Apple files patent for sun-powered devices
Apple Computers has reportedly filed a patent titled “solar cells on portable devices” that would pave the way for solar-powered devices such as the portable music players, mobile phones and laptop computers.
The patent, attributed to several Apple employees, covers the integration of solar cells into portable devices, but instead of the traditional panels, the application hints at covering the entire device with layers of clear energy absorbing material.
“Solar cells are typically stacked with other layers made of transparent or semi-transparent materials… some of these layers may be used for display or input purchases, and some layers may be coated with various materials or they may be etched with product logos or other patterns,” the application states.
While portable solar power generators are already available in the market place, the reference could be alluding to new ink technologies developed by a variety of commercial and research institutions that can etch or print circuits onto any material to generate power from the sun. These inks will enable a new generation of solar cells that can literally be applied to any surface, including window panes and walls, and presumably the outside of laptops and mobile phones.
It remains to be seen how such a patent can be enforced and whether or not the efficiency of the technologies can be improved to yield sufficient energy to power a device such as a laptop. At this point, there are no details on whether Apple is developing any solar cell technology by itself, or acquire such technology from third party developers.
What the patent will likely accomplish is to discourage other portable device makers from developing such solar-power devices.
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- Motorola eyes potential for alternative energy powered systems
Category: Applications, Mobile, Renewables
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