The ultra-low power RSL10 SIP provides a Bluetooth low power switch for energy capture

     On Semiconductor, driving energy efficiency innovation, has introduced a Bluetooth low-power switch reference design that operates entirely on captured energy, defining a new level of ultra-low power consumption for the Internet of Things (IoT). The platform demonstrates how the RSL10 System-level Package (SIP) can support battery-free and fully self-powered Bluetooth 5 devices without additional energy. Examples of applications include wall and lighting control, building automation, and asset tracking.

     The combination of the highly integrated, extremely low-power RSL10 SIP and the innovative energy harvesting technology developed by ZF Friedrichshafen AG provides the ideal platform for a variety of IoT applications. The RSL10 radio has a fully integrated antenna and all passive components; RSL10 SIP simplifies system design and minimizes bill of materials.

     The switch reference design provides a complete bill of material (BoM), circuit diagram, PCB layout and Gerber file, as well as a free switch side firmware. The included source code provides a platform for developing application code, and the documentation includes detailed notes on how to customize the firmware and connect the reference design to a Bluetooth low-power scanner application running on a smartphone or tablet. Unique new features include the elimination of a step-boost converter, simplified import design and improved performance, as well as intelligent dimming.

     The technology developed by ZF captures the energy transmitted when a user presses a button. The switch converts energy from kinetic energy to electromagnetic energy and stores it for use by the RSL10 SIP. The fully integrated energy harvesting scheme generates 300 uJ of energy each time the button is pressed. This is enough to meet the extremely low power requirements of the RSL10 SIP, which is only 62.5 nW in deep sleep and 10 mW in transceiver.

     Wiren Perera, Head of iot at ON Semiconductor, said: "Energy harvesting is increasingly important for iot deployments because it eliminates power, battery costs, replacement costs, and is inherently environmentally friendly. Based on the industry's lowest power Bluetooth radio, the Energy Capture Bluetooth Low Power Switch is the perfect starting point for self-powered Bluetooth IoT applications. In addition to the reference hardware design, ON Semiconductor offers a firmware kit that can be customized using the RSL10 Software Development Kit (SDK)."