THINERGY Micro-energy Cells Store Low-power Ambient Energy from Harvesting Systems

(Product News, 9 Apr 2009)

Unlike other rechargeable battery solutions, the unique Micro Power Module (MPM) solution from Infinite Power Solutions Inc. (IPS), when combined with ambient energy harvesting, will provide maintenance free, continuous power to wireless sensor nodes and other micro-electronics—for the life of the system (approximately 10-20 years).

Tim Bradow, IPS’ vice president, technical marketing and business development, notes, “The MPM is a compelling energy management and energy storage solution that leverages ambient energy harvesting to make autonomously powered wireless devices a practical reality. This micro-power solution is a safe, reusable and clean energy source that delivers a lifetime of power to micro-electronic systems without the prohibitive cost of battery maintenance. This is truly unique in the world of micro-batteries.”

These unique MPMs from IPS feature two functional elements – near loss-less energy storage and highly efficient energy management electronics—all in a footprint less than a small Post-it Note, and only a few millimeters thick. For the energy storage element, IPS leverages its industry-leading THINERGY Micro-Energy Cell (MEC) products to provide unmatched battery performance, cycle life and service lifetime. IPS’ patent-pending, Passive Power Management Unit (PPMU) serves as the energy management element. The ultra-efficient PPMU provides a simplified electronic interface between the ambient energy harvester and the THINERGY MECs.

The PPMU is unique in that it has no front-end regulation and charges the MEC “passively” when not in over-charge condition, consuming less than 3nA of quiescent current. It also provides the proper care and feeding of the cell (over-voltage and under-voltage protection), greatly simplifying the design-in process. For perpetual power, the system designer only needs to provide a two-wire input from an energy-harvesting source, such as a solar cell, piezo element, thermal-electric generator, or simple RF harvesting circuit. In fact, multiple energy sources (AC or DC) may be used simultaneously to maximize charge within energy-rich ambient environments. The output of the PPMU provides regulated (2.1V – 3.6V) and unregulated output voltage (approximately 4V) for direct connection to any integrated circuits. The output current is 30mA or more, depending on the number of MECs used.

With these industry-leading THINERGY MECs and PPMU electronics, the MPM will efficiently store energy captured from ambient energy harvesting systems producing less than150mW, including ultra-low power and highly variable energy that is difficult to capture. Even with uncontrolled charging sequences from variable energy harvesters like piezo elements, these MPMs provide unparalleled charge efficiency and accommodate hundreds of thousands of partial charge/discharge cycles, which is approximately 100 times more cycles than what typical rechargeable batteries offer today.

IPS reports that its MPMs will be available for purchase by qualified customers starting May 2009. Today’s news follows on IPS’ announcement that it demonstrated a major breakthrough by achieving in excess of 3.0mAh of discharge capacity (exceeding 12mWh, or approximately 43 Joules of energy) within a single cell of its micro-energy storage technology. IPS recently began shipping its THINERGY thin-film MECs to early-access customers from its new Littleton, Colo.-based 36,000 square-foot-facility, which is the world’s first, and only, volume manufacturing facility for solid-state thin-film batteries.