Based on Energy Micro’s 32-bit Cortex-M3 EFM32 Gecko microcontroller and Maxim’s MAX17710 energy-harvesting charger and protector, Avnet Memec’s self-powered energy-harvesting platform suits home and building automation, smart metering, industrial automation, health and fitness electronics, and other emerging applications.
The platform comprises two major components. The MAX17710 evaluation kit (MAX17710EVKIT) includes all the components to evaluate the performance of Maxim’s energy-harvesting charger and protector. This kit plugs directly into the EFM32 Tiny Gecko Starter Kit from Energy Micro and powers the EFM32TG840F32 Gecko microcontroller.
The MAX17710 is the first IC to integrate all of the power-management functions for ambient energy harvesting, as well as the functions for charging and protecting the Thinergy Micro-Energy Cell (MEC) from Infinite Power Solutions (IPS), which is embedded on the kit.
Operating at an ultra-low current level, the MAX17710 accepts energy from a variety of poorly regulated energy-harvesting sources with output levels ranging from 1 µW to 100 mW. A boost regulator circuit charges the energy-storing cell from a source as low as 0.75 V (typical). An internal regulator protects the cell from overcharging.
Output voltages supplied to the target applications are regulated using an efficient adjustable low-dropout (LDO) linear regulator with selectable voltages of 3.3 V, 2.3 V, or 1.8 V. The output regulator operates in a selectable high-power or low-power mode to minimize drain on the MEC. Internal voltage protection prevents the MEC from over-discharging.
Avnet Memec
www.avnet-memec.eu/products/development-tools.html
Energy Micro
www.energymicro.com
Maxim Integrated Products
www.maxim-ic.com