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Apple awarded patent for solar-powered Macbook

The dual-display laptop would have a transparent back which would allow light to pass through and charge it.

APPLE’S NEXT MACBOOK could be able to partially charge itself using only solar panels if the company ever follows up on a new patent.

The company was awarded 31 patents by the US Patent and Trademark Office this week, one of which is a patent called “Electronic device display module” which describers a two-sided display for the lid of a laptop.

While the traditional LCD screen would be placed at the front of the lid, the back will be transparent and would allow light to pass through.

image

The proposed patent from Apple (Image: US Patent and Trademark Office)

The cover, made out of electrochromic glass or “smart glass”, would change from transparent to translucent and control the amount of light (and heat) it sends out. The light may be used to illuminate a logo which would be made from a different material to the rear cover.

The patent says that the top plate of the laptop would have solar cells located between the smart glass and the LCD screen. You can then adjust the smart glass to allow light to transmit to the solar cells and charge your laptop’s battery.

Other aspects of the patent include the cover being touch-sensitive, allowing people to use it while the lid is closed. The device would also be cellular, meaning it could transmit and receive cellular telephone signals.

Of the 31 patents recently published by the US Patents office, all were originally filed by Apple back in August 2010.

Read: ‘Wearable’ book lets you experience characters’ emotions while reading >

Read: 48 hours with no technology or electricity, could you hack it? >

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12 Comments
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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Jul 28th 2019, 9:08 PM

    Maybe the Journalist can ask Eamon why they gave lower tax to the newer diesel cars post 08 and charged the f##k out of petrol and diesel cars pre 08.

    299
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    Mute iComment
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    Jul 28th 2019, 9:20 PM

    @Dave Byrne: To be fair that was because diesel engines have lower CO2 emissions…..However at the time the level of NO2 emissions from diesel cars was not correctly known….

    105
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    Mute Patrick Nolan
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    Jul 28th 2019, 9:26 PM

    @iComment:
    Now you can’t be combating rants with logic, that’s not on around here
    We will make allowances as you are only on here 6 months…..

    94
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    Mute Michael
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    Jul 28th 2019, 9:24 PM

    I believe that we can all do our bit to protect the environment but we are a small island in a big world until the big countries like the states Russia and China do make a change we are just pissing in the wind….envoirmentatist s are just pissing in the wind here with their protesting nothing is going to change and sadly nothing ever will

    150
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    Mute Gavin Conran
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    Jul 28th 2019, 10:29 PM

    @Michael: Not entirely true – It only takes one small country to make a breakthrough on cheaper alternatives and the other players will be happy to adopt and pay for the privilege.

    Imagine if we were that country, and exporting all sorts of new cheaper renewable technology as well as our expertise in the area.

    But first we need to lose the notion that we can’t make a dent.

    If nothing else, nice clean air. Currently if you are living in certain Irish cities you might as well be smoking with all the crap you take into your lungs just from a walk about.

    59
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    Mute ThatLJD
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    Jul 28th 2019, 10:37 PM

    @Gavin Conran: Well we export all our rubbish as it is so I guess we could start dealing with it at source instead of getting ahead of yourself and renewable technologies.

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    Mute Conor Heneghan
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    Jul 29th 2019, 12:05 AM

    @Michael: ok we cant change the world but why not make our country as clean as possible, its us that breath the toxics from diesel engines on our streets, its us that cant enjoy our lakes and rivers if they are polluted etc etc

    15
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    Mute Dow Dubrov
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    Jul 29th 2019, 7:37 AM

    @ThatLJD: Recycling is a crock that isn’t working. The only real solution is to have less humans on this planet

    10
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    Mute Niall
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    Jul 28th 2019, 9:29 PM

    Despite being a wealthy man; how do you expect your ‘target audience’ pay for your initiatives?

    85
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    Mute Niall Power
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    Jul 28th 2019, 10:23 PM

    Eamonn is like Broccoli,
    Possibly good for you,
    But impossible to like.

    80
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    Mute Patrick Nolan
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    Jul 28th 2019, 10:27 PM

    @Niall Power:
    Nice one

    18
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    Mute Garry Coll
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    Jul 28th 2019, 9:50 PM

    Some time back someone more educated than myself said that they prefer questions that they can’t answer than answers that they can’t question.
    And that is the quandary that Mr Ryan finds himself in.
    His remit is total communism, agree with me or else you’re for Siberia.
    You do not question my answer.
    A facist of the first order.

    104
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    Mute alan
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    Jul 28th 2019, 10:21 PM

    @Garry Coll: Fascist. At least get the spelling right.

