”的设备主要由软线圈和对接工具组成，将其贴在智能手机或智能手表上，只要把另一只手机贴上去就可以“借”电来充。
There are a number of products on the market that provide Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) for smartphone users that power their phones without the need of an outlet. Although power packs and mobile hand generators are good back-ups, they can be bulky and a nuisance when traveling.
市面上可供智能手机用户在无需电源插座的情况下充电的无线输电设备不在少数。虽然一些电源组和移动手摇发电还可以起到救急作用，但是对于旅行者来说笨重又麻烦。
Once the technology is placed inside a smartwatch or smartphone, simply tap it with another device and watch it charge.
只要在智能手表或智能手机应用此项技术，两种设备轻轻碰触便可进行充电。
The creators estimate that around 12 seconds of charging would give users one minute of talk time and two minutes would generate enough power to watch four minutes of a video.
发明者估计，用户只需充电大约12秒便可通话1分钟，充电2分钟可看视频4分钟。
The average Wireless Power Transfer gadget consist of at least two coils, one located in the power transmitter and the other in the power receiver, reports LiveScience.
美国生活科学网报道说，通常无线输电设备至少包含两个线圈，一个在功率发射器中，一个在功率接收器中。
As electricity moves through the power transmitter coil, it creates an electromagnetic field that sends a charge to the next coil.
当电流穿过功率发射器中的线圈时会产生电磁场，向接收器输送电量。
To develop PowerShare, researcher experimented with a variety of different power transmitters and receiver coils.
为了研发“能源分享”设备，研究人员对多种不同的功率发射和接收线圈进行试验。
In order to recreate the magnetic shielding, they used ferrite plate and copper tape placed on the back of coils – this hindered transmitted energy from getting close to human tissue.
他们将铁酸盐板和铜带置于线圈背部形成磁屏蔽，这样可以避免传输的电量过于接近人体。
The researchers also found that flexible coils can be used in the system and are ideal for smartwatch straps.
他们还发现这种软线圈正好适合，是智能手表带的最佳选择。
'Our design emphasizes safety, minimizes form factor, presents flexible coils and shows real world power transfer up to 3.1 volts,' said the researchers.
研究者表示：“我们的设计以安全性为主要考量，最小化外形因素，以软线圈为材料，真正实现了电力传输高达3.1伏特。
However, just like most new technology PowerShare does have its limitations – twice as much energy needs to be transmitted as is received.
然而，与大多数新技术一样，“能源分享”也有自身的局限性，即接收的电量只有发送电量的一半。
Vocabulary
hand generator: 手摇发电机
electromagnetic field: 电磁场