Sponsored Content: How EnerCera is Making Maintenance-Free a Possibility – Spurring Innovation Through Collaboration
Recently, a solution that can clear this list has emerged. Through constant development and improvement, NGK’s EnerCera batteries have achieved the requirements to become a viable power source for maintenance-free solutions.
EnerCera battery has the unique characteristics of both Lithium‐ion rechargeable batteries and capacitors. EnerCera is in smart tags and smart cards, as well as sensor-equipped wearable devices. Progress is being made on sample evaluations at over six hundred companies worldwide.
At electronica 2022, the company introduced some collaboration showcases of their EnerCera batteries together with partners.
NGK is actively working on collaboration for various applications in which EnerCera can potentially add new value, such as through its product design or the realization of maintenance-free. As NGK Europe’s Vice President, Dr. Stefan Fischer commented: “NGK Europe is working with our partners in implementing such technologies into innovative applications to create new value for our society.” These new collaborations were highlighted at electronica 2022.
Enabling maintenance-free IoT applications through WPT
NGK’s collaboration cases using EnerCera combined with WPT (Wireless Power Transfer) show a wide range of potential applications. These included smart logistics sensor tags developed with Panasonic Corporation, sensor remote controllers for smarts home with SMK Corporation, WPT receiver development kit with Torex semiconductor and Ossia Inc., and many more.
One notable example of collaboration is with Energous Corporation, developer of RF-based charging for wireless power networks, together with e-peas SA, which develops and markets ultra-low power semiconductor technology. Their WattUP PowerBridge transmitter has received U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Part 15 grant of equipment authorization. Also, the European Notified Body verified that the Energous WattUp PowerHub wireless charging transmitter complies with European technical requirements for radio equipment. This enables unlimited use case, over-the-air wireless charging to be launched in Europe.
Combining NGK’s batteries with the award-winning WPT technology enables over-the-air power to recharge batteries. EnerCera batteries realize maintenance-free IoT applications, eliminating battery replacement and cumbersome power cables.
The system works in the following way: the transmitter emits radio waves, while the antenna harvests the energy from these electromagnetic waves generating a very small charging current. This is one of the key features of EnerCera battery. With low leakage current, low self-discharge, EnerCera enables continuous charging with small charging currents like 1mA and makes this device essentially maintenance-free, meaning no need to charge the device.
Energy Harvesting – towards carbon-neutral solutions
In another collaboration, NGK is working with Exeger Operations AB, Tachibana Electronic Solution Co., Ltd., and Semtech Corporation, to develop a maintenance-free indoor/outdoor position tracker that is high-precision, ultra-thin and highly compact.
This GPS tracker is a combination with Exeger’s Powerfoyle, a flexible solar panel that can also harvest light. Through charging EnerCera continuously, the GPS tracker becomes maintenance-free. Therefore, it can be installed both indoors or outdoors, and can be optimized to work even in very low light settings. It can be applied to other applications like positioning tracking in storage facilities and container shipyards.
EnerCera, everywhere
The key features of EnerCera include that it is extremely lightweight, the ability to use a very small charging current, and that it does not have the drawbacks of fire hazards like normal lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. Through the ceramic based semi-solid-state battery technology, the battery will not ignite even if you punch a nail through it. This severely reduces the limitations for storage and transport which are usually present for lithium-ion batteries.
Future possibilities for EnerCera seem limitless. Potential collaborations going forward could include cold-chain management for foods, wines, vaccines, and other similar requirements, monitoring systems to protect children and the elderly or manage the activities of office personnel, or wireless sensors and devices for smart home applications and intelligent buildings, etc.
More and more maintenance-free devices will be required in the future, meaning EnerCera has the potential to be everywhere – especially if NGK continues to be pro-active in building new technological solutions together with its partners.
NGK Insulators – 2-56, Suda-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, JAPAN.
NGK EUROPE – Westerbachstrasse 32, D-61476 Kronberg im Taunus, GERMANY.
NGK ELECTRONICS USA – 2520 Mission College Boulevard, Suite 104, Santa Clara, California 95054, USA.