Re: [NTLK] My Newton Wish List

~~~ On 2006/09/23 14:00, Adam Goddard at pashosh@tpg.com.au wrote ~~~

> On 23/09/2006, at 9:21 PM, Lord Groundhog wrote:
>> ~~~ On 2006/09/23 01:53, MKow1234@aol.com at MKow1234@aol.com wrote ~~~
>>
>>> 4. Solar Cell Screen Cover -- Okay, I'm throwing in a bonus item
>>> for the
>>> suggestion box.
>>> What if the screen cover contained an integrated solar cell to keep
>>> the
>>> battery level topped off? Dude...that'd be sweet.
>>
>> Wow! I love that idea. I don't know anything about this stuff but I
>> guess
>> it would take a bit of fiddling to make sure it didn't over-charge in
>> very
>> bright sunlight. But once it was done, it would be a great thing!
>>
>> Two small niggles based probably on my ignorance of the whole thing:
>> would
>> a solar cell panel be adequate protection for the screen without being
>> something that needs its own protection? And, what would it do to the
>> form
>> factor of the Newt?
>>
>> That's not meant to be critical of what I reckon is a great idea. I'm
>> just
>> wondering about how it'll work.
>>
>> Shalom.
>> Christian
>
> Major solar panel types are Amorphous Silicone, Polycrystalline
> Silicone, Monolithic Silicone and a couple others. First consideration,
> although the panels are relatively lightweight, the glass to protect
> them is hardened and heavy. I have a couple of monolithic panels(pure
> panels from the BP Solar manufacturing plant) which produce 0.5V and
> are rated at 1A on short circuit. These are about 200mm x 100mm in a
> half octagon shape. They shatter like brittle ceramic. The size to
> current factor is a major problem. To get smaller panels for a small
> current, it's still gonna take up space. My MP2100 sits in a leather
> case in my backpack, so I don't see how it's gonna always get a lot of
> sun, maybe other people enjoy theirs outdoors, but I've found the lcd
> goes black in the sunlight. Cost is your next consideration. To get
> enough panels and manufacture these lids, it will be expensive. You
> probably need 12V @ no load, but it depends on the solar panel
> chemistry and what kind of regulation circuit you use, possibly a
> surface mount circuit on the side of the lid. Just being realistic. :)
>
> Regards,
> - Adam Goddard

Thanks Adam. You've answered some questions I'd have asked if I'd known
enough about the subject to be that specific.

In the light of your considerations, I'm getting the impression that a
separate panel that can be plugged into the Newton power socket would be
better.

Thinking about it, that would permit a solar panel the dimensions of a 2100.
Question: is it feasible to make hinge panels together? If so, a panel
could theoretically made of two or even three "slabs" the size of the
Newton.

Of course, your point about the weight and brittleness of the panels becomes
a consideration once we talk about that kind of size increase. And it loses
a lot of the "cool" factor at that size.

And now that you mention it, the amount of time my Newt spends in my pocket
or rucksack, means the solar panel would only be doing its job when I'm
using the Newton. For me, that means when the screen protector/solar panel
is folded back and my hand is covering it to hold my MP while I'm writing.
I hadn't thought about that before.

OTOH, I understood Matt's original intention to be providing a top-up while
you're using it, so I'm not sure how all this affects that.

 
Shalom.
Christian

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