The Wireless Power Calculator is an Excel-based tool to estimate the amount of RF power available at the receiver, and the amount of RF power that is converted to DC.
Wireless Power Calculator (XLS)
It is based on Friis equation and is intended for estimating or planning purposes only.
Powercast develops wireless power and RF energy harvesting solutions to provide power-over-distance for low-power applications (low microwatts and low milliwatts). Devices that typically operate on batteries for months or years can benefit from Powercast’s patented, high-efficiency RF energy harvesting technology. The cost of wiring or battery replacement can be eliminated in low-power devices through wireless, remote trickle-charging, or devices can be made completely battery-free.
What are the intended applications for Powercast technology?
There are numerous applications that can benefit from using Powercast’s technology. The amount of received power, the use case, antenna form factor, and charge rate must be considered. Devices that operate on a set of batteries for weeks, months, or years are candidates for Powercast’s technology. Powercast is currently focused on low-power applications such as, high function RFID, battery recharging in wearable devices, and LED lighting.
Where can I buy Powercast products?
Powercast technology is designed for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) to embed directly into their products and systems. Products can be purchased through Future Electronics, Mouser Electronics, and Arrow Electronics. If your company is an OEM and is seeking sales support , please contact us to discuss your application in more detail.
What products does Powercast offer?
Powercast offers modules and chipsets. Our modules are the P1110 & P2110B, which are for low volume applications and provide ease of implementation. Our chipsets are the PCC110 & PCC210, which are for high volume applications. Additional information about the chipsets is available after the completion of a Reference Design Confidentiality Agreement.
Does Powercast provide custom development services?
Yes. Powercast has completed multiple custom development projects related to RF-based wireless power and RF energy harvesting. Please contact us to provide details on your project so that we may provide a quote.
Where can I get more information about the PCC110 & PCC210 chips?
Information regarding the PCC110 & PCC210 chips is available after the completion of a Reference Design Confidentiality Agreement.
How much power can be transmitted?
In the United States and Canada, the maximum amount of power that can be transmitted is 4 Watts EIRP. Our TX91501 transmitter broadcasts approximately 3 Watts EIRP.
How much power is received?
The received power is determined by several factors, including distance and receiving antenna performance. Available energy after conversion in the low milliwatt (mW) and microwatt (uW) range should be expected. Please see the wireless power calculator.
What is the efficiency of the power transmission?
Powercast’s technology enables unique applications for remote charging, and multiple devices can be charged simultaneously. The end-to-end efficiency of power transfer is not a relevant metric of comparison.
What is the efficiency of the RF to DC power conversion?
RF-to-DC conversion efficiency is as high as 70% in some scenarios. Please see the datasheets found on the documentation page for performance graphs.
What is the maximum distance that your transmitter will work?
The transmitter output power is limited by government regulations, so the receiving antenna is a primary factor in operating range. Antennas with higher gain provide a better range. The directional antenna provided with the evaluation boards has a gain of 6dBi and will enable a range of 40-45 feet (12-14 meters) line of sight with the P2110B component. Our P21XXCSR-EVB Chipset Reference Design Evaluation Board has newer designs that enable greater sensitivity and range.
What frequencies are supported?
The P1110 and P2110B Powerharvester receivers are designed for a center frequency of 915 MHz, but have a reasonable operating range from 850-950 MHz. The P21XXCSR-EVB supports GSM-850 uplink, Europe RFID & GSM-850 downlink, ISM USA & GSM-900 uplink, GSM-1800 uplink, GSM-1900 uplink, and Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz frequency bands. Please see the datasheets found on the documentation page for performance details. The Powerharvester technology can be adapted to other frequencies and Powercast does custom development projects for frequency modification. Please contact us to discuss custom projects for frequency modification.
Can I use the P1110 or P2110B components for harvesting from WiFi?
These components are designed with a center frequency of 915 MHz and therefore, can not be used to harvest energy from Wi-Fi routers. Although these components can not be used to harvest Wi-Fi our P21XXCSR-EVB Chipset Reference Evaluation Board does support harvesting Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz.
Do you have any components for harvesting from 2.4GHz / Wi-Fi?
Currently, the P21XXCSR-EVB Chipset Reference Evaluation Board supports harvesting Wi-FI 2.4 GHz frequency. However, standard modules for harvesting 2.4 GHz are not offered at this time. Please contact us about using the PCC110 & PCC210 chips for harvesting Wi-Fi.
What type of antennas can be used?
