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Self-Powered Light Switch — Parallax Forums

Self-Powered Light Switch

ercoerco Posts: 20,256
edited 2013-02-16 16:55 in General Discussion
NXP's novel "energy harvesting" lightswitch requires no batteries and no wiring. Naturally, I suspect it costs more than batteries and/or wiring. :)

http://www.electronicproducts.com/Videos/How_NXP_and_Cherry_s_battery-less_wireless_switch_works_2.aspx

~ halfway thru video. The first half is a revolutionary "app" to radio control home lighting. YAWN.

Comments

  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2013-02-15 11:13
    ..."For those curious as to where the switch gets the power to transmit said data, the RF energy necessary for it to work is drawn from the mechanical actuation of the device by way of magnetic induction...".

    Does this mean I'll have to arm-wrestle my light switch every time I walk into a room?

    image002.jpg
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-02-15 12:47
    XLNT point. But as long as physically flipping the switch requires less user energy input than these gravity-powered lamps, someone will buy them: http://boingboing.net/2012/12/12/gravity-powered-lights-cheape.html

    Of course, more people will buy them if they are i-Phone controlled, or even better, hifi wifi bluetooth telepresence virtual C++ spread spectrum zigby 4G doppler giga nano raspi ardui-nable. :)
  • Tim-MTim-M Posts: 522
    edited 2013-02-15 12:51
    I came across this similar industrial wireless solution a while back... looks like really cool stuff!

    http://products.schneider-electric.us/products-services/products/pushbuttons/22mm-push-buttons1/wireless-batteryless-push-button/

    Tim
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2013-02-15 18:30
    WOW. Talk about a way to put electricians out of work!!!!
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2013-02-16 12:17
    NWCCTV wrote: »
    WOW. Talk about a way to put electricians out of work!!!!

    They still have to wire up the power and receiver circuitry.
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,703
    edited 2013-02-16 12:38
    kwinn wrote: »
    They still have to wire up the power and receiver circuitry.

    You'll notice that it's a 'start' button. I suspect the sparkies still get to hardwire the 'stop' button for safety reasons, not to mention the emergency stop loops.

    Still, nice product and great innovation
  • Duane C. JohnsonDuane C. Johnson Posts: 955
    edited 2013-02-16 13:19
    Ok, this sounds like they are:
    1. Store up some small amount of energy in a capacitor.
    2. Blast out a coded message before the energy runs out.
    3. Turn off and wait for another button push.

    Problems:
    1. The power source is quite feeble simply capturing stray electromagnetic fields.
    I would assume there is not enough power to run the Prop even in the lowest power modes.
    2. Once the Prop is turned on how much energy is consumed to send out one message packet.
    Can the prop even do this?
    Maybe it consumes to much energy just booting?

    Duane J
  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,173
    edited 2013-02-16 15:42
    Duane C. Johnson wrote: »
    Problems:
    1. The power source is quite feeble simply capturing stray electromagnetic fields.

    That is not how I read it. I think it is a direct mechanical energy 'harvest', aka a small generator.
    - hence the "drawn from the mechanical actuation of the device by way of magnetic induction."
    - same idea as the moving-magnet shaker style torches..

    It gives a noticeable click, as you would be best to spring-fire your charger-movement to get a consistent energy pulse.
    Piezo would be another alternative, but tends to have the wrong 'type' of energy - too many volts and not enough mA

    The Prop boot energy would be an issue, I wonder how small that can be ?
  • Duane C. JohnsonDuane C. Johnson Posts: 955
    edited 2013-02-16 16:55
    jmg wrote: »
    That is not how I read it. I think it is a direct mechanical energy 'harvest', aka a small generator.
    - hence the "drawn from the mechanical actuation of the device by way of magnetic induction."
    - same idea as the moving-magnet shaker style torches..

    It gives a noticeable click, as you would be best to spring-fire your charger-movement to get a consistent energy pulse.
    Piezo would be another alternative, but tends to have the wrong 'type' of energy - too many volts and not enough mA

    The Prop boot energy would be an issue, I wonder how small that can be ?
    Ya, good point
    If its a shaker type there can be considerable, though small, power available.
    Button press would be relatively low energy.

    I guess my question should be how fast can a Prop boot assuming the program is in the EEPROM?

    Would a PIC or other micro with integral EEPROM code space be a better choice?

    Duane J
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