Suppresses the voltage drop of the battery when no power is generated

Energy Harvesting

The low-power consumption comparators of Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (AKM) provide long-term storage of rechargeable batteries to prevent over-discharging.

While electronic devices with rechargeable batteries are stored in stock, the battery level gradually decreases due to the standby current of the electronic devices.

If the battery is stored for a long period of time in stock, the secondary battery may be over discharged due to a decrease in the remaining battery capacity, causing the secondary battery to deteriorate.

The use of AKM's energy harvesting IC suppresses the drop in the remaining capacity of rechargeable batteries and realizes long-term stock storage.

Risk of long-term storage of secondary batteries

In a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery, if the battery capacity drops to less than 0%, a state called "over-discharge" may occur, causing deterioration of the secondary battery. In particular, electronic devices that consume less power, such as small IoT sensors, often use small-capacity rechargeable batteries. Therefore, the risk of over-discharging the rechargeable batteries increases as the remaining battery capacity gradually decreases due to long-term stock storage.

Prevents over-discharge and over-voltage of secondary batteries with a mere 52nA

AKM's Energy Harvesting IC includes two channels of low-power comparators with a mere 26nA operating current. This allows one channel to protect against over-discharge of the secondary battery while the other protects against over voltage. The total operating current is also as small as 52nA* on two channels, which is effective in suppressing the self-discharge of the secondary batteries.

* Total 52nA achieved by using 2 channels of IC built-in comparator 26nA

Prevents over-discharge and over-voltage of secondary batteries with a mere 52nA

Product lineup with differing comparator thresholds

The threshold for over-voltage and over-discharge of the secondary battery varies depending on the type. Not only rechargeable batteries but also lithium-ion capacitors (LIC) and EDLC (Electric Double-Layer Capacitor) are used in some cases, and the required thresholds are different. AKM is developing a lineup of products with differing thresholds.

Lineup

Please check this attractive energy harvesting IC lineup of AKM.

Check the details.