Semiconductor firm e-peas unveiled a new power-management IC aimed at expanding the practical adoption of hybrid photovoltaic (PV) cells across consumer and industrial electronics, enabling devices to harvest energy seamlessly from both indoor and outdoor light sources.
The company introduced the AEM15820 on Wednesday, a single-chip PMIC engineered to handle the wide dynamic power range characteristic of hybrid PV cells. Unlike traditional PV technologies, which typically generate power optimally in either indoor or outdoor environments, hybrid cells can produce output ranging from microwatts under indoor lighting to several watts in direct sunlight. This capability opens up a broader set of applications for self-powered devices.
The AEM15820 is designed to manage the full power spectrum of hybrid PV cells efficiently. e-peas said it enables deployment in a wide array of consumer electronics, including self-charging headphones and charging cases, e-readers, and sports or hiking computers. Additional target markets include remote security cameras, smart glasses, power banks, and smart backpacks integrating energy modules.
Optimized for both batteries and lithium-ion capacitors (LiC), the PMIC features an ultra-low-power cold start of 5 µW at 275 mV. It offers an adjustable output voltage between 0.6 V and 3.3 V and supports up to 100 mA. The chip integrates a configurable source regulation mode to ensure safe and efficient energy transfer.
To handle fluctuating power levels, the device includes both low-power and high-power boost converters that switch automatically to maintain optimal efficiency. Designers can configure the IC via GPIO or I²C to set storage protection thresholds, thermal safeguards, load output, and voltage regulation. Additionally, a 5 V DC input enables fast charging from mains electricity.
“The AEM15820 is the first single-chip PMIC that truly spans the full dynamic range of hybrid cells, from microwatts to watts, making continuous charging of consumer devices practical at scale,” said Geoffroy Gosset, CEO and co-founder of e-peas. “This breakthrough doesn’t just improve existing designs; it enables entirely new categories of self-powered products. From smart consumer electronics to outdoor devices and emerging lifestyle gadgets, the number of applications now within reach expands dramatically.”
The PMIC is offered in a compact 5×5 mm QFN40 package, with evaluation boards available immediately.
