Sharp Unveils Solar-Powered TV

by Lisa Zyga, Electronic Devices / Consumer & Gadgets

Sharp´s 26-inch low-power TV prototype paired with a solar module.

For the 1.6 billion people living in areas without utility-supplied electricity, Sharp has designed a TV that can get 100% of its power from the sun. The company plans to exhibit the 26-inch LCD prototype at the Hokkaido Toyako Summit, or G8 Summit, in Hokkaido, Japan, on July 7-9.

The TV uses about one-fourth the power and has about one-third the annual energy consumption of a conventional CRT TV with the same screen size. Compared to today´s LCD TVs, the low-power prototype uses about one-third the power, and about one-half the annual energy consumption.

This extremely low power consumption allows the TV to be powered from one of Sharp´s triple-junction thin-film solar cell modules, with a surface area of about the same size as the LCD screen. The company plans to market the TV and solar energy system as a combination pair.

The technology could bring TV to the 1.6 billion people worldwide who live off the grid, improving their lives not just with entertainment, but also access to news and information. The company predicts that environmentally-conscious consumers would also be interested in such a product.

Besides the low-power TV prototype, Sharp will also exhibit other energy-saving technologies at the G8 Summit, including a 57-inch AQUOS TV, a solar-LED lighting module, and a super-thin (20-mm) 65-inch LCD TV that uses about half the annual energy consumption of conventional LCD TVs.

In addition, the company will display a semi-transparent "see-through" solar cell module. Developed with a laser-trimming process to create large numbers of optically transparent slits over the surface of the cell, the modules could be used as architectural elements, such as in skylights and curtain walls.

via: Sharp and Engadget

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Posted by DGBEACH 07/04/08 13:49

Rank: 2.6/5 after 10 votes

Big brother just can't stand the idea that some people still don't have TVs...of course they won't see the commercials for this TV anyways! lol

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Posted by gmurphy 07/05/08 09:50

Rank: 2/5 after 5 votes

great, now the people who can't afford to get electricity installed in their houses have the chance to spend big bucks on a 26 inch LCD TV so forgive me if I'm a little sceptical about the market potential.

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Posted by SmartK8 07/06/08 02:05

Rank: 2.8/5 after 5 votes

Yeah, I agree with both DGBEACH and gmurphy, the initial idea for manufacturing such a TV is a bit of stretch but in the end it could be a nice prop. Ofcourse it has to work in my closed appartment at night. A 1.6 billion target market is a nice idea but I don't think those are what you call a rich people.

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Posted by conservo 07/06/08 21:51

Rank: 1.5/5 after 4 votes

Well notice the diagram attached to the article: There's a battery sitting on the floor that the new TV owner has to supply. And along with the battery, he'll need a controller to charge it, and an inverter to distribute the electricity to the tv. Unless of course the TV designed for DC instead of regular household AC electricity. Then he wouldn't necessarily need the inverter. But he still needs the battery and controller, and the wiring betwixt it all.

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Posted by Paradox 07/07/08 00:33

Rank: 4.25/5 after 4 votes

Well the article says,
"The company plans to market the TV and solar energy system as a combination pair."
The image says "Combination System Example."
It would not do any good to sell it as a complete system if it didn't Have the battery/Inverter system with it.
I my self am glad that companies are trying to market stuff like this. It should (hopefully) help the solar power prices to drop somewhat.

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Posted by Lord_jag 07/07/08 11:47

Rank: 2/5 after 3 votes

If you can't afford electricity, you can't afford a TV.

Many TV's have been adapted to work on 12V. Most are used in motorhomes.

These might be useful to cottage dwellers...

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Posted by miguelon 07/10/08 07:48

Rank: 1/5 after 1 vote

Great!!, this device will allow the third world watching how the second world is trying to sell them a window to see how the rich world grows up, instead of developing programmes with pumping solar systems to bring closer water to the people; essential for life.

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Posted by Zapperz 07/10/08 08:09

Not rated yet.

Did you guys even read the article? This is not about third world countries or people living in poverty, it's about a solar operated television for people living OFF the grid or in areas where utility-supplied electricity is NOT available.

It has nothing to do with bringing television to the poor, or to every grass hut and teepee on the planet. It's geared toward people who have either chosen to live off the grid or because of remote locations have no ready access to electricity.

It's great for those who have a remote cottage or home, live on an island, live or do research in remote regions where the electricity grid simply doesn't reach or is far too expensive,

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Posted by SmartK8 07/12/08 05:55

Rank: 1/5 after 1 vote

Zapperz: Fine I got it but 1.6 billion rich enough people living off the grid ? It just doesn't sum up. Consider this.. The Europe, North America and Japan has (with the eyes closed) 1.6G population combined but I don't think they're all living off the grid. So..