RECOM's breakout board connects STMicroelectronics' STEVAL-STLCS01V1 SensorTile module to RECOM’s R-78S evaluation board. This technology enables the SensorTile to draw a stable 3.3 V from a AA battery down to voltages as low as 0.65 V. This makes it possible for engineers to utilize a high-capacity single-cell AA battery and calculate the application’s operational lifetime prior to production.

When powered through a coin cell, the input voltage can drop to below 2 V after only a few hours of use. This causes the Bluetooth Low Energy transmission unit to stop operating properly and leaves the energy from the coin cell battery wasted. This can be averted by incorporating the functionality of the R-78S, which boosts a single-cell AA battery voltage of 1.5 V up to a stable 3.3 V as demonstrated by the R-78S evaluation board.

Test points for measuring voltages and currents make it possible to effortlessly calculate the typical battery lifetime for the SensorTile in both active and standby modes. Combining a AA battery and the R-78S guarantees a long application lifetime while at the same time reducing maintenance costs. There is also an option to use external input voltage from other low voltage sources, such as energy harvesting devices, which are typical in remote applications.