Western Digital Introduces New Battery System : Technology: Irvine firm says TakeCharge, a recharging unit used in portable computers and camcorders, has potential to generate ‘significant revenue.’

Western Digital Corp. said Tuesday it has introduced a self-charging system for batteries used in portable computers, camcorders and cellular telephones.

The TakeCharge battery recharging system eliminates the need to carry bulky recharging units, AC adapters or power cords along with portable electronics gear, said Robert Blair, spokesman for the Irvine-based computer products company.

“It could take battery technology from the Ice Age to the modern age,” Blair said. “It has the potential to generate significant revenue.”

The TakeCharge unit is a conical object that is built into the battery itself, and it has a retractable plug that can be inserted into a wall socket for recharging. The battery can be used inside a portable computer with the TakeCharge unit attached.

The TakeCharge device is built into a 3.8-pound, hand-held computer, the IBM ThinkPad 500, which was unveiled by IBM on Tuesday. Blair said Western Digital developed the TakeCharge system during the past year and waited until a major manufacturer had designed it into its product line before announcing it.

The device was created by Western Digital’s Systems Solutions and Business Development Group, which is part of the corporation’s money-losing computer chip business.

Blair said the company is talking with other manufacturers of batteries and computer products about licensing the technology and has applied for patents related to the product.