Design Article
Energy harvesting at the press of a button
Frank Schmidt, EnOcean
11/26/2012 8:00 AM EST
Faster development with a starter kit
EnOcean offers the next generation mechanical energy converter also in a starter kit.
Including a variety of energy converters and modules, the kit enables a faster creation of several energy-autonomous wireless sensors. The kit consists of a switch module for building services, a mechanical energy converter with the matching switch module including a sample case, a temperature sensor module, an USB gateway and PC software for visualization.
With the switch module it is possible to implement energy-autonomous wall mounted switches or handheld transmitters. The combination of mechanical energy converter and the according switch module is the basis for a variety of maintenance-free wireless switches in an industrial environment. The solar-powered sensor module can measure temperature in a room or on machinery, for example. The USB bidirectional gateway transfers both measured data and switch commands to a PC. Data is received via the PC software, which visualizes all information on the computer, giving the user a real-time view of all that is happening.
ESK 300C starter kit
This complete starter kit enables virtually all basic application variations of energy harvesting wireless technology. Using the starter kit’s components, users can implement switches and interior temperature sensors plus a variety of industrial switches, such as wireless position switches, solutions to control gates or for condition monitoring. Additionally, the USB gateway enables visualized monitoring of all activities in the network.
Application: stop button for buses
Applications are appearing in the public transport sector, such as BMAC’s wireless stop button for buses. While other pushbuttons need to be connected to the battery of the bus via yards of cable, this stop button functions with a small battery-free wireless module. When a passenger presses the stop button, the mechanical energy converter converts this small movement into electrical power and a radio signal is sent to the receiver module. This activates the stop display and the audible stop signal. The transmitted radio signal is unique to each stop button, so there is no interference with other buttons in this bus or other buses nearby. The receiver module is connected to the vehicle electronics. After installation, each stop button in the bus is programmed for its own logic circuit – for example front, middle, rear or wheelchair users. The self-powered solution saves over 100 yards of cabling in the bus, and there is no longer any need to replace defective cables, which can be time-consuming.
EnOcean offers the next generation mechanical energy converter also in a starter kit.
Including a variety of energy converters and modules, the kit enables a faster creation of several energy-autonomous wireless sensors. The kit consists of a switch module for building services, a mechanical energy converter with the matching switch module including a sample case, a temperature sensor module, an USB gateway and PC software for visualization.
With the switch module it is possible to implement energy-autonomous wall mounted switches or handheld transmitters. The combination of mechanical energy converter and the according switch module is the basis for a variety of maintenance-free wireless switches in an industrial environment. The solar-powered sensor module can measure temperature in a room or on machinery, for example. The USB bidirectional gateway transfers both measured data and switch commands to a PC. Data is received via the PC software, which visualizes all information on the computer, giving the user a real-time view of all that is happening.
ESK 300C starter kit
This complete starter kit enables virtually all basic application variations of energy harvesting wireless technology. Using the starter kit’s components, users can implement switches and interior temperature sensors plus a variety of industrial switches, such as wireless position switches, solutions to control gates or for condition monitoring. Additionally, the USB gateway enables visualized monitoring of all activities in the network.
Application: stop button for buses
Applications are appearing in the public transport sector, such as BMAC’s wireless stop button for buses. While other pushbuttons need to be connected to the battery of the bus via yards of cable, this stop button functions with a small battery-free wireless module. When a passenger presses the stop button, the mechanical energy converter converts this small movement into electrical power and a radio signal is sent to the receiver module. This activates the stop display and the audible stop signal. The transmitted radio signal is unique to each stop button, so there is no interference with other buttons in this bus or other buses nearby. The receiver module is connected to the vehicle electronics. After installation, each stop button in the bus is programmed for its own logic circuit – for example front, middle, rear or wheelchair users. The self-powered solution saves over 100 yards of cabling in the bus, and there is no longer any need to replace defective cables, which can be time-consuming.
Bus-stop button
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