14-02-2013, 04:05 PM
Wireless Solar Mobile Phone Charger
[attachment=50934]
Introduction
Cell phones are currently the most popular form of communication in almost all the
countries throughout the world. There are well over 5 billion mobile phones currently in uses
and the number is growing as technology gets better and the cost of production lowers.
However, the main problem is the average lifetime of a phone battery is less than 10
hours with moderate usage. This becomes very inconvenient for people on the road or occupied
with work. In order to recharge the phone, people must bring wall phone chargers. The newest
technology of solar phone chargers is a separate device that uses a small solar panel to absorb
light and then transfer to the phone. This process still forces customers to carry around another
device along with their cell phones.
Our project goal is to develop a miniature solar panel to be installed onto the cell
phone itself. This way, the phone can charge independently; independent of power outlets and
independent of wires. There won’t be any need for electrical outlets or portable solar panels. The
mobile phone will be able to charge anywhere outside or where it is exposed to sun light. A
miniature solar cell will be built into the phone and able to absorb enough sunlight to charge the
device while in use.
Prototype Design
For our design procedure, we used an IPhone 4 as the model mobile phone. There will be
two different solar panels used on the phone, one placed on each side. The back of the
mobile phone will be completely covered by a solar panel. Anytime users are outside and want
to charge their phone, they can just set it down with the back solar cell facing towards the sun
and the phone will charge. The front of the cell phone will also feature a solar cell. The plan is to
place an ultrathin film of solar cell within the layers of the cell phone screen.
Ultrathin, transparent and flexible solar cells
A research group at the University of Illinois (Prof. John Rogers) has confirmed that
there are new etch methods for Silicon and Gallium Arsenide which allow slicing off ultrathin
wafer layers (2-20 microns) that can be formed into micro solar cells.
The thin geometry will not only reduce the cost but also make passive thermal dissipation
much more effective compared to the conventional bulk cells. This aspect is particularly
important for concentrator systems and simplifies the design of the focusing optics. Even the
optical transparency can be defined at the assembly stage as the spacing between individual
microcells can be controlled.
Back Panel
The dimensions of the IPhone 4 are 110 mm high by 59 mm wide and 9.4 mm deep. For
this case, we would have a solar cell with thin, high-efficiency, non-transparent characteristics to
allow maximum solar energy absorption. The dimensions for this situation would be set at 100
mm by 50 mm to take over most of the phone’s back panel surface.
This side would be the most efficient energy absorbing cell of the two films used on this
device. In order to increase efficiency, an ultrathin magnifying layer would also be used
instead of glass substrate to both protect the solar cells and magnify the photonic absorption.
There would be an array of modules working cooperatively to absorb energy and feed the cell
phone.
Hyper Magnifying Technology
Modern day solar panels average around 12% to 18% efficiency when absorbing solar
energy. This illustrates a great loss of power and exposes the poor technology that is currently
around. The power losses are explained by the wide variety of photonic energy transmitted
through solar rays. Only a fraction of the photon energy can be absorbed effectively by the
impure silicon material.
New developments in concentrated photovoltaic technology have potentially quintupled
the efficiency of the solar panels. This innovative technology employs optical equipment such as
mirrors and lenses to magnify solar energy. This thin magnifying film that is being created has
the ability to separate the different spectrums and route the necessary energy to exactly where
they are needed on the solar cells. This would the solar cells highly efficient.
Anatomy of the Solar Cell
Photovoltaic Cells
The driving force behind solar panels begins with the photovoltaic cells. These cells are
responsible for converting photons from the solar light directly into electrons. The name itself
originates from Greek words and can be broken down to photo which means “light” and voltaic
which translates to “electricity”. Photovoltaic cells are fabricated from special material known as
semiconductors which fall right in between conductors and insulators when it comes to the
magnitude of electron flow. Normally, the most commonly used semiconductor is Silicon.
Silicon, Semiconductor Material
Silicon is the most common semiconductor used in solar panels because of its ability to
remain a semiconductor at very high temperatures under the sun. However, the silicon material
used in solar cells must be doped and made impure because pure silicon crystalline serves as a
very poor conductor of electrons. Once the silicon material is doped, a lot less energy is needed
to knock the electrons out of their connections into a free flowing current.
Solar Panels
“Modules” or groups of photovoltaic cells electrically connected together are placed into
frames where energy absorption can be concentrated. These casings are placed next to each other
over a relatively large surface area to be as efficient as possible when absorbing the light. An
anti-reflective coating is added to the solar panels to reduce power losses and obtain maximum
absorption ability. Above that layer, a glass cover plate is used to create durability and protect
against erosion.
