In order to design small, sustainable, rechargeable-battery-based devices that can reduce both disposable battery e-waste and expensive battery maintenance, the companies have paired Powercast's over-the-air RF wireless charging technology with Nichicon's SLB, which together can fit into small devices such styluses, wireless thermometers, medical devices and IoT sensors.
“Wirelessly-powered sustainable devices are seen as helping to solve the environmental problem of disposable batteries that litter landfills and release toxins, and the inconvenience and expense of battery replacement," said Charles Greene, PhD, COO and CTO of Powercast.
The companies have developed a slim stylus demo in which Powercast's tiny receiving antenna and Powerharvester PCC110 RF-to-DC converter chip is embedded in the stylus and harvests RF sent over the air from Powercast's Ubiquity transmitter, converting it to DC to wirelessly recharge Nichicon's embedded SLB04255L040 battery. The battery then powers the flashlight LED at the end of the stylus, with RF technology recharging the battery when it's not in use.
"Wirelessly-powered sustainable devices help solve the environmental problem of disposable batteries that litter landfills and release toxins, and the inconvenience and expense of battery replacement," explained Charles Greene, PhD, COO and CTO of Powercast. "We are teaming with Nichicon, whose long-life rechargeable batteries can store the energy generated by Powercast Technology and repeatedly discharge it over and over as needed."
"This collaborative effort allows companies to develop environmentally-friendly, small consumer and IoT devices that eliminate disposable batteries," added Craig Anderson, President of Nichicon America. "Our vision is to make IoT and consumer device ecosystems more sustainable now and into the future."
