Autonomous Electrochemical Power Source with Wireless Communication for MEMS Devices

The development of a battery-based power source for MEMS devices in nano and microsatellites is proposed. The power source combines a thin-film battery and supercapacitor in a configuration suitable for both continuous low power and pulsed powerapplications. The power source will be controlled and recharged through a wireless communications link that also controls the MEMS device and allows downloading of data acquired by MEMS-based sensors during autonomous operation. The Phase I program willdemonstrate the fabrication of the battery and supercapacitor in a form suitable for interconnection with MEMS devices. An RF-telemetry based interface to the power source will be designed and used to establish thin-film antenna geometries, recharge ratesand bandwidth for data transmission. The design will determine the performance envelope of the power source and communications link and identify applications for Phase II development. In Phase II, fully integrated MEMS devices that operate autonomouslywith the proposed power source will be fabricated and tested. An end-user will be identified to act as a test-bed for the devices in an Air Force application and provide a near-term commercial opportunity.MEMS devices have significant commercial potentialfor stress and acceleration measurement in the aerospace industry. MEMS applications in chemical sensing, microanalysis, and miniature machinery are emerging. The availability of an equally small power source with wireless communication is essential to thesuccessful implementation of MEMS in many of these applications. As such, there appears to be major commercial potential for the proposed power source in MEMS applications as well as non-MEMS applications in medical devices, wireless testing, and in anyapplication requiring a small autonomous power source.