Apple granted patent for solar powered MacBook
30 Jan 2014
If it was Google making waves with its search for alternative power sources for power hungry computing devices, a couple of months back (See: Google linked to mysterious floating structure at San Francisco bay), it is now Apple that seems to be getting in the sun.
Apple is reported to have been granted a patent for a MacBook that would be powered with solar cells. The patent application for the so called 'Electronic device display module' describes a method to power laptops through solar light.
PC World reported that Apple's display module described two-sided displays for the lid of a portable computer.
While the front of the lid facing the user would still come with an LED or Retina display in the front, the rear plate, made of 'electrochromic glass' would serve as something more than just a cover - will be made up of photovoltaic cells, or solar panels.
solar power may be used to recharge the laptop's battery, or also used to power touch sensors that may be located on the rear of the laptop display.
"A control unit may be used to process touch commands on the rear plate to perform functions such as unlocking a magnetic latch that holds the upper housing to the lower housing,".
According to techradar.pro, "But as with all patents, these innovations may never come to be - though it should be noted that this isn't the first time that Apple has patented solar powered designs for its devices".
In 2011, it had patented a system to power portable devices using solar power. The patent detailed ways of recharging batteries in a phone, laptop or tablet.It was then reported that the key feature of the patent was the power control circuit between the solar cell and the device's battery to monitor the power level generated by the solar cell.
According to a report from ZDNet Korea had reported in December 2013, Apple and Samsung were developing solar powered smartphones.
