Power Supply Solution for IoT Sensor devices
Toward a world without need for battery replacement
Fujikura DSSCs
(Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells)
The cost and labor entailed in battery replacement in sensor devices is an important issue for IoT adoption
Streamlining and automation initiatives utilizing IoT sensing are being promoted in various scene all around us. Typical examples are smart meters being installed in recent years. Real-time reading of each household's consumption is creating new services.
While cheap, easy-to-install sensor devices for proof of concept are battery-powered, when it comes to commercial application, the battery replacement cost becomes big issues in adoption.
Fujikura DSSCs solve these problems
Fujikura DSSCs make battery-less sensor devices a reality. The time and effort associated with battery replacement is becoming more noticeable as IoT sensing expands, its applications become more diverse, and the number of sensor devices increases. DSSCs, which are able to generate power in all environments, can be employed in a wide array of situations.
We hope they will help you to address the challenges you face.
Usage scenarios
As IoT devices installation expands and their numbers increase, initial installation costs and post-adoption battery replacement costs are drastically reduced.
Infrastructure monitoring
Office environment
Asset Tracking
Greenhouses
Smart meters
Use Case
For example…
When applying to smart meters
Owing to its ability to generate electricity without direct sunlight, it can be installed even in shaded areas of the house.
It helps extend battery life or increase power consumption as an auxiliary power source for batteries.
Possible benefits of employing DSSC
figure: You can install it even in places not exposed to direct sunlight
For example, considering the communication device used in smart meters, DSSC is a suitable power source for them because they are generally used in the following way.
・ Installed in a place out of direct sunlight
・ Operates for a long term with tiny power consumption
Case Study
In the case of communication device operation under the following conditions
2,400mAh lithium thionyl chloride battery x 2 pieces
Battery life: 10 years
Battery usage efficiency: 80%
Simulate if the batteries are replaceable to DSSC
FDSC-FSC5FGC (dimension 44.0 X 85.0 mm): 1 piece
Simulation result (See figure on the right)
DSSC would be able to cover the amount of power consumption even at 2,000 lx all day under a thick cloud.
Please refer "How to use the energy balance calculation simulator" for how to read the results.
Sensor batteries
Temperature
Humidity
Illuminance
Pressure
sensing
CO2
Acceleration
Magnetism
Air flow
Fujikura DSSC Features
IoT sensor devices are characterized by utilization in every kind of location imaginable.
For this reason, any power source that aims to replace batteries must be able to generate power in any kind of location.
DSSCs are optimal devices for supplying power to IoT sensor devices because in addition to being able to generate power over a wide range of lighting and temperature conditions, their incorporation into sensor devices makes installation easy.
Capable of generating electricity anywhere in the living environment
Feature 1:
High power generation over a wide range of lighting conditions
Capable of generating electricity anywhere: in sunlight, in shade, in bad weather, indoors, etc.
Feature 2:
High power generation over a wide range of temperatures
Capable of supplying electricity from -30°C to +60°C, an even wider range than normal batteries can deliver
Sensor devices with built in DSSCs are easy to install
Feature 3:
Can be installed without regard to the position of the light source
Since power can be generated from scattered light, there is no need to make sure the cells are oriented toward the light source
Feature 4:
It is okay for part of the DSSC to be in shadow
These cells avoid the problems that most multiple series solar cells can experience due to shadows
Feature 5:
Durable enough to be used both indoors and outdoors
While durability is said to be an issue with DSSCs, our cells are durable enough for long-term power supply without needing to worry about installation location
Feature :
Capable of generating electricity anywhere in the living environment
High power generation over a wide range of lighting conditions
Capable of generating electricity anywhere: in sunlight, shade, poor weather conditions, indoors, etc.
