Innovative Energy
RF Energy Harvesting Perpetually Powers Wireless Sensors
July 18, 2011 1:18 pm | by Harry Ostaffe, Powercast Corporation, www.powercastco.com | Articles | CommentsWhile the power from RF energy is typically very low, RF energy is unique among energy-harvesting options because it can either be harvested from ambient energy or intentionally broadcasted to provide more reliable power-over-distance using very little energy from the electric grid.
Solar Engineering & Manufacturing Association Holds Informative July Meeting
July 18, 2011 7:07 am | News | CommentsThe Solar Engineering & Manufacturing Association (SEMA) announces that it held a standing room only meeting on July 14 at the Palomar Hotel in San Francisco in conjunction with the recent Intersolar NA/SEMICON West expos. A wide range of
Energy and Cost Savings from LED-Backlit LCD TVs Not Communicated to Consumers
July 18, 2011 6:30 am | News | CommentsAccording to an analysis in the DisplaySearch Q2’11 Quarterly TV Design and Features Report, brands are missing an opportunity to market LED-backlit LCD TVs based on cost savings.
Achieving Higher Reliability and Uptime with Flywheels
July 14, 2011 10:27 am | by Erik Brumbaugh, VYCON (www.vyconenergy.com) | Blogs | CommentsVirtualization, cloud computing, advanced server technology, mobile apps and the like all have one thing in common: they need to be highly available and the foundation of this availability is power.
The Roundtable - What does 'Green' Mean to You?
July 14, 2011 7:33 am | Articles | CommentsThis month's question is: Everyone talks about “Green” technology, but it means a great many things to a great many people. What does “green” technology mean to your company?
Trends in Smart Grid and Alternate Energy
July 13, 2011 12:59 pm | by Nagarajan Sridhar, Texas Instruments, www.ti.com | Articles | CommentsWith global prosperity on the rise, the demand for energy is increasing and is approximately expected to double by 2030. In parallel, there is a concern of energy supply issues on the long run. This has resulted in an increasing activity and proliferation of employing sustainable/alternate energy sources and improved energy transmission methods over the last decade from all fronts
Amplifier enables current measurement in green energy applications
July 13, 2011 11:56 am | Product Releases | CommentsTexas Instruments introduced an isolated amplifier and a delta-sigma modulator that enable best-in-class shunt-based current measurement in motor control and green energy applications. The AMC1200 isolated amplifier and AMC1204 delta-sigma modulator...
The Tinker's Toolbox - Ross Bannatyne of Silicon Labs on Wireless Energy Harvesting
July 13, 2011 11:51 am | Podcasts | CommentsIn this episode we talk to Ross Bannatyne from Silicon Labs on wireless energy harvesting, wireless "smart dust" sensor networks, and the power electronics to manage energy drawn from the ambient.
Air Power: New Device Captures Ambient Electromagnetic Energy to Drive Small Electronic Devices
July 12, 2011 5:29 am | News | CommentsResearchers have discovered a way to capture and harness energy transmitted by such sources as radio and television transmitters, cell phone networks and satellite communications systems.
Sakor Technologies Delivers Alternative Fuels Research Dynamometer Test Cell
July 11, 2011 8:17 am | News | CommentsSAKOR Technologies, Inc. announced that it has delivered a single-cylinder research engine test cell to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The advanced dynamometer test cell will enable NREL to investigate fuel effects on advanced combustion engine strategies. The test cell is comprised of
Lighting Science Group CEO Asks Congress Not to Roll Back Light Bulb Energy Efficiency Standards
July 11, 2011 8:06 am | News | CommentsLighting Science Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Haworth issued the following statement regarding the movement to pass the Better Use of Light Bulbs Act, H.R. 2417...
Flywheel Systems Offer a Green Alternative to Power Protection
July 8, 2011 9:33 am | by by Dann McKeraghan, VYCON (www.vyconenergy.com) | Blogs | CommentsWhen disaster strikes from harsh weather environments, power surges, or rolling blackouts, mission critical computing systems and manufacturing processes are at the highest risk of going down.
