ELK RIVER, MN. & COCHRANE, Alberta /BUSINESS WIRE/ -- Cymbet Corp. and ANT announced that they will showcase an energy-harvesting wireless sensor network solution using Cymbet's EnerChip thin-film semiconductor battery module and the ultra-low-power wireless networking technology ANT at the Sensors Expo June 9–11, 2008, in Chicago, IL. The energy-harvesting module is designed to power the ANT modules included in the ANTDKT3 development kit. The EnerChip module can be charged via a USB connection or with the Cymbet Solar Energy Harvester demo board. EnerChip-based solutions are being featured at Sensor Expo in Cymbet booth 529 and in ANT booth 615.
The new EnerChip family of thin-film battery devices offers a truly unique combination in battery technology: fast charge times, >5000 recharges, reflow solderable, and eco-friendliness. The small EnerChip form factor and highly rechargeable, solid-state, thin-film advancements can be economically and reliably integrated as an embedded device or a surface-mounted component. EnerChips are ideally suited for applications such as back-up power and energy harvesting.
The ANT wireless power sensor network only consumes microwatts for each of its nodes and is currently powered by a single coin cell for most of the current deployments, now totaling 3 million nodes globally. ANT's ANTDKT3 development kit offers a comprehensive set of ANT modules; PC tools and resources to assist with the evaluation of ANT as a practical wireless sensor network solution; design of ANT product prototypes and network demonstrations using ANT modules and chip sets; evaluation of using SensRcore as an easy wireless sensor development platform; writing scripts and configuring modules; and the design of PC applications linking to ANT products and networks.
"We are very excited about EnerChip's Energy Harvesting solution as it further enhances the ultra-low-power advantage of ANT practical wireless sensor network development," said Brian Macdonald, Director of ANT Wireless. "This attractive option will enable our customers to create permanent power solutions; and by solving battery replacement issues, EnerChip opens up a whole new class of wireless sensor networks."
"When coupled with energy-harvesting or energy-scavenging techniques, an EnerChip can supply the energy storage to build self-contained, long-lived powered systems and improve on the traditional battery power approaches," said Cymbet CEO Bill Priesmeyer. "Using an EnerChip battery to power wireless sensors, active RFID tags, or other remote devices—in combination with energy already available in the environment—is both cost and environmentally beneficial."
About ANT
ANT is a proven practical wireless network 2.4 GHz protocol for ultra-low-power sensor network applications in sports, wellness, home, and industrial automation. ANT is a robust protocol with an installed base of over 3 million nodes, enabling wireless connectivity in a new generation of consumer, commercial, industrial, and medical products. ANT provides reliable data communications, flexible and adaptive network operation, and cross-talk immunity. The company behind ANT is Dynastream Innovations Inc. Dynastream was established in 1998 and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Garmin International Inc. in December 2006.
About Cymbet
Founded in 2000, Cymbet Corp. is a clean-technology company and a leader in thin-film, solid-state battery technology. The company is the "first to market a true solid-state energy system enabling new embedded systems designer capabilities." The company's thin-film battery system will enable new concepts in battery application for ICs and new products for medical, sensor, RFID, communications and portable electronic devices.