Summary of “ENERCERA” BATTERY SERIES HELPS DEVELOP MAINTENANCE-FREE IOT DEVICES
NGK Insulators and Renesas Electronics have partnered to promote maintenance-free IoT devices. They jointly developed a reference design for a wireless air quality sensing system using NGK’s EnerCera ultra-thin lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and Renesas RE Family ultra-low power MCUs. The system targets decarbonization goals by enabling IoT devices that operate on trace environmental energy without battery replacement, supporting efficient charging from weak currents and delivering intermittent high current for sensing and communication.
Parts used in the Wireless Air Quality Sensing System:
- NGK EnerCera battery series (lithium-ion rechargeable battery)
- Renesas RE Family ultra-low power microcontroller (MCU)
- Sensor ICs (air quality sensors)
- Communication ICs (wireless communication module)
- Energy harvesting components for peripheral light, heat, or vibration
- Power management circuitry to interface battery and components
NGK INSULATORS, LTD., announced that it has commenced collaboration with Renesas Electronics Corporation, on promoting the widespread adoption of maintenance-free IoT devices. As the first phase of collaboration, NGK and Renesas jointly-developed a reference design for a wireless air quality sensing system that will contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society. The system was developed by combining NGK’s EnerCera battery series and Renesas’ RE Family of ultra-low power microcontrollers (MCUs).
Data collection and utilization are considered to be the most effective means of realizing a productive life or addressing social issues. Meanwhile, actions to achieve the decarbonization of society have been gathering momentum on a global basis. For example, Japan and many other countries around the world have adopted the goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Therefore, these countries will be required to reduce their power consumption even as they deploy numerous IoT devices for data collection purposes. To realize such a society, there is a need to develop maintenance-free IoT devices that can be powered by trace amounts of electric power obtainable from energy sources in the environment, such as peripheral light, heat, and vibration energy. It also requires for a device that do not require battery replacement.
EnerCera battery series is a lithium-ion rechargeable battery featuring a high capacity, low resistance, and long life despite having a compact, ultra-thin body. EnerCera battery series is ideal as a power source for maintenance-free IoT devices, since it can efficiently charge itself with a weak current and output an intermittent large current to drive functions such as sensing and communication. To power a device with the electric power stored in the battery, an MCU that links the battery with sensor ICs, communication ICs, and other components is needed. For this reason, NGK has developed a reference design for promoting the widespread adoption of maintenance-free IoT devices, together with Renesas’ RE Family MCUs that realize industry-leading ultra-low power consumption.
Read more: “ENERCERA” BATTERY SERIES HELPS DEVELOP MAINTENANCE-FREE IOT DEVICES
- What companies collaborated on the maintenance-free IoT reference design?
NGK Insulators, Ltd. and Renesas Electronics Corporation jointly developed the reference design. - What is the purpose of the reference design?
To promote widespread adoption of maintenance-free IoT devices and contribute to a decarbonized society by enabling devices that can run on trace environmental energy without battery replacement. - Which battery series is used in the system?
The system uses NGK s EnerCera battery series. - Why is the EnerCera battery suitable for maintenance-free IoT devices?
EnerCera features high capacity, low resistance, long life, compact ultra-thin form, efficient charging with weak current, and the ability to output intermittent large current for sensing and communication. - Which microcontrollers are used in the reference design?
Renesas RE Family ultra-low power microcontrollers are used. - What role do the MCUs play in the system?
The MCUs link the battery with sensor ICs, communication ICs, and other components to power and control the device while realizing ultra-low power consumption. - What energy sources are targeted for harvesting in the design?
The design targets peripheral light, heat, and vibration energy as environmental power sources. - Does the reference design aim to eliminate battery replacement?
Yes, it aims to enable devices that do not require battery replacement by operating on harvested environmental energy and rechargeable EnerCera batteries.
