Apple has been slow to develop solar-powered tech in the past Apple has filed for a patent for a combined touchscreen-solar panel that could be used to allow solar charging of its iPhones and iPods, official US documents have shown .A patent application from Apple published on Wednesday by the US Patent and Trademark office describes solar-panelled technology designed for devices with small screens, CNET reported.
The application is for an "integrated touch sensor and solar assembly" that would utilise electrodes that can serve the dual purposes of solar cell and touch sensor.
Apple's patent application says the technology could be adopted in handheld devices like "a media player or phone," but the application also includes an image of a screen that matches, in size, that of the iPad.
Apple has filed applications for a number of solar-related patents in recent years, but due to high production costs many technologies have been slow to take off.
Industry experts predict it could be some time before consumers see any solar-equipped devices from the groundbreaking Californian company.

Source: UPI