Analog Devices unveil energy harvesting PMU for IoT

To address the scarcity of energy in IoT applications, Analog Devices has unveiled a power management unity (PMU) for efficient energy harvesting.

The PMU, called ADP509x converts harvested power down to the 16μW to 100mW range with sub-μW operation losses.

The ADP509x also delivers a fast cold-start-up time. Devices relying on energy harvesting in low energy conditions often have to slowly accumulate enough energy to turn on, resulting in long delays before the device can start sensing, processing, and transmitting. This can result in missed data collection, slow operation, and poor user experience. The PMU solves these problems with a multiple-power-path design, which enables fast start-ups and smooth operation.

Energy harvesting is a key critical component in achieving fully autonomous IoT solutions. Not only does it drive significant cost savings in applications where battery replacement is costly, but it creates possibility for a host of new applications where battery replacement is impractical. A key barrier for energy harvesting is that in many applications energy from the environment is only available at very low levels (for example, low-light indoor solar harvesting), and periodically not at all. This requires power management solutions that can not only enable satisfactory system operation with very little energy, but also efficiently manage energy storage devices to satisfy energy demand at times when no energy is being harvested.