“Keeping our MacBooks and other devices charged is always a priority and Apple has a new invention that could use solar cells integrated into trackpads, the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, Apple’s wireless keyboard and into parts of the iPhone that could provide added stored power,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple.
“Apple notes that ‘the wireless device has a touch sensor and a solar cell that converts ambient light into electrical power. Wireless communications circuitry transmits the touch input to the external equipment using the electrical power from the solar cell. Energy storage devices such as a capacitor and a battery can be charged using the electrical power,'” Purcher reports. “Solar Cell ambient light sensors for the iPhone were covered much deeper in our June 2014 patent report that you could review here.”
Purcher reports, “To date Apple has more than 16 inventions relating to solar power aimed at future Apple computers/devices.”
Much more, including Apple’s patent application illustrations and diagrams, in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Like Kirk, we’d never turn down “More power!”
is it just me, or is Apple the one that always invents the most practical and useful technology? >
It’s just you. There is more in this world than Apple and technology. Besides, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or, most practical and useful technology is in the eye of the beholder.
Now if they’d just implement it already!
Wow. But my Citizens watch that I have owned for years runs on solar/ambient light. Way to go Timber.
Uh! Let’s see the amount of energy some devices need vs others… I guess your watch doesn’t need that very optimized power source. Does it?
Yeah! My calculator from the 70’s has chips in it, what’s so special about the A7 or A8 or whatever it’s called now.
/s
WOW! Using the sun to help you tell time. Hasn’t mankind been doing that for eons?
uh Casio and Citizen have been this for years..