CELL PHONE SUNPOWER

This is how you know a technology is becoming mature: You find yourself using it. You see it on store shelves and in magazine ads.

Motorola Eyes Solar-Charged Cell Phones
May 21, 2007 (UPI)

WHO
Motorola Inc.

WHAT
Motorola has patented an LCD with solar cells strong enough to charge cell phones and other portable electronic devices.

WHEN
No commercial product plans yet.

WHERE
Motorola is based in Schaumburg, Ill.

WHY
- The LCD (display screen) has the solar cells beneath it so that when light passes through it, the solar cells transmute the light to electrical energy and charge the device’s battery.
- Goal: Keep the device permanently charged.
- Previous obstacle: LCD has polarizer and reflective screen, preventing more than 94% of incoming light from getting to solar cells beneath it.
- Fix: Either cholesteric liquid crystal or polymer-disbursed liquid crystal in the LCD (not super-twisted nematic liquid crystals) eliminating need for polarizer and reflective screen, allowing 75% of light to get to solar cells.

QUOTES
UPI: “The patent…also outlines how solar cells can be added to organic light-emitting diode and touch-screen displays.”