Energy Harvesting Platform Runs Key Pad with Microcontroller
Feb. 26, 2013
Future Energy Solutions (FES) announces the addition of the Renesas RL78 microcontroller to the Energy Harvesting Platform.
Future Energy Solutions (FES) announces the addition of the Renesas RL78 microcontroller to the Energy Harvesting Platform.
The two keys to success for any energy harvesting system are not only low application power, but also maximum efficiency of energy conversion and storage. The Future Energy Solutions Energy Harvesting Platform (EHP) showcases how the Renesas RL78 microcontroller family excels in both of these areas.
The EHP is a modular energy harvesting development tool that allows for evaluation of typical renewable energy sources. The Renesas configuration demonstrates the RL78/I1A being used to control a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) circuit to optimize the efficiency of a solar panel charging an array of super capacitors for energy storage. The super capacitor array powers an ultra-low power application module using an RL78/I1A to drive a Smart Pixel Memory Display and keypad. All of the power generation and consumption on the board is monitored and controlled in real-time by an RL78/G14, which calculates and then displays the power levels using a Future designed PC based GUI tool. Control and monitoring of the system with this tool, allows us to easily view the amazing effectiveness of the Renesas RL78 MCUs throughout the system.
