The chip uses low power to charge batteries from light or heat, protects batteries, and works for devices like sensors, remotes, and trackers.
Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) has released the AP4413 series, a set of low current power management ICs (PMICs) designed for battery charging in energy harvesting applications. The AP4413 series supports battery charging with a current consumption of 52 nA and includes four variants with voltage thresholds aligned with several rechargeable battery types. The AP4413 is packaged in a 3.0 × 3.0 × 0.37 mm HXQFN and entered mass production in February 2025.
The series includes AKM’s voltage monitoring system, which allows battery charging through energy harvesting. This function is used in applications such as remote controls, Bluetooth® trackers, and IoT sensors, which have used disposable batteries. This shift is noted in Europe, where Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 supports the evaluation of rechargeable batteries as a replacement.
AKM has experience in the development and production of PMICs for energy harvesting. These ICs allow system designers to use environmental energy sources, such as indoor light and body heat, to power electronic devices that use batteries. This is useful for IoT sensors, including CO2 monitors, placed in locations without power access and where battery replacement is difficult.
Some of the key features of the AP4413 series include:
- Uses very low power (52 nA)
- Four versions for different batteries
- Small 3.0 × 3.0 × 0.37 mm package
- Monitors battery voltage
- Charges from energy sources like light and heat
- For devices like remotes and sensors
- Works even if battery is empty
- Protects battery from over-draining
Energy harvesting for battery charging presents challenges due to low and unstable voltage and current levels. To address this, the AP4413 series keeps power consumption low and includes a voltage monitoring system that protects against battery discharge, supporting startup and recovery. The use of an inline capacitor (see Figure 2) allows the AP4413 series to operate systems when the battery is discharged while continuing to charge the battery.
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