Apple Inc. patents are continuing to surface from the United States (U.S.) Patent and Trademark Office with the latest application detailing solar-powered MacBooks.

The Apple patent, titled "Electronic Device Display Module," noted how many electronic devices have housings, which may contain a display on its front face and rear plate. A rear plate may typically be formed from glass and utilized for its rear face. The rear plate could also be formed from "laminated layers" that may include a light guide layer.

"Computers such as portable computers are often provided with liquid crystal displays [LCD]," described patent No. 8,638,549 by Apple. "Portable computers typically have upper and lower housings that are connected by a hinge. The lower housing contains computer keys and a pointing device such as a track pad. The upper housing contains a display. The hinge allows the upper housing to be opened when the computer is in use and to be closed when it is desired to protect the keys and other components of the lower housing."

With the aforementioned described, the Apple patent noted that "conventional computers" with typical housing materials such as metal and plastic with LCD sometimes result in "bulkier and less aesthetically appealing than desired and may lack desirable user interface features."

"It would therefore be desirable to provide improved computers such as computers with improved housing and display features," the patent added.

What the inventors of the patent are calling for are mobile phones, tablets, and other portable electronic devices to feature a two-side display with the front cover's rear plate supporting electrochromic glass that may cover photovoltaic cells and touch sensors. With the electrochromic glass, light can either be allowed or blocked.

"Photovoltaic cells may be located under the rear plate and may produce power when activated by an external light source," noted the patent, referring to the Sun as the "external light source." "Touch sensors may be located under the rear plate and may gather touch input. A control unit may be used to process touch commands on the rear plate to perform functions such as unlocking a magnetic latch that holds the upper housing to the lower housing."

The patent application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office credited Adam T. Garelli, Dinesh C. Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson Jr., Keith J. Hendren, Peteris K. Augenbergs, Brett W. Degner, Bradely J. Hamel, Michael A. Damlanakis, and Patrick Kessler as inventors of the "Electronic Device Display Module."

According to the patent application, the "Electronic Device Display Module" might not be final and "various modification" can be made yet not straying away from the "scope and spirit" of the patent.

The patent waited a few years for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to finally approve the application as it was originally filed on Aug. 24, 2010.

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