Introduction
Energy autonomy is one of the most pressing challenges for sensor and IoT applications. Powering sensors without relying on batteries or wired connections can drastically reduce maintenance costs and environmental impact. In this context, Oxhycell emerges as a breakthrough technology, capable of harvesting energy from the environment to sustainably and efficiently power electronic devices.
The first real-world use case we have developed focuses on powering Ambient Light Sensors (ALS) through a fully autonomous system based on Oxhycell. With the support of Campania Startup, we have developed a demonstrator showcasing the potential of our technology in the Energy Harvesting sector for IoT. This milestone marks an important step in our journey toward efficiency and miniaturization.
The Challenge: Wireless Sensors and Energy Supply
ALS sensors are widely used to automatically adjust screen brightness and smart lighting, helping to reduce energy consumption and enhance visual comfort. However, powering these devices presents significant challenges:
- Batteries have a limited lifespan and require periodic replacement.
- Wired power solutions are not always practical, especially in remote or distributed installations.
- Current Energy Harvesting solutions (solar, vibrations, radio frequencies) have limitations in terms of power output, continuity, and compatibility with a variety of environments.
Oxhycell offers an innovative solution to overcome these limitations, ensuring stable and continuous power supply to devices without requiring batteries or cables.
The Demonstrator: An ALS Sensor Powered by Oxhycell
To demonstrate the feasibility of this solution, we have developed a working prototype that utilizes an Oxhy Powercore to power an ALS sensor and transmit the data via Bluetooth.
How Does the System Work?
The demonstrator consists of a few modules:
- Oxhy Powercore – A wafer of Oxhycell that harvests energy from the environment and stores it in a capacitor.
- Power Management Unit – Regulates the energy flow and system activation.
- ALS Module – Includes a microcontroller, light sensor, and a Bluetooth module for data transmission.
- Mobile Monitoring App – Receives data from the sensor and displays ambient light levels.
Step-by-Step Operation
- The Oxhy Powercore collects ambient energy and stores it in a capacitor.
- Once a voltage threshold is reached, the system activates the ALS sensor.
- The sensor measures the light level and transmits the data via Bluetooth to the mobile app.
- After data transmission, the system returns to energy accumulation mode, ready for the next cycle.
This smart energy cycle enables the sensor to function without batteries, ensuring a fully autonomous and long-lasting system.
Below are some images illustrating this innovative technology in action.
A Modular System: Beyond the ALS Sensor
The goal of the demonstrator is not just to validate Energy Harvesting for a single sensor, but to showcase the versatility of Oxhycell across multiple microelectronics applications.
For this reason, the ALS module has been integrated into a modular demonstrator, a set of building blocks for Energy Harvesting, which includes:
- Lighting Module – Controls LEDs powered by Oxhycell.
- Audio Module – Generates sounds or acoustic signals.
- Digital Display & Clock – Shows information and interacts with other modules.
- ALS Module – The core of the system for ambient light detection.
All these modules can be used independently or interconnected, showcasing Oxhycell’s potential for a wide range of real-world applications.
Current Limitations of the Demonstrator
The current ALS sensor demonstrator powered by Oxhycell is a first concrete step toward autonomous Energy Harvesting systems, but it still has some technical and operational limitations.
- The power density of the Oxhy Powercore is yet quite low and is designed for intermittent operation, meaning the system charges and discharges a capacitor in cycles. This can introduce a latency in data acquisition and transmission, which needs to be optimized for real-time applications.
- The current level of miniaturization, approximately 20 mm³ per cell, is still an area of development to enhance power output and reduce activation times.
- The firmware for power management requires further optimization to maximize energy efficiency, particularly in low-light environments.
The Roadmap to Miniaturization
Oxhy has outlined a development roadmap with a few but clear evolutionary phases:
Short-Term Goals
- Improve power management firmware to enhance efficiency.
- Develop new versions of the Oxhy Powercore with higher energy density and longer-lasting power delivery.
Mid-Term Goals
- Expand real-world testing in various environments to validate industrial and commercial applications.
- Optimize the communication interface to integrate with IoT networks and cloud platforms.
Long-Term Goals
- Further miniaturization and enhancement of the Oxhycell wafer technology.
- Scale production to meet commercial demand and expand industrial adoption.
This roadmap is paving the way for a more efficient, autonomous, and integrable solution, maximizing the potential of Energy Harvesting with Oxhycell and establishing it as a key technology for future sensor applications.
Towards a Battery-Free Future
Our ALS demonstrator powered by Oxhycell is a concrete step forward toward a future where electronic devices can operate without relying on batteries or wired power.
This technology opens up new opportunities in sectors such as:
- Smart Home & Automation – Light sensors, security, and environmental monitoring.
- Industrial IoT – Wireless monitoring and automation without complex wiring.
- Wearable Tech – Self-powered wearable devices.
With the support of Campania Startup, we have transformed a vision into a real, functioning solution. However, this is just the beginning—our goal is to further develop and scale this technology to integrate it into commercial Energy Harvesting solutions.
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