Micropelt's TE-Power-Bolt Generates up to 15mW Power from Excess Heat

Makes Wireless Sensors Maintenance Free
FREIBURG, Germany--(Business Wire)--
Micropelt GmbH, manufacturer of thin-film thermoelectric chip-like
devices, announces the TE-Power-Bolt, a voltage adjustable thermal
battery that uses excess heat to generate electrical energy for
devices that consume only a few milliwatts (mW) of power, such as
wireless sensor nodes. With its micro-thermogenerator that is built
into an M24 steel screw, the Power-Bolt can harvest energy from
surfaces and structures from 10-20 degrees Celsius over ambient
temperature or directly from hot liquids. Output power can range from
0.2 to over 15mW and is voltage-stabilized by an integrated DC-DC
converter which can be set to fixed voltages between 1.2 and 5 Volts.

The TE-Power-Bolt is an easy-to-deploy self-sustaining energy
supply that sticks out about 2.2" (55mm) from its host's warm or hot
surface. By exposing the cylindrical 1.5" (38.1mm) diameter aluminium
heat sink to fresh air, the TE-Power-Bolt acts as a 'never-charge
battery' which provides a few milliwatts, depending upon actual
thermal conditions. Continuous air flow multiplies the output
instantly. Heat can also be obtained from liquids by screwing the bolt
into the threaded hole of a hot liquid container or a pipe. The design
is presently in the prototype phase.

"More and more low-power wireless sensor nodes and similar devices
are being offered; however, most industries simply dislike batteries,"
said Micropelt CEO Fritz Volkert. "The TE-Power-Bolt can work for them
as an infinite maintenance-free battery for infrequent duty cycle
applications. As a component manufacturer, we are looking to license
this technology to strong industry partners wanting to integrate it
into devices or build generic 'green' power supplies."

Photos available at
www.micropelt.com/images/im_press/power_bolt.jpg and
www.micropelt.com/images/im_press/power_bolt_el.jpg

About Micropelt

Micropelt GmbH resulted from a seven year research cooperation
between Infineon Technologies AG and the Fraunhofer IPM Institute.
Micropelt develops and markets miniaturized thermoelectric components,
such as Peltier coolers and thermogenerators, based on a patented
scalable MEMS micro-structuring wafer platform technology.
Dramatically reduced component and feature sizes let Micropelt
products reduce power consumption and package size in fiber
optics and photonic sensors, provide enormous thermal cycling power to
new and existing bio-chemical applications, and feed
wireless sensors and other low-power electronics via
high-voltage energy harvesting. The company's strong engineering
support facilitates industrialization. For more information contact:
Micropelt at +49(0)761 156 337 0, info@micropelt.com, or visit our
website at www.micropelt.com.

Micropelt GmbH
Elisabeth Frey
Phone: +49 (0) 761-156-337-0
Fax: +49 (0) 761-156-337-21
E-mail: elisabeth.frey@micropelt.com
or
A R Marketing, Inc.
Andrea Roberts (agency)
Phone: +1 858-451-8666
E-mail: andrea@armarketinginc.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008