Take on solar charging screens

    A new take on the transparent solar cell screen cover could bring solar powered screens to the market sooner than anticipated.
    The new, lower tech method will involve alternating stripes of thin-film solar cells with transparent film and then adding a layer of tiny lenses. The layer of lenses will help to spread the image on the screen, causing the stripes to become invisible while also concentrating the sun's rays.
    The technology could extend the battery life of a mobile device by about 20 percent, and can make up for the normal power drain of a phone idling in the sunlight.