SMK Electronics, the US-based subsidiary of Japan-based SMK Corporation that designs and manufactures electronic components and sub-assemblies, has unveiled a self-contained power supply (SCPS) solar-powered coin cell battery called HarvestLoop.
It uses the formfactor of the CR-2032 cells and was showcased first at CES 2025 as an energy harvesting module combined with low-powered communication via Bluetooth 5.3.
The aim of the product is to get rid of the need to replace batteries in low-powered and long-lifespan devices, particularly for remote controllers and sensors which currently use disposable CR-2032 cells.
These disposable cells are said to end up in landfill and need to be replaced often, the company said.
The module, which would have an integrated photovoltaic (PV) cell, would use solar power to generate electricity. The PV cell would have a diameter of 16mm which would be the active area, and the module would have four cells in total.
Overall, the cell is 20mm in diameter length, with 3.2mm in height.
The battery capacity is listed by the firm as 4mAh and it has an output voltage of 3V, plus or minus 2%. The maximum discharge current is said to be 15mA.
It is said to also have support for wireless power transmission (WPT) with an external antenna to allow it to be used in places where solar power generation is a challenge.
The applications it could be used for are said to include automotive key fobs, internet of things (IoT) trackers, and PC peripherals.
Image: The Self-Contained Power Supply (SCPS) cell from SMK, which received a CES Innovation Award. Credit: SMK Electronics.
