TekCapital files patent for Moje wearable charging device

Tekcapital has filed a patent in the US for a wearable device called Moje that harvests energy from everyday human activity and stores it for the charging of personal electronic devices.

The AIM-listed firm, which provides technology and intellectual property services for more than 4,000 universities in 160 countries, said it believed harvesting energy from human motion to power mobile devices was poised to become a major new product category, and it has two other similar technologies, some of which are available to license.

Moje's novel technology, which has been adapted in-house by the company and is 100% owned, will generate a current from its dual-mode, low frequency mechanism.

In June Tekcapital acquired exclusive worldwide rights to a piezoelectric electro-mechanical technology, which the company stressed harvests energy in a "significantly different way" from Moje and is being applied to capture energy from in-shoe devices during walking or running.

Executive chairman Clifford Gross said the company hopes wearable technology, such as fitness devices like Fitbit and smartwatches such as the Apple Watch, still remain at an early stage in terms of mainstream adoption, is likely to experience similar growth trends to that seen in the smartphone market.

"However, one of the key barriers to widespread adoption is clearly battery life. Pending successful testing and commercialisation, Tekcapital's Moje could significantly extend battery life though harvesting energy from everyday human activities such as walking, hiking, running and jumping, giving users the power to recharge a battery whilst on the move, which would otherwise run out of power."

Shares in Tekcapital were up 3.5% to 45.03p late on Monday.