Solar Energy 3 Click - 1V8

How does it work?

Solar Energy 3 Click - 1V8 is based on the NEH2000BY, an energy-harvesting PMIC from Nexperia that harnesses solar energy for low-power applications. The NEH2000BY uses a photovoltaic (PV) cell, specifically the AMG-1401C, assembled on the board. The AMG-1401C is a hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cell known for its nearly perfect black-reflective surface and larger active area. This high-efficiency solar cell, with an efficiency greater than 20%, is among the most effective indoor amorphous solar cells available. This high-performance energy harvesting solution is designed for 1.8V low-power applications, making it ideal for indoor and outdoor IoT devices, sensor nodes, asset trackers, and remote controls. It efficiently harvests energy even in low light and artificial light environments.

The harvested energy charges a rechargeable battery or supercapacitor connected to the VBAT header (J1) on the board's bottom side. A battery should not be over-charged. Continuing charging, in that case, can damage the battery. An energy harvester, the NEH2000BY, should stop harvesting once the battery is fully charged. This can be implemented by activating the automatic harvest-disable feature by populating the R10 resistor that activates the TLV840NADL35DBVR, which detects when VBAT has reached a voltage of 3.6V. This voltage is a condition for creating a disabled signal to the NEH2000BY. Once the 3.6V VBAT is detected, the TLV840NADL35DBVR turns off the harvester.

For its control, the Solar Energy 3 Click - 1V8 uses only the DIS and RDY pins of the mikroBUS™ socket. The DIS pin is used to deactivate harvesting when the battery is full. The NEH2000BY is active when this pin is in a LOW logic state. When the device's Start-Up sequence is complete, the RDY pin indicates a HIGH logic state. Additionally, the board includes numerous test points for various signals from the NEH2000BY, such as ready and disable signals and VBAT/VREF/VIN voltages, allowing for seamless prototyping and testing.

This Click board™ is designed to serve as a power source for systems like harvestKIT™, an advanced energy harvesting reference design platform that enhances the energy efficiency of various devices. Operating exclusively at a 1.8V logic voltage, it offers flexibility in power management and is intended for powering small consumers, or their batteries up to 3.6V.

harvestKIT

Ambiq’s harvestKIT™ is an advanced energy harvesting reference design platform that significantly enhances the energy efficiency of various devices. It empowers developers to create more sustainable and energy-efficient products. By harnessing energy from the environment, it can extend the life of batteries or, in some cases, eliminate the need for them entirely by using supercapacitors and other energy storage elements. This platform is ideal for applications such as smart home and building automation, remote monitoring, video game controllers, wearables, asset trackers, and factory automation. You can find more detailed information and explore how harvestKIT™ can benefit your projects on its product page.

Specifications

Pinout diagram

This table shows how the pinout on Solar Energy 3 Click - 1V8 corresponds to the pinout on the mikroBUS™ socket (the latter shown in the two middle columns).

Notes	Pin					Pin	Notes
Harvester Disable	DIS	1	AN	PWM	16	NC
	NC	2	RST	INT	15	RDY	Device Ready
ID COMM	CS	3	CS	RX	14	NC
	NC	4	SCK	TX	13	NC
	NC	5	MISO	SCL	12	NC
	NC	6	MOSI	SDA	11	NC
Power Supply (3.3V/1.8V)	3.3V	7	3.3V	5V	10	NC
Ground	GND	8	GND	GND	9	GND	Ground

Onboard settings and indicators

Solar Energy 3 Click - 1V8 electrical specifications