Solar powered gameboy 🤔

[phart010 | 1,779]

This gameboy runs on solar panels built into the shell. They say “no batteries.”

 

Although I wonder if there may be some capacitors or short term energy storage to help regulate power consistency and prevent the the thing from sputtering. 

[RH | 5,206]

I think it's possible.  Less energy is required, the smaller the size of the silicon chip.  I'm sure this is a GBOAC (Game Boy On A Chip) so the hardware is probably pretty simple.  I'm sure there are caps for regulation of the power flow, but I doubt they are using it as a "battery", per se.  Instead, I think it's just to be sure than the proper voltage flows through the device as it's in use.

Also, I'd be shocked if it has sound.  Powering the logic of the actual "computer" should be easy but driving audio for a device like this is where they would use up most of their power.

It's a cool device.  I'm going to have to check it out.  I don't really care much for mods or boutique hardware but this looks like a fun build-at-home/educational project to do with the kids, so long as it's not $250 for everything. 

[phart010 | 1,779]

It would make sense to give it a short term battery/capacitor even if only for 10-15 seconds of runtime. This would enable it to ride through temporary power losses when the solar source is blocked for 1-2 seconds

[Code Monkey | 2,129]

This is how calculators worked when I was in school.