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Solar-Powered Location Tracker

Overview

Renesas' solar-powered location tracker is a modular asset tracking system featuring wireless connectivity via an LTE Cat-M1/NB-IoT cellular modem. Optionally, Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE) and Wi-Fi connectivity can be supported with additional radios through Pmod™ interfaces. A central MCU manages the system, balancing low power requirements with interface capabilities, performance, and flexibility. The system is powered and charged by photovoltaic (PV) solar cells or a USB Type-C® connection, ensuring efficient and sustainable operation.

System Benefits​:

  • Supports LTE Cat-M1 and NB-IoT 1 and 2 versions for robust cellular connectivity.
  • Software-assisted GNSS enhances location tracking capabilities.
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE support for versatile connectivity options.
  • Utilizes PV energy harvesting for sustainable power generation.
  • Unified firmware for various radio configurations.
  • Flexible power control to adjust to changing conditions.
  • Full Software Update Over-the-Air (SUOTA) support for seamless firmware updates.

Block Diagram

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4:3 ratioSheet.313Sheet.239Sheet.240Sheet.241Sheet.242Sheet.243Sheet.244Sheet.245Sheet.275Sheet.27612M12M12MSheet.1Sheet.2Sheet.3Sheet.4US249US249US249LNALNALNASIMSIMSIMPmodPmodPmodPMOD 3APmod 3APmod 3A PMOD 3APmod 3APmod 3AAntennaSheet.20Sheet.21Sheet.22Sheet.23Sheet.24Antenna.25Sheet.26Sheet.27Sheet.28Sheet.29Sheet.30Sheet.31Sheet.32Sheet.33Sheet.36Sheet.37Sheet.38Sheet.39Sheet.40Sheet.41Sheet.42Sheet.43Sheet.44Sheet.45Sheet.46Sheet.49Sheet.50Sheet.51Sheet.52Sheet.53InputInput.55Input.56Input.57Input.58Input.59Sheet.60Sheet.61Sheet.62Sheet.63Sheet.64Sheet.65Sheet.66Sheet.67Sheet.68Sheet.70Sheet.71Sheet.72Sheet.73Sheet.74Sheet.75GPIOGPIOGPIO3.1V+3.1V+3.1V+ GPIOGPIOGPIO Vbuck-boost 2.1V-3.3VVbuck-boost 2.1V-3.3VVbuck-boost 2.1V-3.3VJMPJMPJMP JMPJMPJMPVBATVBATVBAT VBATVBATVBATUART/I2CUART/I2CUART/I2CSheet.86Sheet.87Sheet.88ShuntSheet.90Sheet.91Sheet.92Shunt.93Sheet.94Sheet.95Sheet.96Shunt.97Sheet.98Sheet.99Sheet.100Ground - SignalSheet.102Sheet.103Sheet.104Sheet.105Sheet.106FET p-channelSheet.125Sheet.119Sheet.121Sheet.122Sheet.123Sheet.124Sheet.136Sheet.137Sheet.139Sheet.140Sheet.141Sheet.142Input.143Input.144Sheet.145Sheet.146To GPIOTo GPIOTo GPIOBattery Li-ion.171Sheet.149Sheet.150Sheet.151Sheet.153Sheet.154Sheet.155Sheet.156Sheet.157Resistor - VaristorSheet.159Sheet.160Sheet.162Sheet.163Sheet.164Li-ion 3V-4.2VLi-ion 3V-4.2VLi-ion3V-4.2VSheet.166Connector 1.173Sheet.169 I2CI2CI2CSheet.174Sheet.175Sheet.176Sheet.178Sheet.179Shunt.180Sheet.181Sheet.182Sheet.183Shunt.185Sheet.186Sheet.187Sheet.188Sheet.189Sheet.190 SolarSheet.195 SolarSolarSolar SolarSolarSolarSolar SolarSolarSolar SolarSolarSolarSheet.197 SolarSolarSolar SolarSolarSolarSheet.200 SolarSolarSolar SolarSolarSolarSheet.203 SolarSolarSolar SolarSolarSolarSheet.206SolarSolarSolarSolarSolarSolarInput.210Sheet.226USB-CUSB-CUSB-CSheet.213Sheet.214Sheet.215Sheet.216Sheet.217Sheet.218Sheet.219Sheet.220Sheet.221Sheet.222Sheet.223Sheet.224Sheet.225Sheet.22712 