UEI Bows Remote Control SoC Platform With Energy-Harvesting Technology

Universal Electronics Inc. unveiled at CES remote control SoCs in its QuickSet portfolio that use exceptionally low-power, energy-harvesting technology, the company announced Thursday. The new SoCs’ processor architecture and memory optimization deliver up to 2.5 times the processing power of current-generation SoCs, allowing for more “power-hungry” features without compromising battery life, it said. The SoCs deliver up to 80% lower power consumption, resulting in battery life up to 10 times longer, depending on remote architecture, it said. The platform supports integrated energy-harvesting circuitry that recovers energy already present in the home, including natural and artificial lights, RF from wireless devices and other energy sources. It also supports various energy storage and charging options with configurable, efficient power management that the company says enables “true self-powering.” UEI sees energy as “the currency for connected devices in the home, effectively eliminating the need to replace batteries in future products,” said UEI Senior Vice President-Product and Technology Arsham Hatambeiki. UEI will offer two products in the family: the UE961, with support for Bluetooth LE connectivity, and the UE962, which adds support for the built-in energy harvesting capabilities. In the next phase, UEI will launch a multiprotocol SoC, adding 802.15.4 compatibility, it said.