Powerharvester receivers are designed to work with standard 50-ohm antennas. An antenna should be matched as closely as possible to the frequency being received.
Does Powercast design custom antennas?
Powercast has antenna design expertise. Please contact us to discuss customer antenna development projects.
Can I make any adjustments to your transmitter?
There are no user controls on the existing TX91501 Powercaster transmitter. Making modifications inside of the device would be a violation of FCC and Industry Canada regulations and also void the product warranty.
Is your transmitter required for this to work?
Powercast’s transmitter products are not required to operate the Powerharvester receivers, but some source of RF energy must be provided. Ambient energy from sources such as mobile base stations (i.e. cell sites) are typically not strong enough to operate existing Powerharvester receivers at a useful distance, but may apply in some scenarios. Harvesting from a mobile phone is typically more viable than harvesting from a mobile base station.
Can I use your transmitter in any country?
Powercast’s TX91501 transmitters are certified for use only in the United States and Canada, other countries have different frequency requirements and power limitations. Some countries allow for demonstration or experimental use without regulatory certification.
What modulation can be used to operate the Powerharvester receivers?
The Powerharvester recievers work independent of the type of modulation use (FHSS, DSSS, etc) by a transmitter, and can receive power from one or more transmitters using any type of modulations. The power of the signal is the primary metric for operation.
How does your transmitter send data?
The Powercast TX91501 transmitter broadcasts data as well as power. The data is currently a transmitter ID implemented using 8 bits. Future versions may include a timing broadcast for network synchronization. The data is sent using Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) modulation and is recovered through the Powerharvester receiver in conjunction with external circuitry and a microcontroller. The data is factory-set and not user adjustable.
Will your transmitter interfere with other RF devices (Cell Phones, Wi-Fi routers, etc.)?
All devices that generate RF frequencies have the potential to interfere with other RF devices. The interference potential is dependent on numerous factors including the field strength of the unwanted signal, the frequency band of operation, and the ability of the receiver to reject the unwanted signal. The TX91501 Powercaster Transmitter is FCC approved as FCC ID: YESTX91501 and Industry Canada (IC) approved as IC: 8985A-TX91501. The 915MHz output power is approximately 0.5W (3W EIRP) and uses Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) to spread the power over more than 500kHz as required by the FCC and IC. The Powercast DSSS signal allows devices to more easily reject the Powercast signal. Powercast has done empirical testing with mobile phones, Wi-Fi devices, and 915MHz transceivers and found no degradation in device performance at practical separation distances.
How much power does your transmitter use?
The 3W version of the TX91501 transmitter draws about 1.5W of energy from a wall outlet, which is less energy than a typical night-light. It would take 40 transmitters to have the same total power as a single 60W light bulb.
Is Powercast technology patented?
Yes. Powercast technology is covered by numerous patents.
Is Powercast technology safe?
Powercast technology is approved for use in the United States and Canada. Our technology is based on radio waves that are also generated by many commonly used, devices, including mobile phones, cordless phones, wireless sensors, security systems, etc. RF energy declines as the inverse square of the distance from the transmitter, meaning it declines rapidly. A typical mobile phone user will receive far more RF energy from their own mobile phone than they will from a properly installed Powercast transmitter.
Can Powercast technology transmit power through walls or other obstructions?
Radio waves pass through many types of materials, including walls. Walls and obstructions attenuate (or absorb) radio waves, and this will reduce the amount of energy available for reception. Radio waves reflect off of metal walls which greatly reduces or prohibits power transfer.
How does Powercast technology compare to induction-based charging solutions?
Typical induction charging solutions like charging pads and electric toothbrushes require that the power source and receiving device be in very close proximity to one another to transfer power efficiently, usually within millimeters, and is essentially zero distance. These types of solutions typically require special alignment and charging cradles. Powercast’s RF-based technology provides power-over-distance to one or more devices for low-power applications and does not directly compete with induction-based charging technologies.
Pittsburgh, PA — February 22, 2012 — Powercast Corporation, a provider of innovative wireless power technology, today announced its RF-based wireless power chipset and reference design for embedded, low-power, wireless charging applications. The chipset and reference design, available for license, will make it easy and more affordable for OEMs to embed Powercast’s core RF energy-harvesting technology into their battery-less, or rechargeable battery-based devices, enabling RF energy (radio waves) to perpetually power them. Powercast’s embedded technology will convert RF energy received from either dedicated RF transmitters or ambient sources (such as mobile phones) into DC power. This wireless, embedded power supply then powers or charges its devices from within, eliminating connectors, charging contacts, and the need to replace batteries. Applications include wireless sensors for remote monitoring, portable electronic devices, and other low-power devices.
