Solar glasses that generate enough power to operate a hearing aid or a step counter, while being worn indoors, have been developed by researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany.
The solar glasses, with lens-fitted semitransparent organic solar cells, supply two sensors and electronics in the temples with electric power.
According a statement from KIT, the organic solar cells are flexible, transparent, and light-weight – and can be manufactured in arbitrary shapes or colours – making it suitable for a variety of applications that cannot be realised with conventional silicon solar cells, such as integration into windows or overhead glazing.
The solar glasses were designed as a case study by Dr. Alexander Colsmann, Head of Organic Photovoltaics Group at KIT’s Light Technology Institute and his team, and are self-powered to measure and display solar illumination intensity and ambient temperature. The solar cell lenses, which are fitted to a commercial frame, have a thickness of approx. 1.6 millimeters and weigh about six grams. The microprocessor and the two small displays are integrated into the temples.
In indoor environments with illumination down to 500 Lux – the usual illumination of an office or a living area, each of the “smart” lenses still generates 200 microwatt of electric power – enough to operate devices such as a hearing aid or a step counter
In indoor environments with illumination down to 500 Lux – the usual illumination of an office or a living area, each of the “smart” lenses still generates 200 microwatt of electric power – enough to operate devices such as a hearing aid or a step counter.
