What should be considered when designing a light energy harvesting (LEH) device?

Designing a light energy harvesting (LEH) device requires consideration of both the application requirements and how the system components work together within the available energy and application needs. 

Application needs 
Define how the product will be used and how often it needs to process and transmit data. These factors determine the required energy demand. Wireless communication is one of the most energy-consuming functions. Carefully consider how often data needs to be sent, as starting up the radio and transmitting data consumes significant power. 

Define the system goal 
Clarify whether the objective is a fully energy-autonomous system or extended battery lifetime. This will guide architecture and design decisions. 

Minimize quiescent current 
Reduce all continuous power consumption. Any leakage or quiescent current, components that draw power even when inactive, can significantly impact the energy needed. 

Maximize time in sleep mode 
Keep the system in sleep mode as much as possible. Active operation should only occur when necessary.

Optimize the system as a whole 
Performance depends on how well all components—solar cell, power management, energy storage, microcontroller, and radio—work together. It is important to ensure they are well matched to the application and operating conditions.  

The Epishine team will guide you in selecting and optimizing these components to ensure the system works efficiently under your specific conditions.