Pixel Qi creates a solar powered tablet pc

(PhysOrg.com) -- Having a battery on your mobile device that runs out of juice while you are on the go is one of the world’s biggest downers. Manufacturers know this, and they move to create devices with longer and longer battery lives. Of course, not all devices can run for a long length of time, and no matter how hard the makers of them may try, there will always be enhanced expectations that the technology will run longer and be a smaller part of the device.

One company, Pixel Qi, is looking to help bring batteries to a new forefront and make them easier to be re-powered. The system, which was shown off at Computex 2011, consisted on a tablet PC that can run completely on solar power. The system will use a small solar panel to produce roughly 1W of power, which is enough to run both the Pixel Qi screen and the ARM-based motherboard in the system.

This makes perfect sense, since Pixel Qi is known for creating low power usage screens that can easily be read in direct sunlight. The solar panel attached to the system is expected to cost about $3 to buy. This panel allows the system to run without using battery power, as long as the sun is shining. Depending on where you live, or when you like to work, this could mean that you can go for weeks or months without having to charge your device.

There is no word yet on when an integrated system will be on sale to the public, or what that system is expected to cost for end users who are interested in making the purchase.

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