The chipset and reference design enable OEMs to directly embed the same functionality provided by the company’s P1110 or P2110 Powerharvester® receivers, but with more flexibility in terms of footprint and frequency selection, and at significantly lower cost. The energy-harvesting reference design converts RF energy to DC down to -12dBm of input power over a frequency range from 1MHz to 6GHz, and provides an output up to 5V to either trickle-charge batteries, or power battery-less devices.
The chipset consists of Powercast’s three custom chips for RF-to-DC conversion and power management. The licensable reference design contains all design files needed to embed the Powerharvester functionality and 100 sample chipsets for prototyping. Customers may use any 1MHz to 6GHz RF transmitter of sufficient power with a properly-tuned Powerharvester receiver. For example, the P2110 design coupled with a 6 dBi receiving antenna receives power from up to 40 feet (12 meters) away from Powercast’s TX91501 3-watt RF transmitter.
As a predictable energy source, RF energy can provide automated charging, power-over-distance, one-to-many charging, and controllable wireless power (continuous, scheduled or on-demand) for zero-maintenance devices while eliminating charging cords and the need to replace batteries. Because Powercast’s energy-harvesting receiver can also be powered by existing UHF RFID readers, it can be used for stand-alone wireless charging applications, recharging battery-assisted passive RFID tags, or powering passive wireless sensor tags.
In some cases there is sufficient ambient power available from mobile phones, Wi-Fi routers, and mobile networks to operate low-power devices. With advances in lower-power electronics, and the emergence of 1-V-or-less MCUs, full ambient RF harvesting from mobile networks could eventually be ubiquitous. Powercast has demonstrated its P2110 Powerharvester harvesting ambient power from a nearby mobile phone and powering a battery-less, wireless sensor, as well as recharging devices such as a wireless mouse, keyboard, and game controller.
The reference design’s bill of material (BOM) cost, including the Powercast chipset, is estimated to be less than $2 per unit in high volumes. The chipset, part number PCC210, is available through Powercast’s global network of distributors. Customers should contact Powercast directly to discuss terms of the license agreement or custom engineering services. The design of Powercast’s TX91501 transmitter is also available for license.
About Powercast
Powercast Corporation is the leading provider of RF-based wireless power technologies for low-power applications. Powercast’s products and technologies provide wireless power over distance, eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, and enable devices to be powered or charged without wires and connectors. Contact Powercast on the web (www.www.powercastco.com), via phone (1.800.963.6538) or at 566 Alpha Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238.
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Editorial Note: A block diagram of the Powerharvester receiver is available:
https://www.powercastco.com/company/media-kit/
PR Contacts:
Harry Ostaffe
Vice President, Marketing and Business Development
Powercast Corporation
hostaffe@www.powercastco.com
+1 412-923-4774
Michelle Moody
Moody & Associates PR
michelle@moodypr.com
+1 214-363-3460
Powercast exhibited at the Sensors Expo 2011 and demonstrated using RF energy harvesting to wirelessly charge credit card size devices. The devices are representative of high function, rechargeable smart cards and contained rechargeable thin-film batteries – CYMBET EnerChip, Infinite Power Solutions THINERGY, and STMicroelectronics EnerFilm.
The video below shows the rechargeable smart card devices receiving charge from an RF transmitter. The transmitter was on the floor under the table.
For more wireless power videos visit Powercast’s channel on YouTube.
Pittsburgh, PA — April 20, 2011 — Powercast Corporation, a leader in RF-based wireless power and energy harvesting technology, today announced its Lifetime Power® Wireless Sensor System for wireless environmental monitoring in HVAC control and building automation. Remote radio frequency (RF) transmitters broadcast RF energy that perpetually powers wireless sensor nodes without batteries or wires.
The Powercast wireless sensor system is composed of three parts: a family of battery-less sensor nodes embedded with Powercast’s Powerharvester® receivers so they may be powered wirelessly, a WSG-101 Building Automation System (BAS) Gateway, and Powercast’s TX91501 Powercaster® transmitter.
The first of the family of sensor devices, available today, is the WSN-1001 Wireless Temperature and Humidity Sensor. Additional wirelessly-powered sensors to measure CO2, pressure, light level, motion and other conditions will follow shortly.
