Mobile Technology

Tag Heuer's Meridiist Infinite phone offers "infinite" power via a solar panel

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The Tag Heuer uses light for power
The Tag Heuer uses light for power
A diagram of the Wysips technology

In 2008, Tag Heuer introduced its first mobile phone, the US$6,200 Meridiist. Well, as if a luxury phone made by a company usually associated with premium watches isn't eyebrow-raising enough, the just-announced Meridiist Infinite offers a little something extra: a built-in photovoltaic panel that keeps it powered up and charging as long as there's light.

The transparent panel is built into the phone's display, sandwiched between its sapphire outer surface and the LCD screen itself. Made using Sunpartner Technologies' Wysips film tech, that panel in turn consists of two layers – a semi-cylindrical lens substrate through which light is focused, and a lenticular film containing thin strips of photovoltaic cells, which receives the light.

A diagram of the Wysips technology

Although Tag Heuer hasn't stated exactly how much electricity can be generated in this fashion, it's reportedly at least enough to allow the phone to remain in stand-by mode as long as it's receiving sufficient natural or artificial light – even if the battery is empty. It's being called the Perpetual Power Reserve.

No specs on the phone itself are available yet, other than the fact that its body will be made entirely of titanium, carbon fiber and rubber. Only 1,911 of the phones will be made (commemorating the company's first dashboard chronograph, patented in 1911), with a worldwide launch scheduled for July. There's currently no word on price, so just use your imagination for now.

The Meridiist Infinite can be seen looking dark and imposing in the video below.

Source: Tag Heuer [1] [2] via Engadget

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2 comments
f8lee
This will be great, once I buy that shirt or pants with the transparent pockets so I can keep the phone exposed to light while carrying it around.
Or maybe they will sell me a chain to hang it around my neck, so I can also show the peasantry how much I spent on a stupid phone!
mooves
Whatever the price, I'm sure those that can afford it already have peasants that can plug in their phone to charge or hand them a backup 24 carat gold, 24ct diamond encrusted iPhone.