Cell Stack 8.3Vmax Vmpp~6.7V12 Cell Stack 8.3Vmax Vmpp~6.7V12 Cell Stack 8.3Vmax Vmpp~6.7V To ADCTo ADCTo ADC PMODPmodPmodVbuckboost 2.1V-3.3VVbuck-boost 2.1V-3.3VVbuck-boost 2.1V-3.3V Vbuckboost 2.1V-3.3VVbuck-boost 2.1V-3.3VVbuck-boost 2.1V-3.3VSheet.234Sheet.235Sheet.236Connector 1.173.237Connector 1.173.238Sheet.257Sheet.2722.1V-3V2.1V-3V2.1V-3VSheet.277Sheet.278Sheet.279Sheet.280Sheet.281Sheet.282Sheet.283Sheet.284Sheet.28532K32K32KSheet.287Sheet.288Sheet.289Sheet.290Sheet.292Sheet.314Sheet.315Sheet.316Sheet.317Sheet.318Sheet.319Sheet.320Sheet.321Sheet.324Sheet.325Sheet.326Sheet.327Sheet.328Sheet.329Sheet.330Sheet.331Sheet.332Sheet.333Sheet.334Sheet.335Sheet.336Sheet.337Sheet.338Sheet.339Sheet.340Sheet.341Sheet.342Sheet.343Sheet.344Sheet.345Sheet.346Sheet.347Sheet.348Sheet.349Sheet.350Sheet.351Sheet.352Sheet.353Sheet.354Sheet.355Sheet.356Sheet.357Sheet.358Sheet.359Sheet.360Bluetooth Low Energy & Wi-FiBluetooth Low Energy & Wi-FiBluetooth Low Energy & Wi-FiSheet.363Sheet.364Sheet.365Sheet.366Sheet.367 VBATVBATVBATTo ADCTo ADCTo ADCSheet.375Sheet.376I2CI2CI2C GPIOGPIOGPIOAntenna.391Sheet.392Sheet.393Sheet.394Sheet.395Sheet.396RF SwitchRF SwitchRF SwitchSheet.402Sheet.403 6666Sheet.4091.8V1.8V1.8VAccelerometerAccelero- meterAccelero-meterGround - Signal.414Sheet.416Sheet.417Sheet.418Sheet.419 PmodPmodPmodLTE-M ModuleLTE-M ModuleLTE-M ModuleLTE-M NB-IoTLTE-M NB-IoTLTE-M NB-IoTeSIMeSIMeSIMPMUPMUPMUUARTUARTUARTSheet.425ULP Wi-Fi SoCULP Wi-Fi SoCULP Wi-Fi SoCIEEE 802.11 b/g/nIEEE 802.11 b/g/nIEEE 802.11 b/g/nARM M4F 30-160MHzArm M4F 30-160MHzArm M4F 30-160MHzSPISPISPIQSPIQSPIQSPI PMUPMUPMUSecurity HW accSecurity HW accSecurity HW acc I2CI2CI2C UARTComponent block.631 UARTUARTUARTGPIOsGPIOsGPIOsSheet.426Flash MemoryFlash MemoryFlash Memory QSPIQSPIQSPIBluetooth Low EnergyBluetooth Low EnergyBluetooth Low Energy1A Load Switch 41A Load Switch1A Load Switch1A Load Switch 11A Load Switch1A Load Switch1A Load Switch 31A Load Switch1A Load Switch 1A Load Switch1A Load Switch1A Load SwitchUltra-Low lQ DC/DC Buck-BoostUltra-Low lQ DC/DC Buck-BoostUltra-Low lQ DC/DC Buck-BoostSwitching ChargerSwitching ChargerSwitching Charger3A Power Mux3A Power Mux3A Power MuxLow IQ DC/DC Buck-BoostLow IQ DC/DC Buck-BoostLow IQ DC/DC Buck-BoostGreenPAK Level TranslatorGreenPAK Level TranslatorGreenPAK Level TranslatorSheet.427ULP MCUULP MCUULP MCUAES CryptoAES CryptoAES CryptoUART/I2CUART/I2CUART/I2CUART/I2CUART/I2CUART/I2CFlash 256kBFlash 256kBFlash 256kBARM MO+Arm MO+Arm MO+ADCADCADC I2CI2CI2C SPISPISPI UARTUARTUARTRTCRTCRTCClockClockClock

ULP MCU

RA Arm Cortex-M MCUs

Low IQ DC/DC Buck-Boost

Buck-boost Regulators (Integrated FETs)

GreenPAK Level Translator

Dual Supply GreenPAK

1A Load Switch

Load Switches

1A Load Switch

Load Switches

1A Load Switch

Load Switches

1A Load Switch

Load Switches

Ultra-Low IQ DC/DC Buck-Boost

Buck-boost Regulators (Integrated FETs)

Switching Charger

Battery Charger ICs

3A Power Mux

Load Switches

ULP Wi-Fi SoC

Wi-Fi MCUs

Bluetooth Low Energy

Bluetooth Low Energy

Flash Memory

News & Blog Posts

Blog Post
Dec 6, 2022
I Can’t Find My Asset! Maybe One Size Asset Tracker Does Not Fit All

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