About UsMaxim Integrated Release New Solar Harvesting Solution
The MAX20361 increases the Runtime of Space-Constrained Wearable and IoT Applications with a 5% Improved Efficiency
Designers of space-constrained designs can now significantly increase runtime with the MAX20361 single-/multi-cell solar harvester with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) from Maxim Integrated (now part of Analog Devices). The industry’s smallest solar harvesting solution is perfect for space-constrained applications such as wearables and internet of things (IoT) applications.
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Designers are often challenged with the tradeoff between small size and long runtime for wearable and IoT applications. By enabling solar charging in these highly space-constrained products, the MAX20361 can extend the runtime of those devices by providing a supplemental power source. This solar harvester reduces solution size by at least half compared to the alternative products. In addition, the MAX20361 increases harvested energy with up to 5 percent better boost efficiency than the closest competitor, coupled with an adaptive MPPT approach which can improve the overall system level efficiency even further.
“This device offers exciting possibilities for a new supplemental power source to continually charge the battery of a device,” said Frank Dowling, director of the Industrial and Healthcare Business Unit at Maxim Integrated. “For example, if you can harvest just 30mW of solar power per day on a 300mAHr battery system which typically runs for three weeks, you can as a result extend that runtime by over 50 percent.”
“Innovation continues to drive adoption of consumer wearables with global revenue estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15 percent in the next four years,” added James Hayward, principal analyst at IDTechEx Research. “For device manufacturers, longer battery life and smaller form factor remain key product features toward market differentiation and user satisfaction.”
Features of the MAX20361 Solar Harvester with MPPT and Harvest Counter
- Single-/Multi-Cell Solar Energy Harvester
- 225mV to 2.5V (typ) Input-Voltage Range
- Efficient Harvesting from 15µW to Over 300mW of Available Input Power
- Small Solution Size
- Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) Technique Using Fractional VOC Method
- Programmable Fractional VOC Regulation Point through I²C Interface
- Battery/Supercapacitor Charger
- Programmable Battery Termination Voltage through I²C Interface
- Programmable Power Good Wake-Up Signal Output Threshold through I²C Interface
For more information on the MAX20361 Solar Harvester, visit the Analog Devices website at Analog Devices MAX20361 product page
The Analog Devices website address is www.analog.com
[Reprinted with kind permission from Maxim Integrated - Release Date 11th January, 2021]