The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday granted
Apple a patent for a laptop with a unique display unit that not only serves as
a solar power supply, but also an external screen and secondary means of touch
input.
Apple's U.S. Patent No. 8,638,549 for an "Electronic
device display module" describes a two-sided glass laptop display housing
which carries the usual screen on its front face. On the rear, however, the
module holds photovoltaic cells for solar charging, a secondary display and
sensors for touch input.