IPS-EVAL-EH-01: Thin Film Battery, Solar Charger

This user manual describes the configuration and use of the IPS-EVAL-EH-01 Energy Harvesting Evaluation Kit.

This kit allows the user to efficiently store harvested energy in the board mounted, industry leading THINERGY® MEC201 Micro-Energy Cell (MEC) available from Infinite Power Solutions, Inc. (IPS). The THINERGY MEC201 is the ideal energy storage device for deeply embedded applications that require the lowest cost of ownership with a battery that can accept minute amounts of harvested energy while lasting the lifetime of the application.

The printed circuit board assembly incorporates a THINERGY MEC201 (see reference [1]), the Maxim MAX17710 integrated power management IC for battery and load management, and a Sanyo/Amorton amorphous silicon solar panel. This self-charging, self-regulated platform provides an example of an energy harvesting and storage system intended to be used with
autonomously powered wireless systems.

The IPS-EVAL-EH-01 board can be easily connected to a target system, such as a microcontroller or wireless demonstration kit, to create a stand-alone system that does not require external power or replacement of batteries.