Title :
Solar powered low-power sensor module with a radio communication and a user interface
Author :
Leder, Erich ; Sutor, Alexander ; Lerch, Reinhard
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Sensor Technol., Friedrich Alexander Univ., Erlangen
fDate :
Oct. 30 2005-Nov. 3 2005
Abstract :
This article presents the power management of a solar powered sensor-module with a RF-transceiver and a user interface. Our platform is the first self sufficient platform, which allows remotely controlled and parameterized measurements by utilizing RF-transceiver technology. A maintenance-free double layer capacitor (DLC) was used for buffering energy to reach uninterrupted operation over day-night periods. Switching power supplies of the pulse-width modulation (PWM) class are used to charge the DLC and to generate stabilized supply-voltages. The regulation circuit for charging during solar-powered operation has been realized with a high-efficiency synchronous step-down converter. To make programmable voltages available, a boost converter has been implemented with the central microcontroller
Keywords :
PWM power convertors; capacitors; power supply circuits; solar power; switched mode power supplies; transceivers; user interfaces; voltage regulators; wireless sensor networks; RF-transceiver; boost converter; central microcontroller; double layer capacitor; parameterized measurement; power management; programmable voltages; pulse-width modulation class; radio communication; regulation circuit; remotely controlled measurement; solar powered sensor module; solar-powered operation; stabilized supply-voltages; switching power supplies; synchronous step-down converter; user interface; Capacitors; Communication system control; Energy management; Power generation; Pulse generation; Pulse width modulation; Pulsed power supplies; Radio communication; Space vector pulse width modulation; User interfaces;
Conference_Titel :
Sensors, 2005 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Irvine, CA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-9056-3
DOI :
10.1109/ICSENS.2005.1597730
