Design considerations for photovoltaic energy harvesting in wearable devices
Abstract Wearable technology is emerging as a solution for various bio-mechanic and health-metric applications. Solar photovoltaic energy is a viable supplemental power source that can reduce battery size requirements in wearables. This study outlines the considerations for a wearable sleeve device...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-22232-x |
| _version_ | 1828164129818411008 |
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| author | Katherine A. Kim F. Selin Bagci Kristen L. Dorsey |
| author_facet | Katherine A. Kim F. Selin Bagci Kristen L. Dorsey |
| author_sort | Katherine A. Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Wearable technology is emerging as a solution for various bio-mechanic and health-metric applications. Solar photovoltaic energy is a viable supplemental power source that can reduce battery size requirements in wearables. This study outlines the considerations for a wearable sleeve device and its associated power converter system using commercially-available flexible photovoltaic panels located on the forearm. Investigation of the effects of curvature shows that while curvature of the panel around a forearm does reduce output power, the angle relative to the light source has a more pronounced effect on both output power and voltage characteristics. Among various panel arrangements on the forearm, that with five individual panels of smaller width provided the highest output power after the boost converter power stage. Testing under various static positions, the PV sleeve provided up to 94 mW outdoors, which can effectively reduce the battery size while maintaining user safety. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:21:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10bf80d6bce54de5bd1d323b5304e91d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:21:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-10bf80d6bce54de5bd1d323b5304e91d2022-12-22T03:53:47ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-10-0112111210.1038/s41598-022-22232-xDesign considerations for photovoltaic energy harvesting in wearable devicesKatherine A. Kim0F. Selin Bagci1Kristen L. Dorsey2Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan UniversityDepartment of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan UniversityDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern UniversityAbstract Wearable technology is emerging as a solution for various bio-mechanic and health-metric applications. Solar photovoltaic energy is a viable supplemental power source that can reduce battery size requirements in wearables. This study outlines the considerations for a wearable sleeve device and its associated power converter system using commercially-available flexible photovoltaic panels located on the forearm. Investigation of the effects of curvature shows that while curvature of the panel around a forearm does reduce output power, the angle relative to the light source has a more pronounced effect on both output power and voltage characteristics. Among various panel arrangements on the forearm, that with five individual panels of smaller width provided the highest output power after the boost converter power stage. Testing under various static positions, the PV sleeve provided up to 94 mW outdoors, which can effectively reduce the battery size while maintaining user safety.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-22232-x |
| spellingShingle | Katherine A. Kim F. Selin Bagci Kristen L. Dorsey Design considerations for photovoltaic energy harvesting in wearable devices Scientific Reports |
| title | Design considerations for photovoltaic energy harvesting in wearable devices |
| title_full | Design considerations for photovoltaic energy harvesting in wearable devices |
| title_fullStr | Design considerations for photovoltaic energy harvesting in wearable devices |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design considerations for photovoltaic energy harvesting in wearable devices |
| title_short | Design considerations for photovoltaic energy harvesting in wearable devices |
| title_sort | design considerations for photovoltaic energy harvesting in wearable devices |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-22232-x |
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