[attachment=50934]
Introduction
Cell phones are currently the most popular form of communication in almost all the
countries throughout the world. There are well over 5 billion mobile phones currently in uses
and the number is growing as technology gets better and the cost of production lowers.
However, the main problem is the average lifetime of a phone battery is less than 10
hours with moderate usage. This becomes very inconvenient for people on the road or occupied
with work. In order to recharge the phone, people must bring wall phone chargers. The newest
technology of solar phone chargers is a separate device that uses a small solar panel to absorb
light and then transfer to the phone. This process still forces customers to carry around another
device along with their cell phones.
Our project goal is to develop a miniature solar panel to be installed onto the cell
phone itself. This way, the phone can charge independently; independent of power outlets and
independent of wires. There won’t be any need for electrical outlets or portable solar panels. The
mobile phone will be able to charge anywhere outside or where it is exposed to sun light. A
miniature solar cell will be built into the phone and able to absorb enough sunlight to charge the
device while in use.
Prototype Design
For our design procedure, we used an IPhone 4 as the model mobile phone. There will be
two different solar panels used on the phone, one placed on each side. The back of the
mobile phone will be completely covered by a solar panel. Anytime users are outside and want
to charge their phone, they can just set it down with the back solar cell facing towards the sun
and the phone will charge. The front of the cell phone will also feature a solar cell. The plan is to
place an ultrathin film of solar cell within the layers of the cell phone screen.
Ultrathin, transparent and flexible solar cells
A research group at the University of Illinois (Prof. John Rogers) has confirmed that
there are new etch methods for Silicon and Gallium Arsenide which allow slicing off ultrathin
wafer layers (2-20 microns) that can be formed into micro solar cells.
The thin geometry will not only reduce the cost but also make passive thermal dissipation
much more effective compared to the conventional bulk cells. This aspect is particularly
important for concentrator systems and simplifies the design of the focusing optics. Even the
optical transparency can be defined at the assembly stage as the spacing between individual
microcells can be controlled.
Back Panel
The dimensions of the IPhone 4 are 110 mm high by 59 mm wide and 9.4 mm deep. For
this case, we would have a solar cell with thin, high-efficiency, non-transparent characteristics to
allow maximum solar energy absorption. The dimensions for this situation would be set at 100
mm by 50 mm to take over most of the phone’s back panel surface.
This side would be the most efficient energy absorbing cell of the two films used on this
device. In order to increase efficiency, an ultrathin magnifying layer would also be used
instead of glass substrate to both protect the solar cells and magnify the photonic absorption.
There would be an array of modules working cooperatively to absorb energy and feed the cell
phone.
Hyper Magnifying Technology
Modern day solar panels average around 12% to 18% efficiency when absorbing solar
energy. This illustrates a great loss of power and exposes the poor technology that is currently
around. The power losses are explained by the wide variety of photonic energy transmitted
through solar rays. Only a fraction of the photon energy can be absorbed effectively by the
impure silicon material.
New developments in concentrated photovoltaic technology have potentially quintupled
the efficiency of the solar panels. This innovative technology employs optical equipment such as
mirrors and lenses to magnify solar energy. This thin magnifying film that is being created has
the ability to separate the different spectrums and route the necessary energy to exactly where
they are needed on the solar cells. This would the solar cells highly efficient.
Anatomy of the Solar Cell
Photovoltaic Cells
The driving force behind solar panels begins with the photovoltaic cells. These cells are
responsible for converting photons from the solar light directly into electrons. The name itself
originates from Greek words and can be broken down to photo which means “light” and voltaic
which translates to “electricity”. Photovoltaic cells are fabricated from special material known as
semiconductors which fall right in between conductors and insulators when it comes to the
magnitude of electron flow. Normally, the most commonly used semiconductor is Silicon.
Silicon, Semiconductor Material
Silicon is the most common semiconductor used in solar panels because of its ability to
remain a semiconductor at very high temperatures under the sun. However, the silicon material
used in solar cells must be doped and made impure because pure silicon crystalline serves as a
very poor conductor of electrons. Once the silicon material is doped, a lot less energy is needed
to knock the electrons out of their connections into a free flowing current.
Solar Panels
“Modules” or groups of photovoltaic cells electrically connected together are placed into
frames where energy absorption can be concentrated. These casings are placed next to each other
over a relatively large surface area to be as efficient as possible when absorbing the light. An
anti-reflective coating is added to the solar panels to reduce power losses and obtain maximum
absorption ability. Above that layer, a glass cover plate is used to create durability and protect
against erosion.