Alternative power for a portable computer via solar cells

• US 6,300,944 B1
• Filed: 09/12/1997
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Parrish, Sean T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US08/928,888
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 345/102, 345/211, 364/707, 295/72, 323/906, 136/245, 136/293, 320/101
• US Class Current: 345/211
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/00 Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes

Abstract

A system for prolonging the operational life of a battery-powered laptop or notebook computer. Solar cells are incorporated into the chassis or display screen of a notebook computer so that the solar cells can provide power to any component of the notebook computer and/or help with the charging, powering, and/or regulation of a battery used as a power source. In one embodiment, solar cells are mounted near the light source so that unused light energy from the light source can be captured.

Claims

1. A display panel assembly for a portable computer comprising:

a display screen;

a light source for generating light within the display panel and that is positioned within the display panel to deliver light to and illuminate the display screen wherein, due to the positioning of the light source with respect to the display screen, not all of the light generated by the light source is delivered to the display screen, thereby resulting in wasted light; and

a plurality of solar cells located within the display panel each of said solar cells having at least one surface that is configured to capture light, and at least two of said solar cells lying in different planes from each other and each of said at least two solar cells being positioned adjacent to the light source with at least one light capturing surface substantially facing the light source so as to capture portions of the wasted light from the light source and convert the wasted light that is captured by the solar cells into electrical power.

2. The display panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two solar cells are disposed on portions of the surface of the light source.

3. The display panel assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two solar cells is disposed on a surface that is immediately adjacent the light source.

4. The display panel assembly of claim 3, wherein the light source is cylindrical in shape.

5. The display panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the solar cells are in at least two planar arrays, the light source has an aperture for delivering light to the display screen and one of the at least two planar arrays of solar cells is positioned on the side of the light source opposite the aperture.

6. The display panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the solar cells are in two planar arrays, the light source has an aperture for delivering light to the display screen and the two planar arrays are positioned with one on either side of the aperture.

7. The display panel assembly of claim 6, wherein the light source is cylindrical in shape.

8. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the solar cells are amorphous thin film solar cells.

9. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the solar cells are disposed on substantially the entire surface of the light source except for an aperture for delivering light to the display screen.

10. A portable computer comprising:

a chassis including a microprocessor powered by a rechargeable battery;

a display panel rotatably connected to the chassis and including a display screen, a light source for generating light within the display panel that is positioned within the display panel for delivering light to and illuminating the display screen, and a cavity in which the light source is mounted, wherein due to the positioning of the light source with respect to the display screen, not all of the light generated by the light source is delivered to the display screen, thereby resulting in wasted light; and

a plurality of solar cells, each of said solar cells having at least one surface that is configured to capture light, said solar cells located within the display panel and disposed in the cavity in which the light source is mounted such that at least two of said solar cells lie in different planes from each other and each being positioned adjacent to the light source with at least one light capturing surface substantially facing the light source so that at least two solar cells are each exposed to portions of the wasted light from the light source;

wherein the solar cells convert the wasted light that the at least two solar cells are exposed to into electrical energy.

11. The portable computer of claim 10, further comprising:

an interface that converts the light energy received by the solar cells from the light source into an electric potential usable in the computer.

12. The portable computer of claim 10, wherein the at least two solar cells are disposed on portions of the surface of the light source.

13. The portable computer of claim 10, wherein each of the at least two solar cells is disposed on a surface that is immediately adjacent the light source.

14. The portable computer of claim 13, wherein the light source is cylindrical in shape.

15. The portable computer of claim 11, further comprising:

an electrical connector for connecting the electric potential to the display screen.

16. The portable computer of claim 11, further comprising:

an electrical connector for connecting the electric potential to a direct current component in the computer.

17. The portable computer of claim 16, further comprising:

a power source operably connected to the direct current component;

wherein the power source supplements the power provided to the direct current component by the electric potential.

18. The portable computer of claim 11, further comprising:

a power source;

wherein the electric potential may be used to recharge the power source.

19. The portable computer of claim 18, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

20. The portable computer of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one power source;

wherein the electric potential is coupled to the at least one power source.