Q1. Why choose supercapacitors over traditional batteries for low-light remote controls?
F: Low-light remote controls require extremely low power consumption and intermittent operation. Supercapacitors offer an extremely long cycle life (over 100,000 cycles), fast charge and discharge capabilities (suitable for intermittent charging in low-light conditions), a wide operating temperature range (-20°C to +70°C), and are maintenance-free. They perfectly address the core pain points of traditional batteries in low-light applications: high self-discharge, short cycle life, and poor low-temperature performance.
Q:2. What are the core advantages of YMIN lithium-ion supercapacitors over double-layer supercapacitors?
F: YMIN’s lithium-ion supercapacitors offer high capacity and significantly improved energy density within the same volume. This means they can store more energy within the limited space of low-light remote controls, supporting more complex functions (such as voice) or longer standby time.
Q:3. What are the special requirements for supercapacitors in achieving the ultra-low quiescent power consumption (100nA) of low-light remote controls?
F: Supercapacitors must have an extremely low self-discharge rate (YMIN products can achieve <1.5mV/day). If the capacitor’s self-discharge current exceeds the system’s quiescent current, the harvested energy will be depleted by the capacitor itself, causing the system to malfunction.
Q:4. How should the charging circuit for the YMIN supercapacitor be designed in a low-light energy harvesting system?
F: A dedicated energy harvesting charging management IC is required. This circuit must be able to handle extremely low input currents (nA to μA), provide constant-voltage charging of the supercapacitor (such as YMIN’s 4.2V product), and provide overvoltage protection to prevent the charging voltage from exceeding the specified level in strong sunlight.
Q:5. Is the YMIN supercapacitor used as the main power source or backup power source in a low-light remote control?
F: In a battery-free design, the supercapacitor is the sole main power source. It needs to continuously power all components, including the Bluetooth chip and microcontroller. Therefore, its voltage stability directly determines the system’s reliable operation.
Q:6. How can the impact of voltage drop (ΔV) caused by supercapacitor instantaneous discharge on the low-voltage microcontroller be addressed?
F: The MCU operating voltage in a low-light remote control is typically low, and voltage drops are common. Therefore, a low-ESR supercapacitor should be selected, and a low-voltage detection (LVD) function should be incorporated into the software design. This will put the system into hibernation before the voltage drops below the threshold, allowing the capacitor to recharge.
Q:7 What is the significance of YMIN supercapacitors’ wide operating temperature range (-20°C to +70°C) for low-light remote controls?
F: This ensures the reliability of remote controls in various home environments (such as in cars, on balconies, and indoors during winter in northern China). In particular, their low-temperature rechargeability overcomes the critical issue of traditional lithium batteries, which cannot charge at low temperatures.
Q:8 Why can YMIN supercapacitors still ensure fast startup after a low-light remote control has been stored for a long time?
F: This is due to their ultra-low self-discharge characteristics (<1.5mV/day). Even after being stored for months, the capacitors still retain sufficient energy to quickly provide the system with startup voltage upon receiving low light, unlike batteries that deplete due to self-discharge.
Q:9 How does the lifespan of YMIN supercapacitors affect the product lifecycle of low-light remote controls?
F: The lifespan of a supercapacitor (100,000 cycles) far exceeds the expected lifespan of a remote control, truly achieving “lifetime maintenance-free.” This means there are no recalls or repairs due to energy storage component failure throughout the product’s lifecycle, significantly reducing the total cost of ownership.
Q:10. Does the low-light remote control design require a backup battery after using YMIN supercapacitors?
F: No. The supercapacitor is sufficient as the primary power source. Adding batteries would introduce new issues such as self-discharge, limited lifespan, and low-temperature failure, defeating the purpose of a battery-free design.
Q:11. How does the “maintenance-free” nature of YMIN supercapacitors reduce the total cost of the product?
F: Although the cost of a single capacitor cell may be higher than that of a battery, it eliminates the maintenance costs of user battery replacement, the mechanical costs of the battery compartment, and after-sales repair costs due to battery leakage. Overall, the total cost is lower.
Q:12. Besides remote controls, what other energy harvesting applications can YMIN supercapacitors be used for?
F: It’s also suitable for any intermittent, low-power IoT devices, such as wireless temperature and humidity sensors, smart door sensors, and electronically sluggish labels (ESLs), achieving permanent battery life.
Q:13 How can YMIN supercapacitors be used to implement a “buttonless” wake-up function for remote controls?
F: The fast charging characteristics of supercapacitors can be exploited. When the user picks up the remote control and blocks the light sensor, a tiny current change is generated to charge the capacitor, triggering an interrupt to wake up the MCU, enabling a “pick up and go” experience without physical buttons.
Q:14 What implications does the success of the low-light remote control have for IoT device design?
F: It demonstrates that “battery-free” is a viable and superior technology path for IoT terminal devices. Combining energy harvesting technology with ultra-low power design can create truly maintenance-free, highly reliable, and user-friendly smart hardware products.
Q:15 What role does YMIN supercapacitors play in supporting IoT innovation?
F: YMIN has solved the core bottleneck of energy storage for IoT developers and manufacturers by providing small-size, highly reliable, and long-life supercapacitor products. This has enabled innovative designs that were previously blocked due to battery issues to be realized, making it a key enabler in promoting the popularization of the Internet of Things.
Post time: Sep-24-2025