In the wireless powering system, a single transmitter or a network of them power multiple sensor devices. Powerharvester receivers embedded inside the sensor nodes receive RF energy up to 60-80 feet away from the Powercaster transmitters broadcasting radio waves at 915 MHz (a frequency commonly used in industrial and consumer devices). The receivers then convert the RF energy into DC current to power the sensors wirelessly, similar to RFID, but with longer range and greater functionality. Broadcasted RF energy can reach and power sensors even through walls, above ceilings, and behind objects, and provides a reliable and predictable energy source as opposed to pure ambient energy-harvesting technologies such as indoor solar, thermal, or vibration.
The WSG-101 BAS Gateway can scale up to 100 sensor nodes and 800 sensor points for large-scale deployment. The gateway interfaces to wired BAS networks via industry-standard protocols, including BACnet, Modbus, Metasys, and LonWorks. The sensors and gateway communicate wirelessly at 2.4GHz using 802.15.4 radios which users can set to channels that will not interfere with, nor be interfered by, Wi-Fi networks.
Powercast estimates that a battery-less, wirelessly-powered sensor system could save users 40-50% over the installed cost of wired sensors and controllers for building automation systems, and can also eliminate the future and repeated maintenance cost of battery replacement and disposal.
Powercast developed its wireless sensor system using the company’s core RF transmitter (Powercaster) and receiver (Powerharvester) energy-harvesting technology, and the other devices included in Powercast’s P2110-EVAL-01 Energy Harvesting Development Kit for Wireless Sensors. The receiver embedded in the sensor nodes is based on Powercast’s award-winning P2110 Powerharvester receiver, which is available for OEMs to design into their own products.
“Powercast’s wirelessly-powered sensors offer the long-term predictability of wired sensors with the deployment flexibility of battery-powered systems,” said Harry Ostaffe, vice president of marketing and business development at Powercast. “We look forward to its wide-scale deployment and to further adoption of our core wireless power technology by other sensor OEMs.”
The fully-installed cost of the Lifetime Power Wireless Sensor System, including all hardware (sensors, transmitters and BAS gateway) and labor, is estimated to be around $300 per node for typical, multi-node deployments. A starter kit (2 wireless temperature and humidity sensors, a transmitter and a BAS gateway) is available for $799.
About Powercast (www.www.powercastco.com)
Powercast Corporation is a leading innovator of RF energy harvesting and wireless power technology. Founded in 2003, Powercast’s proprietary core technology and related intellectual property pioneered the model for completely untethered electronic devices by transmitting and harvesting common radio waves similar to those in wireless communications. Powercast’s technologies eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, extend sensor networks into hard-to-service locations, and enable greater system efficiency in applications such as building automation and energy management.
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PR Contacts:
Harry Ostaffe
Vice President, Marketing and Business Development
Powercast Corporation
hostaffe@www.powercastco.com
+1 412-923-4774
Michelle Moody
Moody & Associates PR
michelle@moodypr.com
+1 214-363-3460
Pittsburgh, PA — March 29, 2011 — Powercast Corporation, a leader in RF-based wireless power and energy harvesting technology, today announced that Design News has named its P2110 Powerharvester® receiver as the 2011 Golden Mousetrap Best Product Winner in the category of wireless/mobile components.
The P2110 Powerharvester receiver converts radios waves (RF energy) into DC power for low-power, wireless applications such as remote monitoring, building automation, and real-time location systems. Embedded into electronic devices, the receiver provides wireless power to trickle charge batteries, eliminating the need to replace them, or it can power battery-free devices and eliminate batteries altogether. The receiver harvests RF energy from 850-950MHz and operates at 40-45 feet (12-14 meters) from a 3W transmitter using a reasonably-sized receiving antenna.
The P2110 can also harvest GSM signals from mobile phones in close proximity enabling a new class of battery-less devices for personal area networking. With the ability to receive power behind walls or other obstacles, the P2110 includes I/O for MCU control, data and RSSI output, and supports user-configurable, regulated output voltages up to 5.25V.
“The products highlighted in this year’s Golden Mousetrap winners and finalists clearly demonstrate both cutting-edge design ideas and the practical evolution of technologies for systems and product design engineers,” said David Greenfield, Design News Editorial Director. “Design News congratulates all the engineers and their companies who have been recognized with the Golden Mousetrap Award, and we are grateful for their contribution to this year’s competition.”
“We are honored that Design News has selected our P2110 RF energy harvesting component for this award,” said Harry Ostaffe, vice president of marketing and business development at Powercast. “This achievement recognizes our dedication to developing unique, wireless power solutions for low-power devices, enabling savings in labor costs, increased product reliability, device mobility, and user convenience.”
