Logitech Puts Out Solar iPad Keyboard

Story first appeared in All Things D.

If you love your iPad but don’t love its virtual keyboard, Logitech has a snappy new solution for you — and it’s environmentally friendly to boot.

The accessory maker today revealed its Solar Keyboard Folio, an iPad case with a built-in Bluetooth keyboard.

Add-on keyboards for the iPad certainly aren’t a new thing. What sets the Solar Keyboard Folio apart from the rest is that it doesn’t require a cable or battery for power or recharging. Instead, the case features integrated solar cells that draw juice from indoor and outdoor light. Much like the photovoltaic cells used in home solar panel racks and Solar Carports.

Logitech says that when fully charged, the keyboard’s battery can last up to two years, based on two hours of usage per day.

When not in use, the Solar Keyboard Folio doubles as a protective case for your tablet, and like the Smart Cover, the iPad automatically wakes up when you open the case, and goes to sleep when in the closed position.

The book-style case can be positioned at two different angles, one that places the iPad in an upright position for full access to the keyboard, and one that’s better suited for viewing media.

The Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio works with the third-generation iPad and iPad 2, so unfortunately, if you have an original iPad, you’re out of luck. It will be available in the U.S. and Europe this month for $129.99.

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TSMC Takes Stake In US Solar Energy Firm, Enters Technology Tie-Up

The Wall Street Journal

 

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM), the world's largest chip contract maker by revenue, is increasing its presence in the clean energy industry by taking a stake in U.S.-based Stion Corp. and tying up with the company for the licensing, supply, and joint development of thin-film solar photovoltaic module technology.

TSMC, which has been pushing to expand into renewable energy, said its unit VentureTech Alliance Fund III will invest US$50 million for a 21% stake in Stion, according to a joint statement Wednesday.

The move is the latest example of a Taiwan technology giant expanding into the fast-growing solar-energy industry, as companies seek to both diversify from their core business and also ride the "green" energy wave.

In May, Taiwan flat-panel maker AU Optronics Corp. (AUO) and U.S.-based solar-panel maker SunPower Corp. (SPWRA) formed a joint venture to build and operate a US$1.2 billion solar-cell plant in Malaysia.

TSMC said in December that it would pay US$193 million for a 20% stake in a Taiwan solar-cell maker Motech Industries Inc. and in March said it will invest an initial NT$5.5 billion to build its first light-emitting-diode factory.

Under the agreements with Stion, Stion will license and transfer its thin-film technology to TSMC, while TSMC will provide a certain quantity of solar modules to Stion using the technology. TSMC and Stion will also work together to enhance the thin film technology through joint development, the companies said in the statement.

"Working with Stion, TSMC gains a robust thin film technology with inherent low-cost structure," Rick Tsai, TSMC's president of new businesses, said in the statement.

Stion President and Chief Executive Chet Farris said the collaboration with TSMC will enable Stion to increase its operations and achieve market leadership, without giving further details.

Stion was founded in 2006 and is backed by venture capital investors, including Khosla Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, General Catalyst Partners, and Braemar Energy Ventures, according to the statement.

National Semi Develops Chip for 'Smart' Solar Panel

cNet

 

National Semiconductor is diversifying into solar with the release a chipset that optimizes the power output of solar panels.

The company said Tuesday said that it is making its SolarMagic technology available as a chipset that can be integrated into the junction boxes of solar panels. Until now, the power optimizer hardware, first introduced a year ago, was available as an add-on product.

The chipset is designed to adjust the voltage and current from all the solar panels in an array so that they match, which increases the overall energy flow. The technology can also gather data on energy for each panel and report it via the Internet.

Differences in shading and mismatches in the flow of electricity can sap the overall efficiency of strings of solar cells and solar panels, which is leading companies to improve the power electronics of solar. Another company in this area is Israel-based SolarEdge, which also makes power management hardware.

Solar installer SunEdison, which caters to commercial and municipal customers, retrofitted the SolarMagic chipset onto an existing installation and found that it boosted the power output by over 20 percent.

National Semiconductor said that the first solar panels using the system, which costs 12 cents per watt, will be released at the Intersolar Europe conference next week in Munich, Germany.