Next Generation Energy-Harvesting Electronics - holistic approach 1763
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Abstract
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Organisations
- University of Bristol (Lead Research Organisation)
- Newcastle University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON (Collaboration)
- Mentor Graphics Europe (Project Partner)
- ARM (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- NXP Semiconductors (Project Partner)
- Qinetiq (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Diodes (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications
Beeby S
(2013)
A comparison of power output from linear and nonlinear kinetic energy harvesters using real vibration data
in Smart Materials and Structures
Bernard Stark (Author)
(2013)
Constant impedance emulation using non-synchronous boost rectifier for energy harvesting
Bernard Stark (Author)
(2013)
Comparison of Low-Power Single-Stage Boost Rectifiers for Sub-Milliwatt Electromagnetic Energy Harvester
Proynov P
(2014)
Low-power Methods of Power Sensing and Frequency Detection for Wideband Vibration Energy Harvesting
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Proynov P
(2013)
Switched-capacitor power sensing in low-power energy harvesting systems
in Electronics Letters
Szarka G
(2013)
Ultralow Power, Fully Autonomous Boost Rectifier for Electromagnetic Energy Harvesters
in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics
Szarka G
(2012)
Review of Power Conditioning for Kinetic Energy Harvesting Systems
in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics
Szarka G
(2014)
Maximum Power Transfer Tracking for Ultralow-Power Electromagnetic Energy Harvesters
in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics
| Description | We developed the world's first maximum power point tracking system with a power consumption of 40 microwatts. This task is typically carried out slowly (in steps of seconds and minutes) by a PC, requiring many watts. Our system can track the optimal power to be extracted from a source using five orders of magnitude less power. |
| Exploitation Route | This work has been taken forward into new application areas, such as health monitoring. In order to further reduce the power, and therefor allow the miniaturisation of the power source, the circuits were integrated onto chips. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Transport |
| URL | http://www.holistic.ecs.soton.ac.uk |
| Description | The results led us to understand how to operate microcontroller circuits when very little power is available. These results where then used in the 2013-16 SAVVIE research project to develop electronics that stays alive under intermittent power. Under the 2014-2019 SPHERE health sensing project, one work package (2014-2016) took this forward to develop and Sensor Driven electronics that can monitor sensors using nanowatts of power. This meant energy harvesting was now viable and that batteries can last for decades in certain applications. The technology was prepared for commercial sampling using an EPSRC Acceleration Award. Once successfully trialled by industry, this technology was licensed in 2017 to Sensor Driven Ltd, which received private investment, UK Innovate UK awards, and which is currently employing engineers to create electronic sensors that do not require battery replacement, and to set up trials with industry. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Security and Diplomacy,Transport |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Description | Impact Acceleration Commercialisation Award |
| Amount | £63,048 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | Functional materials Southampton |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have provided Southampton www.ecs.soton.ac.uk with energy harvesting circuits designed specifically for their functional materials, and designs for wireless power transfer devices. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Southampton have provided us with functional materials, such as ferroelectret energy harvesters, and have made power transfer coils and antennas to our design. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinarity: material science, analogue integrated design, low power electronic circuit design. Outcomes: New joint research, and working energy harvesting systems. |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Newcastle low power electronics |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have provided new paradigms for energy management in energy harvesting systems, where power is intermittent. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Newcastle have provided new paradigms for energy management in low power computing. |
| Impact | We obtained a joint EPSRC grant through the outcomes of this collaboration, and this lead on to be invited into the £12M SPHERE project. |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Company Name | Sensor Driven Ltd |
| Description | SensorDriven enables monitoring devices to listen whilst being fully powered down, ensuring power resources are conserved for acting on relevant events. Our passive detector technology reacts to a wide range of physical parameters and presents a paradigm shift in power and data budgeting, delivering compact, ultra-long lifetime sensor solutions. |
| Year Established | 2017 |
| Impact | 2 full-time engineers |
| Website | http://www.sensordriven.com |