Murata and Nowi are working together to enable and simplify the development of sustainable energy autonomous IoT platforms for use in plug-and-forget applications.

The importance of energy harvesting for IoT platforms is becoming increasingly evident, as it plays a critical role in increasing the lifetime, usability and viability of IoT devices.

The objective of this collaboration is to bring to market reference platforms and designs that use Japanese firm Murata’s small, low power consumption LoRa modules, powered by Dutch company Nowi’s compact and efficient energy harvesting PMIC.

The 60 by 65mm modular platform is designed to increase development versatility for end users, offering LoRa connectivity by embedding Murata’s 1SJ or ABZ module and sending the data from the external sensor attached to the onboard sensor socket.

Combined with Nowi’s small NH2 energy harvesting PMIC, the platform allows for simple and fast development of low-cost energy autonomous LoRa connected products. The PMIC is designed to extract power efficiently from ambient energy sources to charge a wide variety of energy storage elements.

“Nowi’s small energy harvesting technology and its highly efficient MPPT feature is certainly the perfect sustainable choice to power our world’s smallest LoRa modem,” said Koichi Sorada, Murata product manager. “Our partnership will bolster the initiative to support customers in rapidly developing compact and energy efficient plug-and-forget LoRa solutions.”

Type 1SJ is a stand-alone or optionally AT-command controlled LoRaWan modem measuring 10.0 by 8.0 by 1.6 mm. It is based on the Semtech SX1262 RFIC. The device incorporates several low power modes that allow the real-time clock to operate while drawing a typical current of 1.3µA. Additionally, the resin mould package provides physical ruggedness with a -40 to +85˚C temperature range.

Type ABZ is another stand-alone compact module measuring 12.5 by 11.6 by 1.76mm, constructed in a metal shielded package and comprising a Semtech SX1276 long-range spread spectrum wireless transceiver.