Solar-powered iPhone on the way?

Apple has taken a shine to using solar cells in its mobile devices.

A patent application, unearthered by MacRumors.com, describes technology to integrate solar cells into portable devices. The named inventors of the patent application are Apple employees, some of whom are iPod engineers.

Images from an Apple patent for solar cells in portable devices.

(Credit: U.S. Patent & Trademark Office)

Using small solar panels to charge portable devices is nothing new; there are several such products already available. Apple appears to be trying to innovate in the integration of the solar cells into a portable device.

Rather than make a separate charger, Apple engineers have sought to package solar cells right into the device in an unobtrusive way. Electricity-generating cells could be placed underneath the device's display. Specifically, the patent application details the use of a semitransparent display with a solar cell placed underneath it.

Sandwiched together, the device's cover would have "at least one glass layer coupled to the solar-cell layer; and a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) layer coupled electrically and mechanically to the solar-cell layer," according to the patent application.

This integrated design would allow the mobile device, be it a PDA or portable music player, to be charged from daylight without having a separate solar panel that needs to be plugged into it.

In a patent application, Apple engineers envision a solar panel integrated into a portable electronic device.

(Credit: U.S. Patent & Trademark Office)

The patent application also describes using multiple solar cells coupled to specific electrical components within a device, including the data-processing system and the memory.

Drawings from the patent application show ways that a solar cell could be placed on the back cover of a device.

Electricity generated from the cells would be fed to the device's rechargeable battery.

In an older patent, Motorola sought to build a display that would allow enough light in to reach solar cells that charge a device. Its display calls for "organic light-emitting diode displays, and touch-sensitive displays are stacked with one or more solar cells."

Having a solar cell integrated into a display or cover makes the device more likely to absorb light than if the panel is placed on the back.

More significant, though, are the attempts by Apple and Morotola to package a solar cell into a device.

Separate solar chargers can be small, but they add to the number of items consumers must carry around. Also, many solar chargers are essentially just small solar panels without the ability to store electricity for later.

What remains to be seen is how much power an integrated cell, hid behind a display, can generate. This is dependent, of course, on the availability of light. But most likely, any solar-powered iPod or iPhone would include an AC adapter for standard charging.

[j.trauntvein]

Given that I have been seeing calculators, etc with built in solar cells for a very long time, I doubt that this patent would pass the prior art muste

[Renegade Knight]

True that. Watches faces have had solar for some time.

[fortyonejb]

Ok, the idea seems cool enough, but in practice it would be extremely useless, at least for me. I can only think of one usage scenario where my ipod would be exposed to the sun, and thats while exercising. Of course even then its covered by a protective case. How many people are using their ipods in direct sunlight and have them exposed to the sunlight? People don't generally walk around holding their ipods up to the sun, they are in pockets or cases.

I'm not going to walk down the street holding my ipod up to the sun to get it charged, seriously, who would?

[rocwoof]

Solar cells in calculators as mentioned by j.trauntvein (I had the same thought about 'prior art' in that respect ;-) work off about any light source such as indoor lights, so that should not be a hindrance. The only question is how much of a charge can be obtained. Also, there are many phone holsters that are completely open so as to expose the front of the device, and cases can have transparent sections for the display, so the requisite exposure is quite feasible with existing device case/holster designs - the owner just needs to choose one of those designs.

[Renegade Knight]

Think of it as a hybrid. Solar Calculators can run on office light. Worst case your ipod runs longer than it would have without it and charges itself when you leave it laying around.

[QuadFather]

It's not like you keep your ipod under a bushel.

At the least, integrated solar cells would extend battery life without negative impact on user experience.

[zeroplane]

This might be useful if Apple actually put a protective layer on the Idevice that doesn't scratch using finger nails. Just lay the damn it down on a desk and poof scratches everywhere. I havemy Ipod video in an aluminum case to protect it. Why can't the product have a hard shell that is translucent?

I guess Apple has to build an industry to "fix" the problem.
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/nlu-products-bodyguardz-scratch-proof-transparent-film-for-ipod-5g/
http://www.iskin.com/
http://www.itechia.com/cases.html

So the idea of having a solar layer would be pointless if in order to protect the Idevice you have to put it in a case.

[Nodack]

I think it's a great idea. Those who don't like don't have to buy it and those who buy it that don't like it can always keep it covered in protest. I will find a way to travel in the car with my iPhone on the dash or leave it on the table at the cafe while I'm eating etc. I live in Phoenix and we get sun 300+ days a year.

[ftbotsb]

My Casio Pathfinder wristwatch has an embedded solar cell on the watch face. They call it Tough Solar Cell technology. I've had it since 2003.