The Japanese semi-conductor company Renesas Electronics has developed an embedded controller for energy harvesting, based on proprietary SOTB (silicon on thin buried oxide) technology. The R7F0E is a 32-bit embedded controller based on an arm cortex with up to 64 MHz cycle frequency for fast local processing of sensor data and for analytical and control functions. With 20 μA/MHz in active mode and a deep standby current of 150 nA, the R7F0E is suitable for energy saving and energy harvesting applications. It allows direct connection to ambient energy sources, such as solar energy and vibration. As a result, system manufacturers are able to eliminate batteries in some of their products.

In addition, EnOcean , the specialist in energy harvesting from Oberhaching near Munich, has introduced the “Battery-free by EnOcean” seal for maintenance-free and flexible circuit solutions that work without batteries and cables. Product manufacturers can now use the new logo to advertise their battery-free wireless circuits that integrate the EnOcean technology for leading wireless standards in the sub-1GHz and 2.4 GHz range.