Broadcasted RF energy creates a predictable, controllable power source to provide power-over-distance and one-to-many charging. Unlike potentially unreliable or intermittent solar, heat or vibration micro-power energy sources, the P2110 Powerharvester receiver allows wireless devices to charge and operate completely untethered from the power source. This wireless power supply embeds within electronic devices such as wireless sensors and tracking tags, enabling them to be sealed, tamper-proof, water-proof, and more reliable. The resulting zero-maintenance devices can deploy to inaccessible or hazardous locations, and sensor networks can scale to thousands of nodes while eliminating the material and labor costs of battery replacement.
About Design News
Design News, founded in 1946, is the leading technical resource for design engineers, who create everything from planes, trains and automobiles to cellular phones, medical devices, and, just about every other product on the planet. For more information, visit: http://www.designnews.com/
About Powercast (www.www.powercastco.com)
Powercast Corporation is a leading innovator of RF energy harvesting and wireless power technology. Founded in 2003, Powercast’s proprietary core technology and related intellectual property pioneered the model for completely untethered electronic devices by transmitting and harvesting common radio waves similar to those in wireless communications. Powercast’s technologies eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, extend sensor networks into hard-to-service locations, and enable greater system efficiency in applications such as building automation and energy management.
# # #
PR Contacts:
Harry Ostaffe
Vice President, Marketing and Business Development
Powercast Corporation
hostaffe@www.powercastco.com
+1 412-923-4774
Michelle Moody
Moody & Associates PR
michelle@moodypr.com
+1 214-363-3460
Boston, MA — IDTechEx Energy Harvesting & Storage USA 2010 – November 16, 2010 — Powercast Corporation, a leader in RF-based wireless power and energy harvesting technology, today announced its Lifetime Power® Energy Harvesting Development Kit for Battery Charging. The kit features near-loss-less energy storage and efficient charging via the THINERGY® Micro-Energy Cell (MEC), a solid-state, rechargeable thin-film micro-battery from Infinite Power Solutions (IPS).
The Lifetime Power Energy Harvesting Development Kit for Battery Charging is composed of a 3-watt Powercaster™ transmitter, a P2110 Powerharvester® receiver evaluation board, a custom-designed battery-charging board, a 1mAh THINERGY MEC evaluation card and other accessories. The kit makes it easy to prototype and develop rechargeable battery-based micro-power systems such as wireless sensor networks that are reliably and perpetually powered by radio waves – eliminating the expense and hassle of traditional battery replacement. The Texas Instruments eZ430-RF2500 wireless development tool is also included as a demonstration application.
In the kit, Powercast’s 915 MHz RF transmitter and receiver energy-harvesting system broadcasts and then converts RF energy and stores it in a capacitor, which then provides a pulsed regulated voltage output to wirelessly trickle charge energy storage devices. Such devices include the paper-thin and long-life THINERGY MEC as well as other thin-film batteries, and traditional rechargeable batteries such as Alkaline, Lithium Ion, or Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH). When embedded into micro-power devices, such as wireless sensors, instrumentation and controls, the included receiver can charge batteries from more than 40 feet away from the included transmitter. Designers could also use other 850-950MHz RF transmitters as a source of energy for battery charging.
The kit offers multiple charging options via its custom battery-charging board, which allows the receiver to directly charge a THINERGY MEC, or connect to the THINERGY Application Development Platform (ADP) for enhanced measurement and analysis. The enhanced ADP firmware, available as a free download from IPS, can capture the voltage and current readings from the short charging pulses provided by the Powercast system. The kit’s custom charging board also features charge voltage selection, nano-amp low-voltage cut-off, adjustable regulated output voltage, and I/O interfaces for the P2110 Powerharvester receiver.
The included Powercaster transmitter is approved by the FCC (Part 15) and Industry Canada. It is designed for micro-power applications in the commercial, industrial, and defense markets such as remote monitoring (temperature/environmental/security) and building automation.
Broadcasted RF energy creates a perpetual power source, unlike potentially unreliable solar, heat or vibration energy sources, to provide power-over-distance, one-to-many charging, and controllable wireless power (continuous, scheduled or on-demand). A wireless power source enables zero-maintenance devices which deploy to inaccessible locations, and embeds within sealed devices for use in wet or harsh environments.
