CBC-EVAL-08
EnerChip™ EH Solar Energy Harvester Evaluation Kit
Features
CBC-EVAL-08 is a demonstration kit combining a
solar panel energy transducer with the CBC5300
EnerChip EH module having two rechargeable
50µAh EnerChip solid state energy storage devices
connected in parallel. The EnerChips provide
storage and starting power for the energy harvesting
module. The purpose of this demonstration platform
is to enable designers to quickly develop Energy
Harvesting applications. A block diagram of CBC-
EVAL-08 is shown in Figure 1.
Control
Lines
V
OUT
Photovoltaic
Cell
Boost
Converter
Connector
Power
Management
Figure 2: CBC-EVAL-08 Demo Kit - 3.55 x 2 (inches)
Charge
Control
2 - EnerChip
CBC050
the EnerChips from discharging too deeply in low
ambient light conditions or abnormally high current
load conditions. The power management block
also ensures that the load is powered up with a
smooth power-on transition. The power management
block has a control line (CHARGE) for indication to
the system controller that the energy harvester is
charging the EnerChips. A control line input (BATOFF)
is available for the controller to disconnect itself
from the EnerChips when it is necessary to extend
run time in prolonged low ambient light conditions.
CBC-EVAL-08 is shown in Figure 2 with the CBC5300
EnerChip EH module mounted on the solar board.
There are two connectors on CBC-EVAL-08 for
connection to target devices to be powered. Either
connector can be used for low power microcontroller-
based systems. In the case of a low power wireless
end device, the CBC-EVAL-08 has storage energy for
up to 1000 transmissions - depending on protocol
used - in no/low ambient light conditions.
Microcontroller-based systems that are powered by
the CBC-EVAL-08 should contain firmware that is
“Energy Harvesting Aware” and take advantage of
the power management status and control signals
available on CBC-EVAL-08.
Figure 1: EnerChip CBC-EVAL-08 Demo Kit Block Diagram,
with the Functional Elements of the CBC5300 EnerChip EH
Module Shown in the Shaded Region
System Description
Photovoltaic cells on CBC-EVAL-08 convert ambient
light energy into electrical energy. Because the
output voltage of the photovoltaic cells is too low
to charge the EnerChips and power the rest of the
system directly, a boost converter is used to raise
the photovoltaic cell voltage to the voltage needed to
charge the EnerChips.
The charge control block continuously monitors
the output of the boost converter. If the output of
the boost converter falls below the voltage needed
to charge the EnerChips, the charge controller will
disconnect the boost converter from the EnerChips.
This prevents the EnerChips from back-powering the
boost converter in low ambient light conditions.
The power management block is used to protect
DS-72-08 Rev18
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