Product category:
Wireless Communications
News Release from: EnOcean | Subject: STM100
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 07 June 2005
Wireless module stands alone with solar
power
The STM100 is a tiny solar-powered wireless sensor module from EnOcean, the global innovator of energy-harvesting wireless technologies.
The STM100 is a tiny solar-powered wireless sensor module from EnOcean, the global innovator of energy-harvesting wireless technologies The STM100 overcomes the challenges to efficient wireless sensing: power-hungry radios and battery deficiencies such as limited life, maintenance and disposal
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 4 Aug 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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The STM100 achieves fundamental breakthroughs in the creation, storage and management of power.
Within its custom two-stage solar cell, one stage provides quick startup energy while the other charges an onboard energy reservoir.
Designed to operate indoors, the device requires only 200 lux to generate energy (typical lighting values in a building range from 200 lux in hallways, 500 lux on desktops and up to 1200 lux in display cases).
Further reading
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The unit combines a solar cell energy source, an energy reservoir, analogue and digital sensor connections, a microprocessor for sensor control, and a radio transmitter - all packed into a minuscule 20 x 40 x 10mm.
Despite its small size, STM100 stores sufficient energy to operate continuously for up to five days in complete darkness.
Equally important, each module assures reliable wireless communication via sophisticated RF protocols: multiple broadcasts, fast datarate, error detection and unique addressing.
By combining solar power and robust RF, EnOcean has completely eliminated the need for batteries in sensor applications - and thus done away with regular system maintenance.
"EnOcean's patented technology lets STM100 generate a surprisingly long-range radio signal with extremely minute amounts of harvested energy", said Armin Anders, EnOcean's VP of Product Marketing.
"With just 50uW, a standard EnOcean transmitter will comfortably send a signal 300m outdoors, 30m indoors through walls".
"The secret is in the signal duration; the entire process is initiated, undertaken and completed in approximately a millisecond".
STM100's platform supports a wide variety of sensors - temperature, gas, humidity, illumination, location, presence etc - to enable mobile, maintenance-free monitoring and control of buildings, factories, logistics and automobiles.
The product is particularly helpful to sensor manufacturers of lighting, security and HVAC equipment in two ways.
By offering three analogue and four digital inputs and sophisticated measurement routines, EnOcean greatly simplifies sensor integration.
OEMs can quickly create a completely self-powered, functioning, communicating device for remote installation (such as a thermostat).
EnOcean-enabled systems save planning and installation time and significantly reduce costs.
OEMs can pass these benefits on to their customers while granting them full control to deploy and relocate devices where they best suit the application.
Christian Genter, CEO of Omnio a manufacturer of building automation systems concludes: "EnOcean-based systems allow us to deliver unmatched sensor networking flexibility via battery-free, maintenance-free wireless switches, temperature sensors and window contacts".
"The system provides unmatched simplicity through an ingenious 'learn-in' programming feature that doesn't require time-consuming PC programming or personnel training".
To simplify the OEMs development of their wireless network, EnOcean provides a family of receivers and transceiver/repeaters compatible with all our switch and sensor modules.
The proprietary radio technology is approved for use in Europe (ETSI), US (FCC) and Canada (IC).
STM100s including solar cell, energy reservoir and radio are available in OEM quantities for less than $25.
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