Apple has launched a patent to infuse their hand-helds and computers with thin film solar cells, paving the way for a new generation of devices with battery life powered by the sun. The patent approaches the prospect from every angle, with schematics to stack photovoltaic cells beneath the surface area of their laptops – including the screen!
The patent states a variety of possible applications: “Solar cells are typically stacked with other layers of transparent or semi-transparent materials … Some of these layers can be used in any display or input, and some layers may be coated with different materials or can be recorded with product logos or other patterns.”It goes on to explain that the device might show the performance of solar cells on their screens next to the bar of the battery, or even on top of own cells.
It will be interesting to see whether the use of photovoltaic panels in portable electronics will contradict the current consumer trend toward smaller gadgets and smaller, since a large solar surface is necessary to have some degree of efficiency.