Monitor draws zero power on standby

Solar panel and capacitor provide enough charge to switch power on if video stream goes live

New Fujitsu Siemens monitors are the first to consume no mains power in standby mode, the company claims.

A relay cuts off the mains power whenever the video stream stops; capacitors store enough charge to flick the relay back when the signal returns. Solar panels provide enough power to maintain zero consumption mode for up to five days, after which you have to press a regular power button to bring the machine out of standby.

The technology is ready for TVs and can go into any computer monitor, according to the vice president of peripherals at Fujitsu Siemens, Rajat Kakar

The company has applied for six patents covering the technology and the first monitors using it will go on sale next spring.

Standby accounts for eight per cent of domestic electricity consumption, and the figure is rising according to a recent report by the UK Government. Some political parties have called for a Europe-wide ban on unnecessary stand-by.

Fujitsu Siemens showed two 22in widescreen test monitors with power meters attached at a press event in Augsburg, Germany. The display drew 0.6-0.9W when the monitor was switched off using its standby button and with an active video signal from a VGA cable present. When the display signal was switchedc off the monitor drew zero power even though the standby/power button was not pressed

One test monitor made an audible click when turning off (unusual for LCD displays, but common with mechanical relays) and when the video signal reappeared the monitor instantly turned itself back on.