High power generation over a wide range of temperatures
Capable of supplying electricity from -30°C to +60°C , an even wider range than normal batteries can deliver
Feature : Devices with built in DSSCs are easy to install
No need to consider the position of the light source
Since power can be generated from scattered light, there is no need to make sure the cells are oriented toward the light source
It is okay for part of the DSSC to be in shadow
These cells avoid the problems that multiple series solar cells can experience due to shadows
This video shows an experiment that places part of the DSSC in shadow -> There was almost no drop in power output like that which was observed for multiple series solar cells in the same experiment. (The figure at right shows power fluctuation)
Durable enough to be used both indoors and outdoors
While durability is said to be an issue with DSSCs, our cells are durable enough for long-term power supply without considering installation location
| Test Cases | |
|---|---|
| Temperature cycle test | -40 to 90 ℃, 200 cycles |
| Temperature and humidity cycle test | -40 to 85 ℃, 85%RH, 10 cycles |
| High-temperature high-humidity test | 85 ℃, 85%RH, 1000 hrs |
| Light irradiation test | AM 1.5G 1000W/㎡, 40℃, 500 hrs |
| Model test | Terminal strength test, vibration/shock/drop test, overcurrent application test |
Product Specifications
Product name:
FDSC-FSC7FGC
External dimensions: 70.0 x 92.0 mm
Thickness dimension: 2.5 mm
| Unit | Typical value | Specification | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Operation Power Point (Pm) | μW | 340 | >= 243 | at White LED 200 lx, Ambient temperature: 23℃ |
| Operating Current (Iop) at 0.38 V | μA | 796 | >= 569 | |
| Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) | V | 0.58 | 0.45 – 0.65 |
Product name:
FDSC-FSC4FGC
External dimensions: 56.0 x 112.0 mm
Thickness dimension: 2.5 mm
| Unit | Typical value | Specification | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Operation Power Point (Pm) | μW | 300 | >= 214 | at White LED 200 lx, Ambient temperature: 23℃ |
| Operating Current (Iop) at 0.38 V | μA | 776 | >= 554 | |
| Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) | V | 0.50 | 0.45 – 0.65 |
Product name:
FDSC-FSC5FGC
External dimensions: 44.0 x 85.0 mm
Thickness dimension: 2.5 mm
| Unit | Typical value | Specification | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Operation Power Point (Pm) | μW | 165 | >= 117 | at White LED 200 lx, Ambient temperature: 23℃ |
| Operating Current (Iop) at 0.38 V | μA | 425 | >= 304 | |
| Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) | V | 0.50 | 0.45 – 0.65 |
Product name:
FDSC-FSC12FGC
External dimensions: 23.9 x 62.3 mm
Thickness dimension: 2.5 mm
| Unit | Typical value | Specification | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Operation Power Point (Pm) | μW | 45 | >= 32 | at White LED 200 lx, Ambient temperature: 23℃ |
| Operating Current (Iop) at 0.38 V | μA | 117 | >= 83 | |
| Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) | V | 0.50 | 0.45 – 0.65 |
Product name:
FDSC-FSC10FGC
External dimensions: 39.9 x 35.0 mm
Thickness dimension: 2.5 mm
| Unit | Typical value | Specification | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Operation Power Point (Pm) | μW | 42 | >= 30 | at White LED 200 lx, Ambient temperature: 23℃ |
| Operating Current (Iop) at 0.38 V | μA | 108 | >= 77 | |
| Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) | V | 0.50 | 0.45 – 0.65 |
Design support for switching to DSSC power supply
Combining a DSSC with a power supply IC or a power storage device makes it possible to eliminate the battery from a battery-powered IoT sensing device.
Using a recommended power supply IC suitable for the Fujikura DSSC enables stable electrical power to be supplied. See the table below for the amount of electrical energy that can be supplied.
Recommended power supply IC
Boost Converter
| Manufacturer | Device No. |
|---|---|
| Analog Devices | ADP5090 ADP5091 LTC3105 |
| Texas Instruments | bq25504 bq25505 |
| e-peas | AEM10941 |
Step-up/Down Converter
| Manufacturer | Device No. |
|---|---|
| Analog Devices | LTC3106 |
| Texas Instruments | bq25570 |
Estimated electrical energy supplied
(Model number: FDSC-FSC4FGC)
| Dim indoor areas 200 lx ×12 hr/day |
Bright indoor areas 1,000 lx ×12 hr/day |
Dark shadows (outdoor) 5,000 lx ×12 hr/day |
Light shadows (outdoor) 10,000lx ×12 hr/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 mWh/day | 13.7 mWh/day | 63.3 mWh/day | 107.1 mWh/day |
All-in-one power module kit
It is essential to integrate power management IC and electricity storage device to utilize DSSC. However it is time consuming and bothering to evaluate individual parts and to design and assemble the circuit board. To solve this challenge, Fujikura released the compact and all-in-one power module kit for light energy harvesting evaluation. This kit provides DC 3 V output and can easily be replaced with primary batteries to drive IoT devices.
We collaboratively developed this kit together with NGK Insulators, a storage device maker, and e-peas, a power management IC maker.
Visit our news release for your reference.
| Product brief | |
|---|---|
| Output voltage | 3 V |
| Dimensions | 44 x 85 mm |
| Plate thickness | 4.5 mm |
| Battery capacity | 100mWh (27mAh) |
| DSSC | FDSC-FSC5FGC |
| Solar power generation | 165μW under white LED 200lx |
Downloads
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