Lightricity and NICHICON Unveil Ultra Low Power IoT Touch Switch for Energy Harvesting Applications

Lightricity and NICHICON Unveil Ultra Low Power IoT Touch Switch for Energy Harvesting Applications

Lightricity, a provider of indoor PV technology, and NICHICON, a company specializing in electrical components, develop a sustainable, ultra-low power IoT touch switch. Lightricity’s ultra-high efficiency indoor PV cells and NICHICON’s long-life rechargeable LTO batteries enable perpetual operation on harvested indoor light energy with months of run-time in the dark.

Key features and benefits

A sustainable, ultra-low power IoT touch switch (‘4EverSwitch’) powered by Lightricity’s patented ultra-high efficiency indoor photovoltaic (PV) cells and NICHICON’s long-life Lithium Titanate rechargeable LTO battery also known as SLB series, provides extended run-time and can be left in the dark for months whilst remaining operable.

The 4EverSwitch is fully wireless, leveraging its self-powered functionality and BLE connectivity. This design choice simplifies installation, accelerates setup, and reduces costs. Additionally, it significantly diminishes the carbon footprint by minimizing material usage and negating the need for primary batteries.

A touch on the detection area triggers a BLE signal which can trigger various actions, from illuminating a light bulb to the opening of a door or automating industrial machinery. In zero-light conditions, a NICHICON LTO battery ensures extended run-time.

The 4EverSwitch comes in a compact (30 x 30 x 7 mm) form factor and is powered by PV energy harvested with Lightricity’s proprietary, miniaturized indoor PV cell, far smaller than any other indoor PV technology. It is designed to operate from a light level as low as 100 lux to bright ambient light conditions of over 1000 lux. By integrating PV energy harvesting technology, maintenance time and costs associated with battery recharge or replacement are eliminated. The SLB series is a battery developed for IoT applications, with high power output required for wireless communications, a long cycle life that is significantly different from that of ordinary Li-ion batteries, and the ability to be charged by weak current from PV. The combination of these two technologies has made it possible to realize an ultra-compact and maintenance-free system.

Performance

The 4EverSwitch was developed to be compatible with two indoor PV component sizes: Lightricity EXL4040 (4 x 4 mm) and EXL5050 (5 x 5 mm); and two models of NICHICON LTO batteries low capacity SLB03070LR35 (0.35 mAh) and medium capacity SLB03090LR80 (0.8 mAh).

Typical lighting conditions for various indoor environments:

LocationParking/GarageLiving roomOfficeSupermarket
Lux Level50/1002005001000

Estimated runtime with 80% of SOC usage of NICHICON SLB battery during no-light conditions:

Battery typeNICHICON low capacity


SLB03070LR35 (0.35mAh)

NICHICON medium capacity


SLB03090LR80 (0.8mAh)

Expected runtime in days40+ days110+ days


Nichicon

  • Country: United States
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