Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (SSS) recently made waves when they revealed a revolutionary energy harvesting module that taps electromagnetic wave noise energy, marking a breakthrough in sustainable power supply technology. Utilizing technology developed during SSS’s tuner development process, this innovative energy harvesting module efficiently generates power from electromagnetic wave noise noise while at the same time opening up opportunities to power low energy IoT sensors and communication devices, solving one of IoT’s key challenges.
At the core of this module is technology designed to harness electromagnetic wave noise generated by electronic devices ranging from robots in factories and office monitors, lighting systems and TVs into an endless source of power for IoT sensors and communication equipment.
Sony’s energy harvesting module provides an efficient solution to power an expanding IoT landscape and meet diverse power requirements of connected devices, revolutionizing numerous applications while contributing to creating an eco-friendly society driven by IoT technology.
Energy harvesting, the practice of harnessing various forms of ambient energy such as electrical waves, light, heat and vibration to power IoT innovation while mitigating environmental impacts, is becoming an increasingly important trend. Sony’s latest breakthrough utilizes electromagnetic wave noise created by nearly all electrical equipment as an energy source – providing it with an effective universally applicable source.
At its core, this energy harvesting module utilizes advanced antenna technology developed during tuner development at SSS. Ingeniously using metal parts from electronic devices as antennae and employing a rectifier circuit with enhanced electricity conversion efficiency, this unique combination allows electromagnetic wave noise between several Hz to 100MHz to be converted to electrical energy which powers IoT sensors or communication devices or recharge batteries in compact form factors – an industry first.
This module’s minimalist design showcases its inherent simplicity; composed of only essential components. Not only is this simple approach efficient in energy conversion but it also allows it to fit seamlessly into various environments.
One of the striking characteristics of this technology is its capacity to capture energy from electronic devices even when they are no longer actively being used, setting it apart from other energy harvesting methods that rely on factors like sunlight, electrical waves or temperature differences which can often change due to environmental conditions. Therefore, this module enables uninterrupted harvesting both indoors and outdoors such as factories, offices stores or homes.
Furthermore, this technology goes beyond simply power generation; it also has the capacity to detect changes in harvested voltage that indicate device internal status – opening up various applications like monitoring lighting systems or anticipating device failure in robots with built-in motors.
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation’s latest energy harvesting module marks an exceptional advance in sustainable energy technology. By turning electromagnetic wave noise into usable power sources, this module promises to revolutionize IoT solutions by providing efficient, continuous and versatile power solutions suitable for multiple applications. As IoT continues its rapid expansion, innovations such as these provide key contributions towards creating an even more connected and sustainable future.
How to generate power from electromagnetic wave noise
Generating power from electromagnetic wave noise is a complex process, which involves harvesting ambient electromagnetic interference (EMI) or noise and turning it into usable electrical energy. Here is an outline of this energy harvesting procedure:
Antenna Design: When it comes to antenna design, one should focus on creating an antenna system capable of efficiently collecting electromagnetic wave noise. The design will depend on your target frequency range and type of noise sources you intend to harvest energy from.
Electromagnetic Wave Reception: Position the antenna near electronic devices or sources of electromagnetic interference such as electrical equipment, appliances, computers, lighting or more – to capture ambient EMI levels. The antenna will capture this ambient noise.
Rectification: Use a rectifier circuit to convert the alternating current (AC) generated by an antenna into direct current (DC), suitable for charging batteries or powering electronic devices. A rectifier typically includes diodes or transistors in its design.
Energy Storage: Store the harvested energy in capacitors, batteries or supercapacitors to provide a steady power source when electromagnetic noise sources intermittently interfere with electromagnetic fields.
Voltage Regulation and Management: Use voltage regulator and management circuits to maintain an output voltage suitable for powering IoT sensors, communication equipment or other low-power devices.
Energy Conversion Efficiency: Optimize the rectifier and energy storage system to achieve maximum energy conversion efficiency, which includes minimizing losses during conversion process to increase overall performance and efficiency.
Monitoring and Control: For efficient energy harvesting, monitor and control mechanisms should be employed. Such systems can monitor changes to voltage levels or device statuses to enable applications such as fault detection or predictive maintenance.
Application-Specific Integration: Integrate energy harvesting systems into specific applications, such as IoT sensors, communication devices or electronics that require reliable power sources.
Designing an efficient electromagnetic wave noise energy harvesting system requires expertise in electrical engineering, antenna design and energy management. Furthermore, their effectiveness depends on various factors, including proximity to noise sources, strength of electromagnetic interference and harvesting technology chosen.
Sony’s energy harvesting module, as noted in the text, utilizes a unique rectifier circuit and antenna design to efficiently convert electromagnetic wave noise into electrical energy, offering great potential to power low-powered Internet of Things devices or monitor equipment status in a variety of settings.
