This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on developing a flexible, rugged, conformal form factor, self-powered system with integrated generation, harvesting, storage, sensing, and communication capability. The flexible form factor is suitable and designed for broad ranges of applications in small and large areas with conventional and autonomous deployment capability. To date most energy harvesting and autonomous sensor systems are limited to a single scavengable source with custom fabricated large form factors (~10-100 cm3) resulting in costly implementations, limited applications and commercial deployment. Consequently, this proposal focuses on integration of micropower harvesting, efficient energy management circuits and systems along with demonstrated range of thin-film multifunction materials such as flexible complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) circuits, solar cells and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), and high efficiency piezoelectric materials. The goal of this proposal will address the critical tasks of integration of energy generation, harvesting, storage, sensing, monitoring and communication circuit functions in a compact flexible form factor, envisioned to be the first such attempt to create a standalone conformal system. The thin-film processes proven individually are being designed to be integrated in linear, manufacturable, low cost and high volume compatible processes.
The broader impact/commercial potential of this project involves broad range of defense, industrial, and consumer applications that require self-powered and long life autonomous electronic systems that are emerging as one of the critical application segments in the coming decade. These span wireless sensor networks, remote structural health monitoring, inaccessible temperature and humidity sensing, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, and implantable biosensors. In addition, reduction in the size and power consumption of sensors and CMOS circuitry has increased proliferation of remote sensing especially in hazardous and inaccessible environments. Along with the fundamental form factor and active life limitation concern with batteries is their charging and replacement can be tedious and expensive. Development of multifunctional thin-film materials and their integration in generic and specific application solutions is proposed during the current and subsequent grant phases, and their commercialization. These systems can be envisioned to be implemented in flexible, conformal form factors suitable for broader applications such as smart fabrics, sports, health care, supply chain management, labels, credit cards, bio sensing patches and large area field deployment even in environments where conventional button cells are not practical making the solutions enabling at least three of the ten significant emerging technologies of the coming decade.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project focuses on developing components of a flexible, conformal form factor, self-powered system with integrated generation, harvesting, storage, sensing, and communication capability. The flexible form factor is suitable for broad ranges of applications in small and large areas with conventional and autonomous deployment capability. To date most energy harvesting and autonomous sensor systems are limited to a single scavengable source with custom fabricated large form factors (~10-100 cm3) resulting in costly implementations, limited applications making them impractical for practical and commercial deployment. Also, existing energy harvesting products are fragmented and not available as complete system solutions (that include all critical components such as energy harvesting transducer, power management, and storage) integrated in small form factors. This project addresses the critical tasks of integration of energy generation, harvesting, storage, sensing, monitoring and communication circuit functions in a compact flexible form factor. and system that plans to incorporate efficient energy management circuits and systems along with a range of thin-film multifunction materials such as flexible CMOS circuits, solar cells and OLEDs, and high efficiency piezoelectric materials. The thin-film processes, which have been demonstrated individually are being designed to be integrated using linear low cost and high volume manufacturability compatible processes. In this SBIR project Texas Micropower Inc. (TMP) and University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) have collaborated on the development of integrated small form factor multifunction thin film materials to realize components for integrated sensor monitoring system with options that include display, on board energy harvesting, storage and management circuits In Phase I, the team has successfully demonstrated the critical individual thin film, flexible functionality components and their modifications/enhancements for integration as a single unit, During subsequent grant phases (Phase II, IIB and commercialization) higher complexity functions such as standalone on board chips will be used for broader functionality and other component layers will be added for integration in configurations for generic and customer specific application environments. These systems can be envisioned to be implemented in flexible, conformal form factors suitable for applications such as smart fabrics, sports, health care, supply chain management, labels, credit cards, bio sensing patches and large area field deployment even in environments where conventional button cells are not practical making the solutions enabling at least three of the ten significant emerging technologies of the coming decade. Energy is the most critical need for broad industrial, defense, consumer, and medical devices for the growth of the portable electronic devices. Energy harvesting (EH) for autonomous micro power systems such as battery operated, remote wireless sensors, structural health monitoring, and embedded communications is becoming increasingly important With continuous improvements in the performance and miniaturization of the electronic components, semiconductor ICs, and sensors, cost effective energy sources such as battery power is becoming the major, if not the most critical, barrier for integration and deployment and use of personal electronics and remote monitoring systems. Battery systems have not kept pace over past five decades and other natural resources either are not cost competitive or miniature for effective integration. Broad range of portable embedded applications place a restriction on battery (power supply) size and consequently, require batteries to be replaced due to their limited energy density. The concern with batteries is that they must always be charged before use and battery replacement can be tedious, expensive, and in some embedded applications is not an option. Customers need to reduce or eliminate battery use due to expense, disposal, and often difficult replacement. Availability of cost effective energy source that can generate, store, and deliver power using natural as well as traditional sources has a very broad application potential in wide ranging segments. Some such applications are wireless sensors and active RFID tags used for real-time remote monitoring of structures such as bridges and aircrafts, monitoring of assets during transportation such as produce and materiel, homeland security, and implantable biosensors.
