Powercast joins Texas Instruments Developer Network
Press Release
Powercast joins Texas Instruments Developer Network
Creates wireless power module for demonstrating battery-free wireless sensors
Pittsburgh, PA – April 30, 2009 – Powercast, a leader in the commercialization of RF energy harvesting and wireless power solutions, announced it has joined the Texas Instruments Developer Network to support wireless powering of devices driven by TI’s MSP430. The MSP430 is a market leading, low power microcontroller embedded in numerous portable and low-power wireless devices.
Powercast’s RF energy harvesting technology and embedded wireless power solutions enable controllable wireless power, over distance, between one or more sources and multiple receivers. Devices with Powercast components can be designed for battery-free or battery-minimized operation, thereby eliminating disposable batteries and their adverse environmental impact. These devices can be dormant, with zero stand-by power, and activated remotely with power being sent on-demand, on a scheduled basis, or continuously.
“We are pleased to have Powercast join TI’s Developer Network,” said Eric Siegel, MCU developer network manager at Texas Instruments. “Combining wireless power technology with the ultra-low power consumption of the MSP430, Powercast’s innovative solutions eliminate the need to replace batteries by providing constant, unattended charge for applications in the low-power RF market.”
Powercast has also developed an integrated module for demonstrating battery-free wireless sensors. The Powercast module contains an integrated power receiving antenna, a PowerharvesterTM module, energy storage, and space for a low-power wireless module like Texas Instruments eZ430-RF2500T.
“The wireless sensor market is rapidly expanding and today’s wireless sensors are predominantly powered by disposable batteries. Battery replacement creates a significant operational challenge that will greatly impact the willingness of end-users to scale sensor networks or deploy wireless sensors in hard to service locations.” said Harry Ostaffe, Director of Marketing for Powercast. “Powercast’s wireless power solutions enable battery-free designs for wireless sensor devices, and allow for lifetime operation without changing batteries.”
About the Texas Instruments Developer Network
Powercast is a member of the TI Developer Network, a community of respected, well-established companies offering products and services based on TI analog and digital technology. The Network provides a broad range of end-equipment solutions, embedded software, engineering services and development tools that help customers accelerate innovation to make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more fun.
About Powercast (www.www.powercastco.com)
Powercast Corporation, a privately held company, is a leading innovator of wireless power technology. Founded in 2003, Powercast’s proprietary core technology and related intellectual property pioneered the model for completely untethered electronic devices through the use of common radio waves similar to those used for wireless communications. Emerging uses include devices such as wireless sensors, advanced displays, novelty lighting, and other low power electronic devices. Powercast directly contributes to a greener world by eliminating or reducing the need for batteries, and by extending the placements of sensor networks with the environmentally positive effect of allowing more efficient use of energy for HVAC, lighting and other systems using scarce resources.
