3M & SunPartner Technologies bring Wysips solar charging and LiFi to phone screens

[dizmo]

So, in a few years we may only need to plug into the wall a few times a week, which would be preeeetty awesome.

They've basically made solar charging sexy and unobtrusive by building it into a very thin layer of glass. Oh, it also accepts LiFi signals. Which could be huge if it actually takes off.

 

 

 

 

Almost every smartphone maker has tried wireless charging at some point, but it never works as well as we want it to. Your phone has to have a special cradle, or you have to place your watch in a special bowl – just right. It’s wireless, but it’s a hassle. SunPartner Technologies and 3M have a solution for this. Last week, the two companies showed me a new technology that could help our battery-drain problems, and introduce a whole new way to transfer data.

 

It’s called “Wysips” and it’s a thin layer of crystal glass that can be embedded into small screens like watches, phones, or tablets and turn the screen into a solar panel of sorts. You can’t see it from the outside of the phone (it’s just about completely clear) and it starts charging the battery anytime artificial or natural light shines on the phone’s screen.

 

Solar charging is great, but what we saw next was far cooler. Announced at CES, the Wysips layer is also capable of Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) data transmission; it can send and receive data through light waves. It’s also called VLC, or Visible Light Communication.

 

This could completely charge an E-Ink device, like a Kindle, Nook, or small watch – entirely doing away with the need for physical charging.

 

We think Huawei will be the first manufacturer to use this tech. The 3M/SunPartner team couldn’t confirm this, but they said at least one major manufacturer is onboard. The first phones using this tech will likely arrive in 2015.

 

 

Source: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/wysips-solar-charging-screen-li-fi-impressions/

 

I think it's pretty cool, especially if they manage to improve the solar cells before it becomes more mainstream. Imagine being able to regain 40% or more of your phones charge in the future just by having it out!

It'll be here just in time to help offset those 4k phone displays.