“Combining our THINERGY rechargeable MECs with Powercast’s RF energy harvesting system enables autonomous, self-powered, wireless systems for decades of maintenance-free operation,” says Tim Bradow, vice president of marketing for Infinite Power Solutions. “Offering compact design, compelling performance, and power efficiency, we have jointly created a miniature, low-cost, perpetual power supply for a variety of micro-electronic applications.”
The Lifetime Power Energy Harvesting Development Kit for Battery Charging is available today for $900 from Powercast’s distributors, Future Electronics and Mouser Electronics.
About Powercast (www.www.powercastco.com)
Powercast Corporation is a leading innovator of RF energy harvesting and wireless power technology. Founded in 2003, Powercast’s proprietary core technology and related intellectual property pioneered the model for completely untethered electronic devices by transmitting and harvesting common radio waves similar to those in wireless communications. Powercast’s technologies eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, extend sensor networks into hard-to-service locations, and enable greater system efficiency in applications such as building automation and energy management.
About Infinite Power Solutions (www.InfinitePowerSolutions.com)
Infinite Power Solutions, Inc. (IPS)—a U.S. clean-technology company—is a global leader in manufacturing solid-state, rechargeable, thin-film micro-energy storage devices. Founded in 2001, IPS is privately held with corporate headquarters and volume manufacturing in Littleton, Colo. The company is the only ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of solid-state, thin-film batteries, and its energy storage products provide unrivalled performance, size and service life to displace conventional coin cells, supercapacitors, and other micro-batteries in a variety of applications. THINERGY® Micro-Energy Cell (MEC) and INFINERGY® Micro Power Module (MPM) products provide unprecedented efficiency in micro-energy storage and uniquely enable ambient energy-harvesting solutions to create miniature, autonomous, perpetual power supplies.
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Editorial Note: Downloadable photos are available from https://www.powercastco.com/company/media-kit/.
PR Contacts:
Harry Ostaffe
Director, Marketing and Business Development
Powercast Corporation
hostaffe@www.powercastco.com
+1 412-923-4774
Michelle Moody
Moody & Associates PR
michelle@moodypr.com
+1 214-363-3460
Terri Sundseth
Marketing Associate
Infinite Power Solutions
tsundseth@IPSbatteries.com
+1 303-475-5616
CHANDLER, Ariz., Oct. 26, 2010 [NASDAQ: MCHP] — Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller, analog and Flash-IP solutions, and Powercast Corporation, a leader in RF-based wireless power and energy harvesting technology, today announced the Lifetime Power® Energy Harvesting Development Kit for Wireless Sensors featuring PIC® microcontrollers with eXtreme Low Power (XLP) Technology. This kit, composed of a 3-watt Powercaster™ transmitter as the power source, two P2110 Powerharvester® receiver evaluation boards, two custom-designed wireless sensor boards, the XLP 16-bit Development Board pre-loaded with jointly developed application software, an IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver and other accessories, makes it easy to demonstrate and develop smart-energy, wireless-sensor applications that are reliably and perpetually powered by radio waves—eliminating the need for a battery. The included transmitter can wirelessly power sensor devices from more than 40 feet away.
The main challenges for the designers of wireless sensor applications fall into the categories of power, location and wireless communication. Combining Powercast’s RF transmitter and receiver energy-harvesting system, which broadcasts and converts RF energy into DC power, with Microchip’s XLP PIC microcontrollers, which provide the industry’s lowest power consumption in active and sleep modes, solves all three of these design challenges.
Power
Powercast’s RF energy harvesting system provides predictable and reliable power, using broadcasted RF energy for wire- and battery-free operation, or to wirelessly charge battery-based systems. In the Lifetime Power kit, the Powercaster transmitter broadcasts RF energy to the Powerharvester receiver, which can be embedded into an OEM’s micro-power device. The receiver then converts the RF energy and presents it as a regulated power supply to Microchip’s PIC24F microcontroller. The recently announced Powercast transmitter included in the kit is approved by the FCC (Part 15) and Industry Canada.
Location
Using broadcasted RF energy as the application’s sole power source allows for untethered and battery-free operation in hazardous or inaccessible locations, which would otherwise require labor-intensive or potentially dangerous battery maintenance. Additionally, broadcasted RF energy is controllable (can be scheduled, continuous or on-demand) and works in locations where other potentially intermittent energy-harvesting sources (e.g., solar, vibration and heat) make them unreliable.
