Freescale Semiconductor unveiled new technology for power conversion for photovoltaic devices at this year’s Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC) in mid-February. The breakthrough comes in the form of a tiny integrated circuit that boosts ultra-low voltage (produced by solar cells) up to levels high enough to start up small devices like cell phones.Energy Boost for Solar Cells
The impact of this could be monumental for small electronic devices. The long-standing problem surrounding small solar applications has been this: it has been difficult to extract more than 0.3 volts from a single solar cell, not enough to start up and operate a typical cell phone. Therefore, solar cells must be arranged in strings, eventually forming panels for larger uses. Unfortunately, a string of solar cells only produces as much power as its weakest link, which means that if one cell is shaded, mismatched, or damaged, the entire string suffers. Freescale’s circuit technology — a tiny DC-to-DC converter — is able to boost the voltage from a single cell to usable levels without external assistance.
From Panels to Single Cells
The impacts of this on daily life could be huge. The ability to extract usable power from a single solar cell could mean solar powered phones that are smaller and cheaper. Freescale’s circuit could make that string of cells smaller or even unnecessary, reducing the effect of shading while increasing efficiency.
This technology is already being tested by select customers and, should it succeed, will not be limited to cell phones. Other electronic devices could more easily be solar powered and made smaller as well. Remote controls, garage door openers, and flashlights are just a few examples. Freescale hopes to begin selling the circuit to its customers by the middle of 2009.
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