Motorola Patents Solar Cell Mobile Screen - Phones can recharge while left in the sun - Softpedia

Motorola Patents Solar Cell Mobile Screen - Phones can recharge while left in the sun - Softpedia: "Mobile phone manufacturer Motorola has been granted a new patent regarding the use of a mobile phone's LCD as a solar cell. The 'Display and Solar Cell Device' patent would allow mobile phones to come equipped with a solar cell screen that would power and recharge an internal battery while left in the sun.

Now, this wouldn't be the first time manufacturers aimed to solar-power cell phones, but as said before, using sunbeams as the only source for powering the device would be completely inefficient.

In order for the sunbeams to actually reach the device, the user would have to hold it out pointing to the sun. It's even more difficult in this case, as the LCD of the phone would serve as a solar cell, so basically if we're talking about a flip phone (since most of the manufacturer's products come in a clamshell form factor), it would have to be opened as well.

While innovating is always appreciated, just ask yourselves how many times your phone is actually in contact with the sun and not in a pocket or bag. "