The art of minimizing power consumption

Company

BeAware has developed a sensor solution for real-time indoor air quality measurement. To bring this innovative product to life, they partnered with EKTOS, a specialist in electronic design, testing, and production.

Challenge

BeAware aimed to create a battery-powered air quality sensor that required efficient battery management for long-lasting performance and cost-effective production. Key challenges included integrating various sensors—such as CO2, RHT, PIR, and light sensors—along with an RF module for IoT connectivity.

Additionally, the product had to comply with international regulatory standards for CE marking, necessitating a careful approach to design and testing.

Solution

EKTOS undertook a systematic approach to address these challenges:

• Power Management: The engineering team meticulously designed the power domains to minimize consumption at every development stage, from early prototypes to the final version. They performed complex calculations to ensure that the battery could power the sensors for years.
• Communication Technology: EKTOS selected Sigfox for its low-power RF communication, optimizing the data transmission process. This involved striking a balance between data volume, link budget, and output power, which required careful selection and matching of the antenna.
• Display Technology: The team chose e-ink technology for the display, which only consumes power when the content changes. This choice supported the requirement for frequent updates—every 10-15 seconds—without draining the battery, while still providing high contrast and readability.
• Design for Manufacturing (DFM): During the design phase, EKTOS used easily available components that could be machine-mounted, ensuring cost-effectiveness and simplifying the production process at TECHTO Electronics. Frequent measurements of radio performance and electromagnetic compatibility were conducted to meet the requirements of the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) for CE marking.

Result

EKTOS successfully transformed BeAware’s concept into a viable product: a cost-effective, technically sound air quality sensor. The design achieved long battery life, integrated seamlessly with multiple sensors, and met international regulatory standards. With its optimized production processes, the product is ready for market launch, providing a reliable solution for monitoring indoor air quality.