ST broadens benefits of Battery-Free Technology

STMicroelectronics has announced opening new avenues for energy-harvesting applications with its latest IC integrating all the functions needed to power electronic circuits and recharge batteries using either a solar cell or Thermo-Electric Generator (TEG).
 
ST’s SPV1050 is ideal for applications with power requirements from a few microwatts to several milliwatts, and is equally suitable for both indoor and outdoor consumer and industrial applications using either solar or thermal energy.
 
The ultra-low-power energy-harvesting IC also provides more functions than competing devices, which aids miniaturization and saves bill-of-materials costs. Both 1.8V and 3.3V regulators are available to power a companion microcontroller or wireless transmitter directly without requiring additional components.
 
“Energy harvesting delivers environmental benefits and helps reduce equipment ownership costs, and is used increasingly as energy-conversion efficiency rises and typical system power demands fall. The tremendous operational and energy-harvesting efficiency of the SPV1050, combined with its unparalleled flexibility and feature integration, enables engineers to realize many new opportunities in industrial and consumer markets,” said Matteo Lo Presti, Group VP & GM, Industrial and Power Conversion Division, STMicroelectronics.
 
Inside the SPV1050, a buck-boost converter allows the device to connect to either TEG or indoor/outdoor solar-energy harvesting modules by providing a wide input-voltage range from 180mV to 8V.
 
The SPV1050 is sampling now and scheduled for production in Q1 2014. It is available in a 20-lead QFN 3x3x1mm package. Budgetary pricing is $1.15 for orders of up to 1,000 pieces.