14 DAY TRIAL // It’s not the first time Apple has been toying with the idea of using solar cells in its portable devices, but this time, however, serious steps in this direction are being made.
In a general tendency of patenting every new innovation that it believes will become a trend in the near future, Apple has made the decision of harnessing solar power in a unique design that will surface in future iterations of its products. The new patent shows transparent solar cells embedded on the touch display surface to have the battery charged on the go.
The patent describes a wireless device that has a touch sensor and an array of solar cells that convert light into electrical power and then into capacitor and battery for charging. The patent also clearly describes which products will have the new solar cells installed. The Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse will use the solar cells to have themselves charged up almost constantly, and on the go too, to function without stopping for recharging.
If mobile device screens like MacBooks or maybe iPads will carry these solar cells, it will mean prolonged battery life, truly reinventing mobility and less battery recharging. Such a technology will indeed mean a huge leap ahead of the mobile industry.
Adding iPhones and Apple Watches to this solar cells technology would clearly put Apple years ahead of its competition for practical reasons. The compact form factor of these products restricts the battery size on-board so extra power is more than welcomed from as many sources as possible.