Wireless Communication
Microchip’s configurable MiWi™ and MiWi P2P stacks are efficient and save power by enabling only the most essential wireless communication features. In addition to these proprietary Microchip protocols, the kit’s included MRF24J40 IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver also supports Microchip’s ZigBee stacks. From a functional standpoint, Microchip’s RF transceiver allows for continual readings of sensor data, portability and much easier installation than wired communication provides.
In addition to solving these three major challenges, the Lifetime Power kit provides modular development with Microchip’s included XLP 16-bit Development Board. This flexible platform allows customization for developing applications, and enables faster evaluation, prototyping and time to market.
Availability and Pricing
The Lifetime Power Energy Harvesting Development Kit for Wireless Sensors is available today for $1250 from Powercast’s distributors, including microchipDIRECT.
About Powercast (http://www.microchip.com/get/BBG0)
Powercast Corporation is a leading innovator of RF energy harvesting and wireless power technology. Founded in 2003, Powercast’s proprietary core technology and related intellectual property pioneered the model for completely untethered electronic devices by transmitting and harvesting common radio waves similar to those in wireless communications. Powercast’s technologies eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, extend sensor networks into hard-to-service locations, and enable greater system efficiency in applications such as building automation and energy management.
About Microchip Technology
Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontroller, analog and Flash-IP solutions, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at http://www.microchip.com/get/A41W.
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Note: The Microchip name and logo, and PIC are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the USA and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.
High-res Photo Available Through Flickr or Editorial Contact (feel free to publish): http://www.microchip.com/get/5AHX
Tags / Keywords: Energy Harvesting, RF, Perpetual Power, Wireless Power, Battery-Free, Energy Efficiency, Low Power, Microcontroller, PIC, Microchip, MCHP, World’s Lowest Power, Development Kit, Energy Scavenging, Self-powered, Smart Energy, wireless sensor, wireless sensor networks, ambient energy, alternative energy, XLP, extreme low power, ultra low power, Powercast, Powerharvester, WSN
RSS Feed for Microchip Product News: http://www.microchip.com/get/80HSAbout Powercast (http://www.microchip.com/get/BBG0)
PR Contacts:
Microchip Technology Inc.
Eric Lawson
+1 480-792-7182
eric.lawson@microchip.com
Powercast Corporation
Harry Ostaffe
Director, Marketing and Business Development
+1 412-923-4774
hostaffe@www.powercastco.com
Powercast Transmitter Sends Power, Data for RF Energy Harvesting & Wireless Power Systems
Transmitter and receiver combo wirelessly charge and operate micro-power devices.
Pittsburgh, PA — October 19, 2010 — Powercast Corporation, a leader in RF-based wireless power and energy harvesting technology, today announced availability of its TX91501 Powercaster™ Transmitter which uses the 915-MHz ISM band to transmit common radio waves for power and data in commercial, industrial and defense applications. As the power source for Powercast’s RF energy-harvesting wireless power solution, the TX91501 broadcasts power and data over 40 feet to its companion Powerharvester® receivers. Embedded into micro-power devices such as wireless sensors, instrumentation and controls, the Powerharvester receivers convert the received RF energy into DC power for battery-free operation or to wirelessly trickle charge batteries. The receivers also output the data broadcast from the TX91501 as well as the received signal strength indication (RSSI).
Initial versions of the TX91501 transmitter will broadcast a unique ID for device authentication or location-tracking applications, while future versions will also transmit data such as timestamps for end-device synchronization and control.
Powercast’s TX91501 transmitter is approved by the FCC (Part 15) and Industry Canada. It can be used to broadcast RF energy for both power and data in numerous energy-harvesting applications such as environmental monitoring, building automation, energy management and industrial monitoring.
The RF signal uses Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) modulation for power and Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) modulation for data. The TX91501 is available in versions with an output of 1 watt or 3 watts Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP).
The 6.75” H x 6.25” W x 1.63” D transmitter includes an integrated 8dBi directional antenna with a 60-degree beam pattern, and the unit mounts easily on either vertical or horizontal surfaces using one of two DC power jacks (bottom or back) and multiple mounting holes. The TX91501 operates immediately when powered on and requires no user configuration or programming. An internal shut-off mechanism automatically stops transmission when objects come close to the device, and an LED indicates transmission status.
Broadcasted RF energy creates a perpetual power source, unlike potentially unreliable solar, heat or vibration energy sources, to provide power-over-distance, one-to-many charging, and controllable wireless power (continuous, scheduled or on-demand). A wire- and battery-free power source enables zero-maintenance devices which deploy to inaccessible locations, and embeds within sealed devices for use in wet or harsh environments.