    18
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    Mute Bryan Yelahw
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    Jul 28th 2019, 10:48 PM

    @Garry Coll: A fascist communist?

    33
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    Mute Conor Heneghan
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    Jul 29th 2019, 12:09 AM

    @Garry Coll: I think he is one best politicians we have, constantly sees the positive changes we can make and is happy to evolve his position and accept new ideas

    13
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    Mute 680199
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    Jul 28th 2019, 9:22 PM

    Ah! The power at any price TD – even over his supposed principles. He lost the public service vote for the greens over the pay cuts – the lower paid and some senior over transferred to SF. In my opinion he’s responsible for the resurgence of SF.

    58
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    Mute Patrick Nolan
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    Jul 28th 2019, 9:33 PM

    @680199:
    I’m sure he would be delighted if that was true as he could then take credit for the subsequent halving of SF councilors (159 down to 81) and more than tripling of Green seats (12 up to 39)
    Or will you only give him credit for bad news?

    24
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    Mute iComment
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    Jul 28th 2019, 9:13 PM

    God be with the days when we had 12 years to save the planet…….https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/science-environment-48964736?__twitter_impression=true

    46
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    Mute SFNutters
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    Jul 28th 2019, 10:13 PM

    @iComment: greens promised poolbeg incinerator would never be built…..

    41
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    Mute Felicity Hensen
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    Jul 28th 2019, 10:38 PM

    @SFNutters: How about you hold the people who did make the decision accountable.

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    Mute SFNutters
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    Jul 28th 2019, 10:59 PM

    @Felicity Hensen: the greens were in govt…promised to stop it and didn’t….the others promised to build it and did….you see the problem?

    21
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    Mute Dow Dubrov
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    Jul 29th 2019, 7:43 AM

    @SFNutters: How much power do you think 6 seats gets you in government?

    4
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    Mute Robert Dungan
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    Jul 29th 2019, 12:04 AM

    The environmental scare is the biggest hoax ever.This is a very clever left wing assault on capitalism.

    33
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    Mute Dow Dubrov
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    Jul 29th 2019, 7:45 AM

    @Robert Dungan: Eh. Temperatures rising is a fact. What is in dispute is whether humans can do anything about it

    9
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    Mute Cathal
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    Jul 28th 2019, 10:49 PM

    Willie O’Dea, the total sum of Eamonn Ryan’s political career . Saving Willie’s arse is all he’ll ever be remembered for.

    33
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    Mute Means of escape
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    Jul 28th 2019, 10:45 PM

    The Dodder back in the headlines 18 years after an 80,000 pounds cleanup following an illegal encampment on its bank

    21
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    Mute Pete mc pete
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    Jul 28th 2019, 11:46 PM

    Ryan k*ob end of

    18
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    Mute Muddy
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    Jul 29th 2019, 12:44 AM

    The Greens

    There is a small party
    They’re Called the Greens
    Heads up their a55es
    Where the real world cant be seen

    Once were in Power
    What did they do?
    They Screwed over people
    Like me and You

    Made us buy Diesel
    Because its so clean
    Now the say NO
    But what can it mean

    26
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    Mute Hello DAVE!
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    Jul 28th 2019, 11:03 PM

    Fill in the blanks. C U N TUESDAY!

    16
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    Mute Dow Dubrov
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    Jul 29th 2019, 7:44 AM

    @Hello DAVE!: I think you’ve made a mess of delivering that joke

    13
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    Mute Pete mc pete
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    Jul 28th 2019, 11:45 PM

    Ryan knob end of

    14
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    Mute Jim Ivers
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    Jul 29th 2019, 12:10 AM

    Let’s judge him on his deeds, not his words. Useless windbag.

    24
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    Mute Jim Ivers
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    Jul 29th 2019, 12:11 AM

    Judge him on his deeds, not his words.
    Useless windbag.

    14
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    Mute Henry Gaynor
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    Jul 29th 2019, 2:45 PM

    If the Greens don’t go into government, Saoirse McHugh will be paving the way for FF/FG to control the Dáil indefinitely. After 2016 election, the socialist parties made the current situation possible by refusing to look at going into government. What’s the point in electing TDs who only want to be shouting from the opposition benches? The objective should be to try to get into government to implement as many of your policies as possible.

    3
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    Mute SJF
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    Jul 29th 2019, 7:43 AM

    Sometimes his inner “neo-liberal” comes out.
    Few questions?
    Does “inner” mean “on the surface” now?
    Does Eamon have a different definition of “in” than everybody else? Is it the exact opposite of what I’m thinking?

    3
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    Mute Marcas Ivarrson
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    Aug 3rd 2019, 9:18 AM

    He’s correct about public transport

    1
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