solar panel on back of phone

[mikedt]

not talking about running a phone off the solar panel.

when a phone is asleep.. it only needs a little from the battery.
the solar panel.. can just drip in a little charge.. to help it stay away from a charger longer.

One issue for me with that, when my phone is asleep it usually means I'm asleep as well.

 

[mikedt]

phone sitting in the sun... is not a good idea.

if they can incorporate the charging panel under the main screen.. when it is in sleep mode.

and letting it sit on your desk or where ever it normally sits now.
in sleep mode.. charging from the room's normal light (whatever the source).
would be a good idea.

this would give you a small charge.. but help the phone last longer through the day.

It might be a very small charge it's going to get. Main thing I don't believe that solar panels work particularly well with fluorescent or LED room lighting. They can run a calculator, but that is literally only a few micro-watts, uW.

 

[dan330]

It might be a very small charge it's going to get. Main thing I don't believe that solar panels work particularly well with fluorescent or LED room lighting. They can run a calculator, but that is literally only a few micro-watts, uW.

remember those calculators..the solar panels are small...compare that to the size of the 5 inch screen

 

[Codegerm]

remember those calculators..the solar panels are small...compare that to the size of the 5 inch screen

That's true, but also consider that even if the calculator had a 5 inch display, the calculator LCD display would still use next to nothing power wise. The same can't be said of a 5 inch AMOLED display on a smartphone.

 

[dan330]

not talking about running a phone off the solar panel.

when a phone is asleep.. it only needs a little from the battery.
the solar panel.. can just drip in a little charge.. to help it stay away from a charger longer.

That's true, but also consider that even if the calculator had a 5 inch display, the calculator LCD display would still use next to nothing power wise. The same can't be said of a 5 inch AMOLED display on a smartphone.

I must be not explaining it right... what I am thinking...

I do NOT suggest that we can run the phone on a solar panel!!!!!! NOT NOT NOT!!! not running the phone with the screen ON..

what I am saying.. is helping the phone battery last longer..
when the phone is a SLEEP.. the Screen is OFF...
the phone is sipping at the battery...

a solar panel can help lower the use of the phone on the battery.. WHEN it is ASLEEP.
so this will help the phone stay away from the charger longer...

and most phones spend most of their time.. asleep.. possibly sitting on the desk/table/counter.. asleep.. sipping at the battery.

......

also..
when your phone is dead.. and you cant get to a charger.. ex: Camping in the woods.
it would be a great option to have.. to lay the phone out...a few hours.. get enough to make a short call. or use the Map app. take a picture... whatever.

 

[Codegerm]

It is when the phone is awake that I need the power coming in. Maybe using the phone while it is sitting in top of a light table, so the solar panel is working. When my phone is sleeping it may use all of 1% of its charge after sitting all night. I'm not likely to ever leave my phone sitting in the sunlight, having seen what that can do to a device.

 

[dan330]

ok.. I never said .. put it in sunlight!!!!
I don't recommend to put your phone in the sun... for long periods too.

http://www.amazon.com/Solar-Powered-Dancing-Flower-Green/dp/B003BWQ4M2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385323018&sr=8-1&keywords=dancing+flower+toy

have you seen solar toys like that? sitting on a person's office desk.. OUT of the SUN!!
that little solar panel.. in office light or indirect natural light.. it can dance up a storm!

but if you don't think it is a good idea.. and don't need it.. Awesome.
have a great day!!!

 

[mikedt]

ok.. I never said .. put it in sunlight!!!!
I don't recommend to put your phone in the sun... for long periods too.

http://www.amazon.com/Solar-Powered-Dancing-Flower-Green/dp/B003BWQ4M2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385323018&sr=8-1&keywords=dancing+flower+toy

have you seen solar toys like that? sitting on a person's office desk.. OUT of the SUN!!
that little solar panel.. in office light or indirect natural light.. it can dance up a storm!

but if you don't think it is a good idea.. and don't need it.. Awesome.
have a great day!!!

Presumably the panel is able to generate enough electricity to run a small motor, even under artificial light. It might be like a clock though, and hardly consumes any power at all. Clocks are able to move the hands and even swing a pendulum for maybe 2-3 years a single 1.5V battery. Would a solar panel under fluorescent or LED lighting be able to generate enough useful electricity to make a difference with a cellphone battery? Because that's where I believe solar panels don't work too well, unlike natural daylight or incandescent illumination, I think it's due to the non-visible radiation, i.e. infra-red and ultra-violet. Fluorescent and LEDs don't emit it, or very little.

The local tat store sells solar powered novelties like this for a few RMB, almost tempted to buy one and see well it does work with our office fluorescent lights. Most rooms and offices these days don't have traditional incandescent lighting.

BTW there's some interesting reading here about solar panels and natural vs fluorescent light.
http://www.instructables.com/answers/Why-does-natural-light-work-better-with-solar-pane/
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070801075739AAjZZPt