Energy-collecting touchscreen unit

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed to enable an energy-collecting touchscreen unit having a thin, substantially transparent cover layer through which a viewing area within the touchscreen unit can be observed while protecting the touchscreen unit from physical damage. The touchscreen unit has a common base layer disposed beneath the cover layer, and it has at least one touch sensor and a photovoltaic surface. The touch sensor and the photovoltaic surface are affixed to opposite faces of the common base layer. The touchscreen unit also includes an electrical interconnection with both the photovoltaic surface and the touch sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An energy-collecting display module comprising:
 a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels disposed along a horizontal layer;   a photovoltaic layer positioned between at least two of the pixels along the horizontal layer; and   a color filter positioned above the pixel array and the photovoltaic layer.   
     
     
         2 . The module of  claim 1 , further including a cover layer positioned above the pixel array and the photovoltaic layer. 
     
     
         3 . The module of  claim 1 , further including a touch sensor positioned above the pixel array and the photovoltaic layer. 
     
     
         4 . The module of  claim 3 , wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive touch panel having traces comprising an indium tin oxide array. 
     
     
         5 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic layer comprises at least one layer of amorphous silicon. 
     
     
         6 . The module of  claim 1 , further including a battery operable to store energy generated by the photovoltaic layer. 
     
     
         7 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the module is integrated into a watch housing. 
     
     
         8 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic layer additionally includes an exterior portion surrounding the pixel array. 
     
     
         9 . The module of  claim 8 , wherein the exterior portion surrounding the pixel array comprises substantially continuous photovoltaic material. 
     
     
         10 . An energy-collecting display module comprising:
 a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels disposed along a horizontal layer;   a photovoltaic layer including—
 an interior portion positioned between at least two of the pixels along the horizontal layer, and 
 an exterior portion surrounding the pixel array, the exterior portion comprising substantially continuous photovoltaic material; and 
   a color filter positioned above the pixel array and the photovoltaic layer.   
     
     
         11 . The module of  claim 10 , further including a touch sensor positioned above the pixel array and the photovoltaic layer. 
     
     
         12 . The module of  claim 11 , wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive touch panel having traces comprising an indium tin oxide array. 
     
     
         13 . The module of  claim 10 , wherein the photovoltaic layer comprises at least one layer of amorphous silicon. 
     
     
         14 . The module of  claim 10 , further including a battery operable to store energy generated by the photovoltaic layer. 
     
     
         15 . The module of  claim 10 , wherein the module is integrated into a watch housing.