Ribbon Attach Conductive Adhesive Touts Desirable Conductivity for Silicon Solar Modules
July 7, 2011 8:42 am | Product Releases | CommentsEngineered Conductive Materials, LLC, a leading global supplier of conductive interconnect materials for photovoltaic applications, introduced the DB-1541-S3 Conductive Stringer Attach Adhesive for use in thin-film, organic and thinned silicon solar modules. This material formulation has
DC Connectors and Terminals Are IP67-sealed with Internal Locking Mechanism
July 6, 2011 2:11 pm | Product Releases | CommentsMolex is expanding its range of SolarSpec products with the development of pin (male) and socket (female) panel-mount DC connectors. The IP67-sealed, SolarSpec panel-mount DC connectors, with internal locking and touch-proof design for
Michigan Researchers Create 'Optical Battery'
June 16, 2011 4:29 am | News | CommentsA dramatic and surprising magnetic effect of light discovered by University of Michigan researchers could lead to solar power without traditional semiconductor-based solar cells.
TI Concerto Real-time Control Microcontroller Demo
June 14, 2011 5:24 am | Videos | CommentsKeith Ogboenyiya of Texas Instruments recently stopped by the ECN offices to demonstrate the company's new C2000 Concerto dual-core microcontroller (MCU) series.
A Mentor’s Perspective on EcoCAR
June 11, 2011 10:07 am | by Pete Maloney, Mathworks, www.mathworks.com | Blogs | CommentsThe stated mission of EcoCar is to find new ways to reduce the environmental impact of motor vehicles and prepare future engineering leaders for that task by providing
Battery Charging IC Improves Device Efficiency
June 6, 2011 4:40 am | Stmicroelectronics | Product Releases | CommentsThe small strips of solar cells seen in the front panels of today’s small portable consumer, healthcare and security devices are set to become a more valuable source of free energy with help from a new battery charging IC from STMicroelectronics.
Smart Parking Sensor Platform Saves Motorists Time and Fuel
June 1, 2011 6:06 am | News | CommentsLibelium announced the launch of its Waspmote-based Smart Parking platform, designed to be buried in parking spaces and to detect the arrival and departure of vehicles.
EasyStreet Selects VYCON's Clean Energy Storage Flywheel Systems to Protect its Green Data Center
June 1, 2011 4:58 am | News | CommentsVYCON announced that cloud, managed services, and colocation provider EasyStreet Online Services has chosen to protect its state-of-the-art data center with its clean backup power systems.
Getting Ready for the Finals
May 31, 2011 7:42 am | by John Kruckenberg | Blogs | CommentsThe Ohio State University EcoCAR team is making last tuning and aesthetic changes before the final EcoCAR competition, to be held June 6-16 at General Motors’ Milford Proving Grounds in Michigan and in Washington, D.C. After March emissions testing and tuning at the EPA, the main concerns for finishing the vehicle relate to
Electric Vehicle Fast Chargers Allow Back-Office Integration
May 31, 2011 5:43 am | Product Releases | CommentsEpyon Power, the leading European supplier of intelligent fast-charging solutions for electric vehicles, today announced compatibility with the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) and said that it will also embrace other commonly used standards for back-office integration.
Junction Box Houses IP68 Photovoltaic Modules
May 23, 2011 7:28 am | Product Releases | CommentsYamaichi Electronics has developed a photovoltaic junction box for crystalline solar modules for the Y-Sol product family. The Eco-Si J-Box is designed for photovoltaic modules with an IP protection class of IP68. This permits
Paying Tribute to the Legacy of Earth Day
April 27, 2011 1:26 pm | by Paul Smith, MathWorks, and Tyler Joswick, The Ohio State University | Blogs | CommentsThis past Friday marked the 41st Earth Day. The past 40 years have demonstrated the growing global green movement, reinforced each year by Earth Day to celebrate and spread awareness of environmental protection and sustainability. Earth Day’s goals of environmental protection and sustainability are echoed by the EcoCAR Challenge, its organizers, participating student teams, and sponsors.
Position Sensors Enhance Solar Energy Output
April 14, 2011 7:31 am | Product Releases | CommentsPOSITAL's Optocode (OCD) rotary encoders and Accelens (ACS) inclinometers, when used in tracking systems of advanced solar power installations, provide the controller with
