Filed under: iPhone
Apple patents subsurface solar cells for media players
Patently Apple has revealed that Apple continues to explore solar power options for recharging its portables, including iPhones and iPads. The latest patent information is intriguing: rather than slapping a solar panel on the back of the device, Apple wants to embed the solar cells below the display. Essentially, there'd be no way to tell from the outside that the solar cells are even present. According to Patently Apple, the design of the next-gen iPhone prototype is suitable for this design, and if the backside of the case is glass or ceramic, Apple could put a double-sided solar cell in the device, potentially doubling the amount of charge it receives from the sun.The idea of solar power in an iPhone is interesting. I have a Solio charger for mine, and it's great for keeping my iPhone charged on long hikes. I'm skeptical about the utility of having solar cells built into the iPhone itself though, because how often are people going to leave their iPhones sitting unperturbed in direct sunlight for several hours? Perhaps this will be more geared toward prolonging battery life by a small amount rather than being marketed as a full-fledged charging solution. I can see Apple selling this solution as a way to get an extra hour or two of life out of your iPhone every day, but using the sun as the iPhone's only power source will be more difficult, particularly if you live somewhere that doesn't get a whole lot of sunlight.
The concept is fascinating at any rate, and may be something we see in the 2011 models of Apple's portables.
[Via 9to5Mac]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Edsel said 6:42PM on 6-02-2010
I remember marveling at the first solar powered calculators and now they have become cheap and disposable. I see no reason that iPad's and iPod's will not evolve in the same manner.
Reply
Pyromuffin said 6:42PM on 6-02-2010
Yeah, this is cool, but I'm pretty sure apple advises AGAINST leaving your phone in direct sunlight.
Reply
silvio said 6:43PM on 6-02-2010
I dont get this, using an iPhone in the sun is pain since you can barely see the screen and text and also theres a glare. If the solar panel will be on the back, wouldnt it not get the sun since its toward the ground? I mean i thought that the iPhone has an limit to how hot the environment around it can be, if your holding the phone like raising it so the sun can reach it wont that start heating the phone up. I mean this is a good concept but its still needs to be thought out, anyone also sees what im saying?
Reply
Gazoobee said 6:50PM on 6-02-2010
Solar power would never be enough alone. I think the idea here is only that if you were totally stuck, that leaving the phone on a sunny rock for the afternoon, would give you enough charge to make that emergency call about the bear eating your foot etc.
Leiwei said 7:19PM on 6-02-2010
It's not about getting the phone charged while you're using it next to your head. It's about you getting your phone charged slightly by the sun while you have it sitting on the table eating lunch at the outdoor seating area of a restaurant.
And if they had it in the back, how often do you see people tilting their head to the side while talking on the phone, with the backside pointing towards the ground?
Anyways, I don't have an iphone but I do have a 1st gen ipod touch and I can see the screen well in bright sunlight without using the backlight. Can't say the same for the ipad. Maybe apple can use that other patent of theirs about making a display "frontlit" by the sun.
mike said 1:44AM on 6-03-2010
You geniuses do know that, basically, without sunlight, you wouldn't be able to see anything during the daytime, right?
Just because it's solar powered, doesn't mean you have to take your frigging iPad to the beach to 'catch' Solar rays. It will charge automatically, as long as you have a couple windows somewhere in your parents' basement.
Er, on second thought...
Gazoobee said 6:48PM on 6-02-2010
Just to be picky ... the idea of having solar cells on the back as well as the front, would *not* "potentially (double) the amount of charge it receives from the sun." It would double the *chances* of being charged, but not double the charge.
Even if it's on a rotating platform, the charge is going to be the same no matter what.
Reply
M sanders said 7:03PM on 6-02-2010
Wonder if that shiny reflective rectangle on certain 4th gen protoype shots have anything to do with this?
Reply
silvio said 7:14PM on 6-02-2010
This patent was registered after the iphone 4G got leaked so i would be very surprised if the one thats getting announced next MONDAY is going have this feature.
Andre said 7:05PM on 6-02-2010
But... in conjunction with technology that charges cell phones by everyday movement when the thing is in your pocket or bag, and you could have a super green, super clean, super lean iPhone. Think about it- never having to charge you phone again.
Reply
TheCastro said 7:13PM on 6-02-2010
My watch is self winding, go Bulova, that would be nice to include in a phone similar technology. Adding a solar panel is a great thing, I leave my phone on my office desk all day. It would constantly be charging, it might not charge it up, but it could slow down the drain I suffer, damn push email, I know it's MobileMe's fault.
lagunaman said 9:10PM on 6-02-2010
solar powered calculators would work under normal light bulbs. that would useful for the iphone. just sitting on my desk at work trickle charging...
Reply
DarenW said 8:41PM on 6-02-2010
Oy, you people are literal minded. If you had these kind of cells on your iPhone, you could recharge it with a desk lamp.
Reply
Nick said 9:21PM on 6-02-2010
DarnenW:
How is charging with an additional peripheral like a desk lamp any better than the current charging solution (using an additional peripheral, a USB cable)?
MikeWard1701 said 2:31AM on 6-03-2010
I think what Daren means is that some 'solar' cells do not require direct sunlight to generate electricity, any light source, natural or aritificial will work.
Citizen Ecodrive watches have solar cells below the dial of the watch, they charge best in direct sunlight but can generate electricity from any light source.
If this is indeed the kind of technology Apple is planning on using it could mean your device would be trickle charged anywhere it is exposed to light.
DarenW said 7:52AM on 6-03-2010
It means that if you are sitting at your desk, and your phone is sitting on the desk next to you, it's charging. Or that if your battery is about to die and you aren't lugging your charging cord with you, that you can put it under a lamp and get a charge. It means that wherever there is a working light, you have a weak charger at your disposal without hauling wires or cables.
Yesterday my wife was on a long road trip and her phone died and she didn't have a car charger with her. She could have left it on the dashboard, with AC running, and gotten a little charge from that.
Jason Brett said 12:48PM on 6-03-2010
Uhhh...hello. Think 3rd World, where cellular data is the most likely way to get internet access and electricity is not readily available.
Smartphones ARE the computer in many developing areas and having solar charging available would be HUGE.
Who cares if you have to charge the device for a whole day to get 8 hours use out of it? It's better than what is available in many areas and will significantly improve standard of living.
Reply
Lance Fiasconaro said 5:43PM on 6-03-2010
Who do you think will be manufacturing the solar cells?
Reply