The Solar Mouse is a first-ever battery-free light-powered travel mouse. Developed in-house by Ambient Photonics, the Solar Mouse is a first offering of a suite of next-generation peripherals which are unburdened by the environmental impact and physical design constraints of traditional batteries.

Indoor solar is no longer the purview of unsightly “science projects” appended to the face of products. Ambient Photonics’ solar cells supplant batteries and can be embedded within a device allowing for sleeker, easier to use electronics peripherals – no more recharging devices, no more changing batteries, and no performance or aesthetic penalties.

The Solar Mouse is powered by Ambient Photonics’ unique dye-sensitized solar cell technology, which is capable of delivering 300% more power than other indoor solar solutions. The increased power density provides the opportunity to embed light harvesting within devices which were previously inaccessible. The Solar Mouse runs seamlessly, powered by ambient indoor light.

Disposable batteries are heavy, costly, and wasteful. Rechargeable batteries are also expensive and due to their reliance on exotic minerals, also hold a heavy carbon footprint. The Solar Mouse relies upon neither technology. The removal of batteries also ensures that the Solar Mouse is climate-conscious with minimal carbon impact. It stands as an essential reference design for the future of sustainable, battery free technology.

The environmental impact of using solar cell technology is significant. According to the most recent data available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in the United States alone, approximately three billion batteries are sold each year, averaging 32 per family or 10 per person. Batteries are a major environmental hazard – creating physical waste and polluting ecosystems and water supplies. With Ambient Photonics technology, a battery-less future is within reach.

The Solar Mouse is sleeker than typical production models because the housing doesn’t need to accommodate for a large battery volume, charge ports, or access hatches. These deletions pave the way for increasingly effective and robust designs. The housing of the Solar Mouse is available in gloss outer or matte. The Ambient Photonics solar cell within is visible but not apparent.

Additionally, the Solar Mouse is designed to completely eliminate the need for charging or physical maintenance, saving end-users time and money in operating expenditures.

Category:ElectronicsYear:2024Designers:Colin Owen; David Lecoeuche; Chris Ayoub; Joshua Wright, Mason Day, Jose Fuentes, Zac Hatchett., Ambient Photonics Design Team, Ambient Photonics New York, California, USAManufacturer:Ambient Photonics, Scotts Valley, California, USA