Alliance for wireless, batteryless control claims 100 members

The EnOcean Alliance, a group formed to promote interoperable wireless sensor networks based on technology from EnOcean GmbH, is just over one year old and claims to have grown to more than 100 members.

EnOcean (Oberhaching, Germany) was founded in 2001 as a spin-off from Siemens AG research labs. Its charter is to create sensors that are wireless, that scavange energy from the environment and are reliable enough to be maintenance free. The company has been oriented towards in-building networks such as wireless lighting, heating and ventilation controls.

EnOcean controls regenerate power for the wireless communication of control signals using ambient sources of energy such as light, temperature and motion. For example the "click" of a light switch can be used to send the "on" or "off" command to the light fitting without the need for wiring. Although such fittings require transcievers they can save the material and building cost of miles of copper wiring in large buildings.

After one year there are 113 companies in the EnOcean Alliance including Masco, Distech Controls, Philips Ledalite and Osram Sylvania, EnOcean said. These companies have engineered products that simplify building installations by using wireless and energy harvesting sensors, switches and controls.

The company said that more than 100,000 buildings worldwide have been automated using EnOcean-based controls and that this is more than any other wireless standard.

"Lighting professionals welcome the simplicity and flexibility that comes standard with EnOcean-based controls. The combination of energy harvesting and radio technologies is creating an equally compelling story in the HVAC market," said Jim O'Callaghan, president of EnOcean operations in North America, in a statement.

EnOcean was included in the Silicon 60 list of emerging startups between May 2006 and February 2008

(Source www.powermanagementdesignline.com, 11.09.2009)