EnOcean Developer’s Kit Lets OEMs Design Energy Harvesting Wireless Sensors
EnOcean released a Developer’s Platform that is claimed to enable OEMs to design self-powered wireless sensors that do not require batteries or external power.
The EVA 120C Evaluation Kit includes everything necessary to quickly develop and test ultra low power wireless sensor modules for a variety of commercial, retail, residential and industrial applications. Kit components include an EnOcean STM 110C solar powered sensor transmitter module and a development board with a PC interface. Detailed technical documentation, including data sheet, manual and user notes, also are part of the kit.
The STM module is said to be the only commercialized product that integrates a wireless sensor, low power radio, solar cell power generator, microcontroller and ultra low power sleep timer and threshold detector for energy management. All module elements have been optimized to work together. It is available in volume quantities and is said to be cost competitive with battery-powered technologies. It is claimed that the module will add value to products, without adding excess cost, and can justify a premium, enhancing company margins.
The STM makes possible scalable and continuously adaptable sensor networks that can transmit data on temperature, gas, humidity, vapor, current, light levels, water, pressure, location, occupancy and other parameters. It can communicate with multiple receivers, allowing exceptional flexibility in designing sensor networks. The module’s dimensions are 0.8 in. by 1.6 in. by 0.4 in. (21 mm x 40 mm x 9 mm) and it is maintenance- and battery-free.
The Developer’s Kit is said to enable designers and engineers to quickly and easily simulate STM performance, to understand results and develop application- specific wireless sensor products based on EnOcean technology. The board includes buttons and opto-coupler inputs for immediate wake-up useful in even- driven applications. Additional buttons trigger a LEARN telegram to assign the sensor to networks. Plug-in jumpers are provided to set cyclic wake and transmit times, as well as to wire-in digital inputs. Also included are potentiometers to simulate analog inputs, and a LED display to verify successful telegram transmission. The kit connects to a PC via RS232 or USB interface for direct evaluation by PC software, or to enable additional module configuration, and control inputs and measurement outputs for charge and discharge cycles.
