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- Development division of a manufacturer of electronic shelf labels
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manufacturer of electronic shelf labelsDevelopment division
Solving Power Problems in Pick-to-Light Fulfillment Systems“Pick-to-light” shelf label systems are indispensable in fulfillment centers but pose unique challenges.
Solutions
Robust, Maintenance-Free Solution that Enables Solar Cells Used Indoors
Solution Offered by EnerCera battery
The EnerCera range includes 2.3V models*. This is close to the output voltage of a photovoltaic cell, and enables the use of simple circuit designs. These batteries can also withstand a large number of charge/discharge cycles.
The 0.45mm-thick EnerCera Pouch can be combined with a flexible solar cell to create a shelf label in a credit-card shaped, or bendable, package.
EnerCera batteries can also be combined with dye-sensitized solar cells for a maintenance-free power supply in factories or fulfilment centers.
NGK’s relationships with multiple dye-sensitized solar cell and power supply IC manufacturers enable it to offer a wide variety of reference designs for power supply circuits.
*EnerCera Coin and EnerCera Pouch model ET271704P-H.
Ultra-Compact EnerCera Battery Perfect Complement to Photovoltaic Cells
It was then that the product development division, which had been eagerly gathering information on battery options, came across a website containing information on applications for the ultra-compact EnerCera lithium ion rechargeable battery. After verifying the battery’s specifications, the team decided it might be the solution to their problems. They immediately contacted the manufacturer and arranged for samples to be delivered and a proposal to be made. The NGK representative told them that because both the EnerCera Coin and the EnerCera Pouch operated at voltages close to the 2.3 volts output of a photovoltaic cell, only simple charging circuitry was required. The batteries could also withstand a high number of charge/discharge cycles, giving them a long life, and could be charged in constant voltage mode, thereby eliminating the need for a charger IC. A more compact charging circuit also means that the shelf labels themselves can be made more compact. Furthermore, the 0.45mm-thick EnerCera Pouch can be combined with flexible photovoltaic cells to create credit-card shaped, or bendable shelf labels.
Maintenance Free Power System
The client also received a proposal from NGK a maintenance-free power source of the EnerCera battery combined with dye-sensitized solar cells. Because these cells deliver high output even at indoor light levels, when combined with EnerCera battery, they allow ESLs for factory and warehouse applications to be used without the need for battery replacement. Furthermore, because NGK collaborates with several manufacturers of dye-sensitized solar cells and power supply ICs, they were able to offer a wide variety of reference designs for power supply circuits.
In the interests of enabling more freedom in the design process, the client had NGK refer them to a manufacturer of photovoltaic cells that was ideal for their project, and it was ultimately agreed that the client would co-develop their device in collaboration with NGK and the dye-sensitized solar cell manufacturer. The client’s customer is currently testing this prototype ESL at a warehouse.
The client has also decided to trial EnerCera battery coupled to wireless power transfer (WPT) technology in its next generation of products.
