Wireless sensor technology promoting the green revolution of smart machines

STMicroelectronics, Araymond, Microfelt
Joint development of thermal energy harvesting solutions

Korea, March 29, 2011 – STMicroelectronics ( www.st.com ), a world-leading integrated semiconductor company; Araymond, a leading French assembly technology company; and Micropelt, a German thermoelectric device specialist, announced the joint development of a thermal energy harvesting-based solution to power 'smart sensors' and 'smart microsystems'. Together, these three companies realize the entire value chain of self-sustaining wireless systems.

Wireless sensor and actuator systems will contribute significantly to future energy and resource efficiency, improved asset integrity and uptime, and the efficient maintenance and operational safety of machinery and production equipment. While ubiquitous wireless systems are essential for achieving eco-friendly effects, local battery issues must be avoided for wireless systems to be successfully established.

MicroFelt has developed a chip-sized thermogenerator (TEG) that converts localized heat flux into electrical energy for use in ultra-low power systems. MicroFelt's TEG is gaining popularity among customers worldwide because it provides maximum power density with a chip size of just a few mm².

ST is focusing on developing components for energy harvesters for energy generators with enhanced energy storage capabilities. As a result, an evaluation system has been developed that combines ST’s new technology for powerful and long-lasting solid-state thin-film rechargeable batteries (EnFilm™) with MicroFelt’s Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) chip. Called the Perpetual Energy Module (PEM-TE01), this system combines the technologies of both companies to provide continuous power. As a long-lasting, maintenance-free wireless system, it will serve as a de facto infinite energy solution.

Araymond, a leading French assembly company, collaborated with MicroFelt to develop a technology for sealing MicroFelt's TE-Power NODE, an energy capture wireless sensor evaluation platform, for industrial applications. This enabled the use of Araymond's fully energy-independent wireless temperature sensor, Heat BiTe, in solar thermal systems or similar systems transporting fluids at temperatures higher or lower than the ambient temperature. By utilizing various fluid capture solutions featuring flat interfaces that allow connection to any warm surface, MicroFelt has raised the durability of the evaluation kit to IP47 and IP48 levels. This solution is called TE-Power MOTE.

"Energy harvesting offers a very attractive opportunity for ST to leverage the expertise it has accumulated in power management and power saving. The jointly developed PEM-TE01 demonstrates the concept of a permanent and self-sustaining energy supply for low-power systems." "By storing the maximum amount of energy captured by this thin-film battery and preserving it for years, the system can operate until the end of its product life," he said.

Dr. Hans-Jürgen Lesser, R&D Director at Areimon, stated, "Many customers find wired connections inconvenient and demand components with enhanced intelligent capabilities. Wiring is costly, difficult to automate, and can cause problems at every connection point. We believed that MicroFelt's heat capture technology could be the perfect solution to these issues, given that our company already supplies fluid handling solutions to many customers. By integrating our Heat BiTe heat capture system into various fluid systems, we are now able to achieve a fully independent wireless condition monitoring system. We are confident that this is the most versatile intelligent component currently on the market."

Finally, Wladimir Punt, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at MicroFelt, said, "Technology is constantly evolving. Through joint development work with ST and Areymont, we have been able to demonstrate to current and future customers around the world that heat capture is a solution to many of the problems they face today."

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STMicroelectronics is a global leader providing innovative semiconductor solutions to customers across a wide range of electronic applications. By integrating its vast technology, design expertise, and IP portfolio, along with strategic partners and robust manufacturing facilities, ST aims to become an undisputed leader in multimedia convergence and power applications.