Towards the Next Generation of Smart Homes: Wireless-Power Solutions Through Weak μW-Level Power

Collaborating Company: SMK

Photo: Wireless power supply smart home image

Development Background

The adoption of smart homes—where home appliances and housing facilities are controlled through communication networks to realize a comfortable, safe, secure, and convenient new way of living—is progressing at a rapid pace. The introduction of sensors such as indoor environment sensing, vital sensing, home security systems, and smart meters, as well as the IoT integration of doors, lighting fixtures, TVs, air conditioners, and cooking appliances, is expanding.

However, if the power supply for various sensors installed in homes is wired, the wiring will have to run along the walls, which will be unsightly. On the other hand, hiding the wiring inside walls requires extensive construction work.

The natural solution to this is utilizing wireless technology. However, using disposable batteries, such as sensor and battery units installed in various locations within the home (embedded in ceilings, under floors, furniture, etc.), brings with it not only the hassle of battery replacement but also disposal problems.

If secondary batteries are utilized, charging is possible. The next bottleneck is how to realize effective charging. There are groundbreaking wireless power supply technologies such as energy harvesting, which wirelessly uses environmental energy such as indoor light, sunlight, vibration, and temperature difference to convert into electricity, and space transmission type wireless power transmission (WPT), which transmits power by sending and receiving radio waves. However, these technologies can only secure weak power at the μW level and cannot obtain the large amount of power required when collecting and transmitting data.

Therefore, we started developing power sources for smart home appliances to solve the power supply issues of energy harvesting and WPT for realizing smart homes.

Table of Contents

The EnerCera Advantages

EnerCera Pouch, EnerCera Coin
Use Case

No need to replace batteries, realizing a safe and comfortable smart home.
Expected Technological Contribution

Maintenance-free devices that do not require battery replacement can support the realization of a more comfortable smart home.

The EnerCera Advantages

✔️ Energy harvesting utilizing weak μW-level power
✔️ Wireless and battery replacement-free
✔️ Highly safe lithium-ion secondary battery

Energy harvesting utilizing weak μW-level power

By using the small, high-capacity, and high-output EnerCera, charging is possible even with the weak power obtained from environmental energy such as indoor light, sunlight, vibration, and temperature difference. The stored power can be used to run communications and drive sensors.

Wireless and without the need for battery replacement

By utilizing energy harvesting, maintenance-free operation can be realized, enabling the operation of smart home sensors that are wireless and require no battery replacement or disposal. In addition, by installing a combination of EnerCera Pouch and EnerCera Coin based on location properties, both design and functionality can be achieved—enabling installation in various places such as ceilings and furniture, as well as IoT-enabling home appliances, without compromising on the look of the home.

Highly safe lithium-ion secondary battery

EnerCera has higher safety than conventional lithium secondary batteries and has obtained the IEC62133 safety certification. It is suitable for sensors that require safety and for general residential use.

Use Case

By constantly operating various sensor devices and security systems installed throughout the house without the hassle of battery replacement and without worrying about battery depletion, a secure and comfortable smart home can be realized.

Expected Technological Contribution

In the future, as smart homes become more prevalent, there will be an increasing demand for power sources necessary for sensing, such as smart home appliances and home security systems. By combining the lithium-ion secondary battery EnerCera with energy harvesting and wireless power supply, maintenance-free devices that do not require battery replacement will become possible, supporting the realization of more comfortable smart homes.
photo:EnerCera battery mounted on reverse side

Testimonials

"EnerCera's voltage range is compatible with solar cells and circuit systems, allowing power to be used without loss and without boost/buck conversion. This not only reduces the power consumption of the product but also enables a minimized circuit configuration, making cost reduction possible."