Renesas Extreme Low-Power SOTB Process Technology Uses Energy Harvesting and Very Low Current Levels to Power Connected Devices

Renesas Electronics unveiled an innovative energy-harvesting embedded controller that can eliminate the need to use or replace batteries in connected devices. Developed based on Renesas' breakthrough SOTB (silicon-on-thin-buried-oxide) process technology, the new embedded controller achieves extreme reduction in both active and standby current consumption, a combination that was not previously possible to achieve in conventional microcontrollers (MCUs).

STMicroelectronics new STWBC-EP device supports the Qi Extended Power (15 W) profile, enabling smartphones and tablets to be charged up to three times more quickly. The device combines best-in-class energy efficiency, consuming just 16 mW in standby and is able to wirelessly transfer more than 80% of the total input power, with unique features created by ST to enhance the user experience.

To ease the mobile computing industry’s transition to the new interface and lower-voltage designs, Microchip worked with Intel to create the first scalable family of devices to support both new Enhanced Serial Peripheral Interface (eSPI) and existing Low Pin Count (LPC) interface allowing designers to easily reuse IP across multiple x86 platforms.