Catching some rays
- TAGS:Apple, photovoltaic, solar
- IT TOPICS:Emerging Technology
Apple has filed a patent to position solar cells on portable devices. Oh Kay. When I first read about this I was a little skeptical; after all is that technology still "patentable" in 2008? Most of us have used battery-less calculators for years. Of course, the folks over at Apple are no slouches - their technology is just a little different.
When they first came out, I looked into getting one of those solar powered multiple device re-chargers, but I opted not to when I realized it would just be another recharger to keep track of - plus I wasn't sure the powering up time would provide enough run time on each device. Having a built-in power supply and recharge ability is another story, though. Apparently, they're looking to place the photovoltaic cells under LCD touch screens in devices like the iPhone. Situating the cells under those screens will mean a greater surface area to soak up solar rays. With everyone doing their best to go green - this is yet another timely idea from Apple.
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