The 1-watt ($235) and 3-watt ($300) versions of theTX91501 Powercaster transmitter are available through Powercast’s authorized distributors.
About Powercast (www.www.powercastco.com)
Powercast Corporation is a leading innovator of RF energy harvesting and wireless power technology. Founded in 2003, Powercast’s proprietary core technology and related intellectual property pioneered the model for completely untethered electronic devices by transmitting and harvesting common radio waves similar to those in wireless communications. Powercast’s technologies eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, extend sensor networks into hard-to-service locations, and enable greater system efficiency in applications such as building automation and energy management.
Editorial Note: Downloadable photos are available from https://www.powercastco.com/company/media-kit/.
PR Contacts:
Harry Ostaffe
Director, Marketing and Business Development
Powercast Corporation
hostaffe@www.powercastco.com
+1 412-923-4774
Michelle Moody
Moody & Associates PR
michelle@moodypr.com
+1 214-363-3460
Powercast to Demonstrate RF-Powered, Battery-Free Wireless Sensor Module at Sensors Expo 2010
Wireless Sensor Module, jointly developed by Powercast and Microchip Technology, showcases RF energy harvesting and low power processing and communications.
Pittsburgh, PA — June 7, 2010 — Powercast Corporation, a technology leader in the field of RF-based wireless power and energy harvesting, will participate as an exhibitor at the Sensors Expo & Conference on June 7-9, 2010 . At the event, Powercast will be demonstrating a battery-free wireless sensor module powered by RF energy and designed for extremely low power consumption. The sensor module provides temperature, light level, and humidity data to an access point, along with the received signal strength (RSSI) and the ID number of the Powercaster™ transmitter from which it is receiving power.
Powercast recently released the P1110 and P2110 Powerharvester™ Receivers, which are capable of converting radio waves in the range of 850-950 MHz into DC power. The demonstration sensor module uses the P2110 Powerharvester receiver to store the received energy into a capacitor, and then performs a voltage boost to supply the module components with a regulated voltage. Both the P1110 and P2110 enable a microcontroller to determine the signal strength of the received power, as well as to recover low-rate data encoded in the power broadcasted from the power transmitter.
Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP), a leading supplier of low power MCUs, provided software and hardware development support for both the sensor module and the access point. The devices use PIC® microcontrollers featuring XLP eXtreme Low Power technology, and the MRF24J40MA agency-certified IEEE 802.15.4™ radio module, resulting in high-performance, low power processing and communications. Microchip’s MiWi™ P2P protocol provides the reliable, short-duration messaging required for the optimal performance of the harvesting system.
“We see great potential in the use of energy harvesting to power a growing network of low-power wireless devices,” said Jason Tollefson, a product marketing manager at Microchip. “The sensor module developed with Powercast, using Microchip’s XLP technology, is a unique and powerful demonstration of using radio waves as an on-demand source of energy for a battery-free wireless sensor.”
Harry Ostaffe, Director of Marketing and Business Development for Powercast, will also be delivering two presentations during the event. During the pre-conference symposium on June 7, 2010, he will speak on “Design Techniques for RF Energy Harvesting Devices.” During the main conference on June 8, 2010, he will also present “Power Out of Thin Air: Ambient RF Energy Harvesting for Wireless Sensors.”
Powercast’s exhibit and wireless sensor demonstration will be located at Booth 1022 in the exhibition hall.
About Powercast (www.www.powercastco.com)
Powercast Corporation is a leading innovator of RF energy harvesting and wireless power technology. Founded in 2003, Powercast’s proprietary core technology and related intellectual property pioneered the model for completely untethered electronic devices by transmitting and harvesting common radio waves similar to those in wireless communications. Powercast’s technologies eliminate or reduce the need for batteries, extend sensor networks into hard-to-service locations, and enable greater system efficiency in applications such as building automation and energy management.
About Microchip (www.microchip.com)
Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) provides low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of eXtreme Low Power applications. From low power Analog, RF and Memory devices, to more than 75 PIC® Microcontrollers featuring XLP Technology and peripherals like LCD and USB, as well as over 600 more that offer integration such as Ethernet, Graphics and Capacitive Touch Sensing, our devices along with our free software and tools, provide a custom fit in your energy harvesting design.
Note: The Microchip name and logo, and PIC are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the USA and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.
Contact:
Powercast
Harry Ostaffe
Director, Marketing & Business Development
+1 412-923-4774
hostaffe@www.powercastco.com
