Apple patent application hints at solar-powered iPhone
By Sean Hollister 
posted June 6th 2010 11:51PM
posted June 6th 2010 11:51PM
posted June 6th 2010 11:51PM
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I wonder if it will put electricity back into the infrastructure when you plug it in.
unfortunately, I think they are still trying to work out the hand disfigurement caused by the chemicals used in the solar polymer:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/29/apple-patent-filings-detail-touchscreen-tablet/
I think the commenters who dismiss this are missing the point entirely. This wouldn't be about making the iPhone "green", "saving the planet", or cutting the power cord. This would be about regaining battery power whenever possible, gaining a little bit of battery power here and there, and hence blowing everything else out of the water in terms of useful battery life (as if it doesn't do that already).
Wouldn't it be much better to make a changeable battery?
@cdf74dc9 it's too cheap for Steve
@NuklearPanda
And not magical enough.
@cdf74dc9 No. The last thing I want to do is carry around a second battery and power the device down so I can switch batteries. On the rare occasion when my battery gets low during the day, I just plug it in for a bit. It doesn't really take long to get it back up to a decent charge.
Maybe now you'll be able to run the iPhone at something above 0% screen brightness...
Is this even innovation?
I mean how many years has it been since solar powered watches? lol
@pinktacoyummm
How many years have we had solar-powered cell-phones?
@pinktacoyummm
Yes because everyone knows watches use as much power as a modern SmartPhone.
@(Unverified)
Hey my watch is powered by the movement of my body! If I don't wear it for a day, it dies and I'm late for everything and have to re-wind it. I hate my watch.
Just a note. Could this be primarily for Africa since this has a more pratical purpose there and add to its worldwide appeal
Apple's going to enter a exclusivity deal with the Sun. Sun will get blamed for spotty sunlight coverage in Pacific Northwest.
@Son Goku fucking lol
@Son Goku That's priceless, and it will be excluded to Sun for 5 years. So it won't land on Spring and Sunrising carriers.
@Son Goku
Rumors will run for 10 years that the star in the Namek system is going to enter a contract to provide some sunlight of its own to the iPhone, but proven otherwise.
Better battery life is always a plus. We won't see this for another 3-5 years though.
I see Jesus fish
Why not put the Solar Panel on the back? It makes more sense to have it on the back it can be charged when you're using it as a satnav device or whilst it's sitting on your desk etc. and it can still be charged whilst your using it.
Then you see some fool leave the thing in direct sunlight to charge and comes back to discover the insides melted
See these solar panel patents all the time. I remember there was one for the iPod Classic not too long ago. Or something of that sort from Apple.
It would be pretty cool to have it built into the touch screen to we won't have to see those ugly solar panel things on the phone itself.
Like that one solar panel cell phone has. Can't remember the same.. it had the solar panel things on the back.
@John Lennon Puma phone? I don't find the solar cells tacky/ugly, and even if I did I'd prefer to have them rather than to not. On that note, for me personally, the screen wouldn't be enough, I'd also want them on the back so if the screen were to my face I'd still be getting a charge. function>form
front and back - that's why the back looks different
Can we expect to hear about it being implemented in the new iphone tomorrow?
It must be pretty moist around Engadget right now.
why not go the next step and make a piezo-electric touch generation device. Every touch prod poke and stroke would generate a small amount of charge .. to quote TG "how hard can it be?"
Even if this is just a backup source of power that would be an awesome add!
Thanks but I dont' want to carry solar panels with me.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2333330947_e83c8ddf43.jpg
Ugh. The patent does not mean that they might be integrated into the "touchscreen," it indicates that they might be integrated in OTHER touch-sensitive areas. Remember the patent for a touch-sensitive back/bezel/chassis? Yeah. Otherwise this would be a "clear solar panel glass panel breakthrough!" patent. Duh. This is the same major goof ModMyi made in their reporting of it.
Just curious, I remember reading somewhere that giz etc couldn't identify the back surface of the lost iphone. I suppose its more likely its just a new back that gives better reception, but it could be possible..
if they put one of those kinetic motion chargers in it that would be better
Most of the time my iPhone is indoors or in my pocket.
It won't happen until the solar panel can be completely disguised by some sexy material, but it would certainly be an AWESOME addition...
Voo doo. DARK-SIDED.
Anyone read the "Left Behind" series of books? Are we about to see the Anti-Christ's "Cell-Sol" network come into the world? :o)
I prefer to leave somewhere charging in the sun loading up mobileme to find who stole it over interchangeble batteries.
I guess, it was already patented by Motorola back in 2007:
http://www.crunchgear.com/2007/04/22/patent-monkey-lcd-solar-cell-smart/
How the hell does anyone get a patent on putting a solar cell (so many existing patents) on a cell phone (so many other patents).
Why doesn't the USPTO just tell them to stop it?
As it is, I cannot believe that the USPTO has granted so many lame patents to Apple (and others).
WTF USPTO? Get a clue!