Concept USB Flash Drive Doubles Up As an AA Battery

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The only flash drive that can power a flash light!

Thanks to the technological advancements in flash storage over the years, portable USB drives have gotten smaller and smaller, allowing them to be cleverly concealed in everyday objects like safety pins or cufflinks. While it certainly makes sense for a flash drive to be integrated into something you wear on your body, designer Wonchul Hwang thought up an intriguing alternative.

Dubbed the AA USB, this usb flash drive concept doubles up as a rechargeable AA battery. While the drive is plugged into your computer and gobbling up your data, its internal battery is gobbling up some electricity to store for later. In the emergency event that you happen to need a single AA battery, the AA USB has you covered.

In addition, if the AA USB runs out of juice, an internal crank allows you to manually charge it by twisting a portion of the battery. Although there isn't a massive list of gadgets out there that can make use of a single AA battery, the concept has some interesting potential. Perhaps if the AA battery could double up as a small capacity USB charger, this little device could become a geeks best friend.

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Tuan Mai
Tuan Mai
Tuan Mai is a Los Angeles based writer and marketing manager working within the PC Hardware industry. He has written for Tom's Guide since 2010, with a special interest in the weird and quirky.
24 Comments Comment from the forums
  • DroKing
    Wouldnt that fry the memory in there? ^_^ Interesting concept nonetheless.
    Reply
  • shotgunz
    DroKingWouldnt that fry the memory in there? ^_^ Interesting concept nonetheless.
    If it starts leaking acid, it may kill the memory and maybe something else in your pants...
    Reply
  • okibrian
    Now where did I put my USB flash drive? (Son takes it and puts it in one of his many toys)
    Reply
  • joytech22
    Hmm, not entirely sure how this would be useful to me.
    I would probably get one just to say I have one, and should I ever need the battery at least I would have it.
    Reply
  • JohnnyLucky
    My wife has a small led flashlight attached to her keychain. It uses just one battery.
    Reply
  • face-plants
    Totally awesome. Although the usefulness of a single AA is questionable, the fact that an engineer was able to bring such a cool concept to market is the kind of thing that brings a smile to my face.
    Reply
  • face-plants
    Oh and btw, most ni-mh and ni-cd rechargeable batteries don't have as great a tendency to leak corrosive acid all over the innards of your electronics like alkalines do. I have about 300 rechargeables in everything in my house and have had them sit for years with no leaking.
    Reply
  • archange
    JohnnyLuckyMy wife has a small led flashlight attached to her keychain. It uses just one battery.
    Joule thief? :)
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joule_thief
    Reply
  • L0tus
    face-plantsI have about 300 rechargeables For what?!
    Reply
  • 1x AA, enough for a magic flight box.
    Reply