Harnessing light energy for embedded and IoT devices

As we increasingly rely on embedded devices for various applications, from remote IoT sensors to home gadgets, the demand for efficient and sustainable power sources is more critical than ever. Photovoltaics (PV), or solar and light power, offers a promising solution. This blog post explores the process of evaluating photovoltaic systems for embedded devices, providing insights into how to optimize their efficiency and reliability.

Understanding Photovoltaics for Embedded Devices

Photovoltaics convert light energy directly into electricity using semiconductor materials. For embedded devices, integrating PV systems can drastically reduce the dependency on traditional power sources, enhancing sustainability and potentially lowering operational costs. However, to effectively harness solar and light energy, it’s crucial to evaluate the performance and suitability of PV systems for specific applications.

Key Considerations for PV Evaluation

1. Light Energy Potential: The first step in evaluating PV systems for embedded devices is understanding the light energy potential in the intended deployment area. This involves analyzing factors such as indoor or outdoor environments, location, climate conditions, and variations in light.
2. Energy Consumption Profile: Assessing the energy consumption profile of the embedded device is essential. This includes understanding the power requirements during different operational states (active, idle, sleep) and estimating the average daily energy consumption.
3. PV System Sizing: Based on the light energy potential and the device’s energy consumption profile, the next step is to size the PV system appropriately. This involves selecting the right type and size of the PV sell, ensuring they can generate sufficient power to meet the device’s needs throughout the year.
4. Battery Storage: Since light energy may not be available 24/7, integrating battery storage is critical. Evaluating the battery’s capacity and efficiency helps ensure that the device has a reliable power supply even during periods of low light.

Practical Steps for PV Evaluation

1. Measurement Tools and Techniques: Utilize precise measurement tools to collect data on solar irradiance and energy generation. Qoitech’s Otii Product Suite, for example, is a powerful toolset that can help in measuring and analyzing the power consumption of embedded devices and providing valuable insights on the efficiency of the energy harvesting and storage for your application.
2. Simulation and Testing: Before deploying the PV system, simulate its performance under various conditions. This can involve using software tools to model the system’s behavior or setting up small-scale tests to validate the simulation results.
3. Field Testing: Conduct real-world testing by deploying the PV system in the intended environment. Monitor the system’s performance over time, making adjustments as necessary to improve efficiency and reliability. Here is how Voltaics Systems are quality assuring their PV cells in field testing.
4. Optimization: Based on the data collected during field testing, optimize the PV system. This may involve tweaking the orientation of solar panels, adjusting battery storage settings, or fine-tuning the energy management algorithms used by the embedded device.

Many PV manufacturers provide extensive knowledge and guide on how to pick the right PV and evaluate light energy for embedded. Here is one such guide from PowerFilm Solar.

PV evaluation with Otii Product Suite

Measuring the self-sustainability of a photovoltaic (PV) system is crucial for the long-term operation of electronics. Developers need precise data on the energy generated by the harvester, stored in the energy storage, and consumed by the device during active, communication, and sleep states.

For this purpose, using three Otii Aces and Otii Battery Toolbox is recommended. Two Otii Aces are used in-line with the PV cell and energy storage to evaluate their performance. The third Otii Ace acts as a load, representing the IoT device. This setup allows for flexible testing of the photovoltaic system across different device use cases, such as communication protocols and duty cycles. The behavior of the Otii Ace can be customized based on the power profile of your embedded device and specific use cases.

Whether you’re evaluating photovoltaics for indoor electronics or IoT solar panels, this setup ensures the longevity and reliability of your system.

Learn more about this setup here.

Conclusion

Evaluating and optimizing photovoltaic systems for embedded devices is a complex but rewarding process. By carefully considering factors such as solar or indoor light energy potential, energy consumption profiles, and system sizing, you can develop efficient and reliable light-powered solutions. Leveraging advanced measurement and testing tools, like those provided by Qoitech, further enhances the ability to create sustainable and effective embedded systems.

Questions and thoughts on harvesting the light energy for embedded devices, contact us or book a demo to explore more!