Panel's electrodes will function as both touch sensors and solar power collectors.
Apple has had a patent approved related to the integration of solar charging in a device's touchscreen.
As opposed to the utilization of layers, the panel's electrodes will function as touch sensors and solar power collectors. It'll allow Apple to retain the thinness of its devices, while also offering the capability of being powered by the sun.
A management unit will decide whether the harvested energy applies power to the phone or, alternatively, be stored in the battery for future use. Apple's newly-granted U.S. Patent No. 8,368,654 for an "[i]ntegrated touch sensor and solar assembly" was filed back in 2008.
The Cupertino firm recently patented an iPhone without a home button, which is believed to be the low-cost variant of the company's flagship device.
Drinking by the lake this summer we found out an Iphone can only sit i n direct sunlight while playing music for 20 minutes before it gives an error and turns off until it colos down
Uhh ... what?
first comes retina display, followed by solar panel nano wires in front of it, sounds great....
http://www.techhive.com/article/259688/researchers_develop_solar_panels_that_still_let_the_sunlight_through.html
Wonder how much power you can get with 4% efficient solar panels on an Iphone. Charging time: 24 days.
Drinking by the lake this summer we found out an Iphone can only sit i n direct sunlight while playing music for 20 minutes before it gives an error and turns off until it colos down
Let's just hope they don't shut down another company with a lawyer army for it.
Most patents work this way. Especially for Patent trolls and at least Apple makes hardware and not just patents. Wonder why this idea took so long to patent? Most likely because it involves existing tech and requires a 3rd party solar panel manufacturer. I really like this idea as long as Apple n Co can make the panel look like a normal screen.
Good catch. It is not uncommon for an idea to appear from multiple sources at nearly the same time. Its whoever can get the patent 1st that wins...lol. In this case I can assume Apple came up with the concept first and will hopefully work with or allow other institutions/companies to develop the hardware.
After reading the article, it seems these two idea's are separate. Apple's patent wants to use an outside source as energy, while the article you posted wants to recycle wasted energy OLED displays scatter.
If Apple's solar panel is transparent enough not to hinder display functions then it is likely too transparent to capture significant solar energy.
Low-cost solar cells are very much opaque and are only ~10% efficient. Apple's transparent cells would likely be more expensive and be even less efficient so you would probably get 1-2W out of a 10" iPad-sized panel. I suppose that's better than nothing as long as it does not add any significant weight and relatively little cost.
I would simply slap standard cells on the back of the phone/tablet, avoids burning the screen with UV/IR.
You mean, they occasionally steal good ideas and patent them.
It's not meant to be the primary charging solution.... man some people here are dumb.
He was putting a funny spin to this true fact:
Apparently, you can't even tell when people are jokingly making a valid point. Speaking of "dumb", eh?