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nPZero and TDK CeraCharge demonstrator

A wireless energy harvesting device that detects temperature and movement

CeraCharge™ as battery
in an energy harvesting
application

nPZero power-saving IC manages the harvested energy and wakes the host based on sensor readings 

A collaboration between TDK and Nanopower

  • TDK-Logo-Square
  • Nanopower-Logo-Square

A wireless demonstrator powered by harvested energy stored in ceramic batteries

This demonstrator is built to showcase what is possible with energy harvesting, storage in solid-state batteries, and BLE communication. All this is now a possibility due to the nPZero power-saving IC that reduces power consumption to new levels.

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Temperature, light and movement detection

  • Harvest energy with indoor Film solar cells

  • Store harvested energy in ceramic batteries, CeraCharge

  • Lower the power budget with nPZero power-saving IC

1712669406391
Carlos Schlabitz and Yongli Wang at TDK.

Demonstrator documentation
- Block Diagram
- Fact sheet
- App description

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TDK-Layout-1200x627

Typical use case; Movement detection inside windows

This design can typically be used for the detection of temperature and movement inside windows. The solution has "install and forget" capabilities for permanent installations.

The nPZero power-saving IC makes it possible by reducing power consumption to extremely low levels.

Key components

nPZero power-saving IC
Nanopower | nPZero power saving IC

The nPZero power-saving IC manages the harvested energy and monitors the sensors while draining a few nanoamps.

The nPZero power-saving IC is located in the center of the demo board.

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CeraCharge
TDK | Rechargeable solid‑state battery

CeraCharge batteries is an ideal energy storage device  when you need compact, reliable and extremely safe power supplies.

CeraCharge

Indoor PV cells
TDK | Film solar cell

20fi_solar-cell

3-axis accelerometer
ST Microelectronics | LIS2DW12

The accelerometer from ST Microelectronics is one of the best low-power sensors on the market.

Ikoner NanoPower 0521-13

Temperature sensor
ams| AS6212

The temperature sensor from ams is one of the best low-power sensors on the market.

Ikoner NanoPower 0521-15

Ambient light sensor
ams| TSL2540

The ambient light sensor from ams is one of the best low-power sensors on the market.

NanoPower - Icon - Sensor light