Apple hopes to tap into the use of solar power on mobile gadgets. A patent application detailing a method of integrating solar cells behind the LCD of mobile devices has turned up--and while Apple itself was not listed as an assignee, the parent was filed by Apple employees [1].

Because the solar panels would reside behind the LCD screen, no additional space is taken up by the solar panels. This will allow many of Apple's products such as the iPhone, iPod and even laptops to implement the technology without any outward changes. In addition, both the amount of battery power remaining as well as available solar power will be displayed, according to the patent application.

For more on the patent:
- check out this DailyTech article [2]