Apple wants to use natural energy sources to keep MacBooks powered while on the move.
The company has won a patent for a laptop with a lid that features a
second display, touch inputs and solar cells. The latter could help
users keep their MacBooks' batteries topped up without having to plug in
an external charger.Apple filed its application in 2010, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the patent this week.
Apple wants to use natural energy sources to keep MacBooks powered while on the move.
The company has won a patent for a laptop with a lid that features a
second display, touch inputs and solar cells. The latter could help
users keep their MacBooks' batteries topped up without having to plug in
an external charger.Apple filed its application in 2010, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the patent this week.
Photovoltaic Cells The company's U.S. Patent No. 8,638,549 is for an "electronic device display module." It details Apple's proposal for a two-sided glass laptop casing that features a regular screen on the front. On the reverse, the display housing has photovoltaic cells for charging via sunlight and other sources. These are located under the rear part of the lid.
The two-sided display could be built using a number of materials, including glass, metal, ceramic and fiber composites. The rear could include electrochromic or smart glass. That type of material can alter opacity either to block light or allow it to pass through, effectively allowing Apple to hide the rear-facing display until it's activated by a user or to charge the photovoltaic cells when the glass is transparent.
No comments:
Post a Comment