Planar Energy Devices Announces Li-Ion Battery & Energy Harvesting Demo Kit
Planar Energy Devices, a developer of advanced technology batteries covering a wide spectrum of capacities, announced the release of the PowerPlane™ MX lithium ion battery. The battery, available in a demo kit which includes an on-board wireless RF harvesting/charging system, is said to deliver the "ultimate solution" for applications that require self-sufficient milli-amp-hour (mAh) energy storage.
Planar is combining its battery technology with an integrated RF wireless charging technology. The combined battery and wireless charging system, called the PowerPlane MXE, features charge circuitry that requires a footprint only slightly larger than that of the battery, making the entire power source extremely compact.
Andrea Wesser, Product Line Manager for the company’s Low Capacity Battery Line, explained the potential of the PowerPlane MXE. "Small primary batteries cannot provide the endurance necessary for many applications, and typical energy harvesters acting alone, do not meet the capacities nor the reliability of batteries. By interfacing an advanced rechargeable battery with a small wireless recharge board, Planar can greatly exceed the capabilities of both technologies."
The PowerPlane MX battery is said to be the first rechargeable battery of its kind to host a high capacity within its thin form factor. With a capacity of 10mAh in a 29 x 25 x 0.5mm package, the PowerPlane MX battery is well suited for many applications seeking both power from a small form factor and long cycle life from its rechargeable nature.
The battery has an operating voltage range of 3 to 4.2V. Users of the PowerPlane MX can expect over 500 full cycles. In a pulsed scenario, thousands of cycles can be expected with negligible degradation in the capacity. The PowerPlane MX has a 1 second pulse capability of up to 50mA. The company claims that the only power solutions in a thin, similar geometry and capacity available in the market today are primary cells.
The PowerPlane MX battery is suitable for many applications that require compact geometry, mAh capacities and longer term duty cycles. The battery, when integrated with Planar’s RF wireless charging module (PowerPlane MXE), is well suited for wireless sensor suppliers seeking power sources for systems or networks where constant maintenance is undesired. Similarly, active RFID tag suppliers find these attributes appealing for applications in medicine, wander prevention, remote toll payment or security that have service lifetimes of over 1 year.
The PowerPlane MX is also finding popularity in smart card applications where its rechargeable nature is allowing new products within the industry to emerge. Smart card application developers will find Planar’s discreet wireless recharge system an advantage when adding new feature sets to their devices. Planar’s charging pad system does not require the battery to be plugged in, but simply placed on top of the pad. The pad is suitable for a wallet full of smart banking cards or a personnel badge, where such devices, when using Planar’s PowerPlane MXE, can rely on a direct recharge with zero connections.
The PowerPlane MXE demo kit will include a charge station pad and one PowerPlane MX mounted on a charging circuit board combining a planar antenna coil and charge/discharge control circuitry. The system’s control circuitry provides under/over voltage protection, charge control, and a charge indicator light. The charge station pad can accommodate more than five battery boards simultaneously. The battery can be trickled charged continuously or entirely charged in under 3 hours. The PowerPlane MXE can be directly connected into the required applications. The accompanying battery is protected in a laminated packaging, adding further to the rugged nature of the system.
The demo kit can be purchased for $350.
