NGK INSULATORS, LTD. (hereinafter, “NGK”), TOREX SEMICONDUCTOR LTD. (hereinafter, "TOREX") and Ossia Inc. (hereinafter "Ossia") have started working together to spread the use of wireless power transmission/transfer (WPT) systems. The companies have developed a WPT power receiver development kit using a combination of NGK’s lithium-ion rechargeable batteries EnerCera, TOREX’s low-current-consumption power supply ICs and Ossia’s WPT technologies.
Adoption of sensor networks using many IoT devices has been increasing in recent years. Conventionally, powering IoT devices involved power cables and primary batteries (disposable batteries), so cumbersome wiring and replacing batteries had been an issue. Using radio frequency (RF) to transfer power over about 10 meters, WPT is attracting attention as a power supply technology that promotes the realization and widespread use of maintenance-free IoT devices as it enables power supply to places where wiring presents difficulties and eliminates the need to replace batteries. In particular, Ossia’s Cota WPT using the 5.8 GHz band is expected to be used in a wide range of applications, including power supplies for sensors installed in places such as enterprise environments, retail, factories and warehouses. At the higher frequency of 5.8GHz, it enables smaller receivers and more precise control of power supply.
NGK, TOREX and Ossia are working together to spread the use of 5.8 GHz band WPT. The WPT power receiver development kit comprises the Ossia Antenna that extracts radio frequency as power, EnerCera batteries that store the power and a power supply IC that stably supplies the stored power at an optimal voltage to an MCU or sensor. Connecting this kit to any MCU or sensor enables developing a device with WPT as a power source.
EnerCera batteries
EnerCera is an ultra-small/ultra-thin lithium-ion rechargeable battery using NGK's original crystal-oriented ceramic plate as electrodes. EnerCera’s unique battery structure (semi-solid-state battery) where small amounts of electrolytic solution are infused into multi-layered ceramic battery materials, enabling it to achieve features required to power IoT devices but which had been difficult to incorporate in existing lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, such as being ultra-small/ultra-thin, high capacity, high output, high-heat-resistance and long life. EnerCera batteries’ innovation and practicality have been highly commended, and it has received many awards as an energy storage device promoting the full-scale popularization of IoT modules.
