BYU students and alumni have launched a funding campaign to produce a new case to double an iPad’s battery life and reduce the time necessary to charge it by 75 percent.
The Tripac iPad case features a built-in battery, allowing it to work with the iPad’s existing battery.
The campaign to launch the case can be found on Kickstarter.com, a website that allows people to monetarily support projects. If enough funding is procured, these projects go into production.
Andrew Priddis, a student in BYU’s master’s mechanical engineering program, and Thomas Tolman, a BYU alumnus, are the creators of the Tripac.
“Our goal is for the maximum thickness to be seven millimeters,” Priddis said. “We haven’t gotten the final design. The Kickstarter design is a working prototype. Once we know for sure that we have funding, the final design will be put into play. We think we can get it thinner than that, but it’ll take some work with the manufacturer before we know for sure.”
Funding must be in place before work can begin with the manufacturer.
The Tripac has a USB connection, which allows other devices to be charged with the case. All iPads, with the exception of the first generation, are supported, and all future iPad models will be supported.
As iPads age and are used, batteries wear out and will not hold a charge as long. The Tripac may also be used as a battery reserve to lessen the effects of battery aging.
If funded, the Tripac is expected to be available in March or April 2014. Donors of $99 or more to the Kickstarter campaign will receive Tripacs before it becomes available in the marketplace. Priddis expects the case will retail for $130.
