VIBRATION ENERGY HARVESTING
Extending battery life – the continuous goal for wireless IoT solutions is a constant challenge. When selecting battery technologies for IoT, particularly industrial edge devices, the following are typical driving requirements:
- 6V and 1.7V
- -20°C to +85°C
- Low microamp discharges to a few hundred milliamps over a second or two
- Slow yearly discharge rates
Energy harvesting is the continuous collection of ambient energy to power wireless devices. If the amount of power harvested is higher than the amount the edge device consumes, then energy harvesting devices can provide a continuous source of power. Increasing the edge device lifetime to 10+ years dramatically reduces the cost and concern of battery maintenance. End-users can now “fit-and-forget”.
Vibration Energy Harvesters
There are two major types of transducer technologies that can capture energy from vibrations in the environment: Piezoelectric and Electromagnetic.
- Piezoelectric generators convert mechanical energy into electrical energy due to the inherent polarization characteristics of certain crystals. Electromagnetic transducers consist of a magnet that generates a current in a coil when its magnetic field moves.
- Electromagnetic transducers produce larger amounts of power at lower vibrating frequencies and acceleration. Piezoelectric generators are better suited for higher frequencies and large impulse movements. In both cases, the power density of each dramatically decreases with their volume.
The energy harvesting transducer inside the VP3 is designed to generate power from a specific resonant frequency. Xidas offers a range of VP3 models that are tuned for 20 Hz (VP3-20), 30 Hz (VP3-30), 50 Hz, (VP3-50), and 60 Hz (VP3-60).
The VP3 has an on-board battery that will continue to power the wireless sensor even when the appropriate vibration source is not available. However, this battery will only recharge when the source begins vibrating at the target resonant frequency again.
The VP3 is designed to be mounted on any vibrating surface within a few feet of the wireless sensor it powers. Inside, our proprietary energy harvesting transducer generates electrical current from low vibration profiles and trickle charges an on-board battery via our analog boost circuitry. This on-board battery allows the device to power a sensor even when vibration energy is not available. From the unit, power is delivered to the wireless sensor via a 5-pin, IP67 M12 Connector Cable. Wireless sensors must be modified to accept this cable connection.
The VP3’s specialized high-pulse current lithium battery (RHB-1530 available as standalone product) can accommodate all wireless technologies, from Low-current devices (BLE, ZigBee, LoRa, Sigfox, NB-IoT) to high current and high-pulse operations (Wi-Fi, Cellular). The VP3 offers several output options that make the battery truly plug-and-play. For instance, Pin 4 provides a regulated output voltage with no conditioning so your sensor can plug right into it just like a normal battery and you are ready to go! For applications with higher current demands (>150 mA peaks), Pin 1 gives you access to the system voltage, going up to 4.1 V. Xidas also provides a line to monitor the amount of current going into the battery (being harvested) as well as going out. You will always know the status of the battery life.
Xidas also offers the vibration energy harvesting transducer (VET), the energy harvesting analog boost circuitry (EHM), and the rechargeable high-pulse battery (RHB-1530), as standalone products for direct integration into wireless sensor.
Xidas Small Hybrid Supercapacitor/Rechargeable Lithium Battery for Energy Harvesting IoT applications. The small high-pulse rechargeable battery with an operating temperature range of -40°C to +85°C that eliminates the need 
for a separate supercapacitor and rechargeable battery in IoT applications. The model RHB-1530 is an integrated pulse capacitor and rechargeable lithium battery that provides large pulse discharge capability under extreme temperature from -40°C to 85°C. With a low trickle charge current requirement and a high energy capacity, the model RHB-1530 becomes ideal for use in energy harvesting devices for wireless IoT applications. The battery is designed for a 10-year life and has enough capacity to run typical IoT devices for a week in case of harvested energy downtime, allowing enough time for customers to resolve i.e., malfunctioning machinery. The RHB-1530 becomes energy storage companion for solar, vibration, thermal, RF or other energy harvesters used in IoT solutions.
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