In the News
September 9, 2010 - ECN: Design Considerations Using Lithium Polymer Batteries
Li-ion cells come in three basic form factors: cylindrical, prismatic (rectangular brick shape) and the flat Lithium polymer cells. Lithium polymer cells, sometimes called laminate cells, are available in custom footprint size. They can be very thin or quite large depending on their intended use. The primary advantage of Lithium polymer batteries is the variety of form factors available. Manufacturers of blue tooth devices were the first to recognize the advantage of Lithium polymer batteries. The availability of very thin batteries enabled the Motorola Razr phone to have great market success. Apple created a thin notebook which differentiated it in the highly commoditized notebook market.
August 20, 2010 - EDN: Operating Conditions Get Tougher On Li-Ion Batteries
OEMs are requesting rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery packs for portable devices that operate in extreme hot and cold environments. Many portable radios are used in very cold (–40°C) environments, and many medical devices need battery packs that operate after exposure to 137°C steam sterilization, both exceeding the limits of conventional Li-ion technology. Presenting similar challenges, some medical devices and radios are required to operate in wet and even explosive environments.
August 17, 2010 - NW Innovation: Micro Power Hires Operations VP
Beaverton, Oregon-based Micro Power Electronics, a developer of mission ... named Brett Dickson as the firm's Vice President of Operations.
August 2, 2010 - Product Design & Development: Building Batteries that Meet MIL-STD-810 Environmental Standard
The military standard MIL-STD-810, "Department of Defense Test Method Standard for Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests" specifies the equipment's environmental design and test limits that it will experience throughout its service life, and establishes test methods used to measure the effects of the environment on the equipment. MIL-STD-810 Testing addresses a broad range of environmental conditions that include; low pressure for altitude testing, exposure to high and low temperatures, temperature shock (both operating and storage), rain (including wind blown and freezing rain), humidity, fungus, salt fog for rust testing, sand and dust exposure; leakage, acceleration, shock and vibration. MIL-STD-810 is typically specified for military products, but commercial products will commonly reference aspects of MIL-STD-810 as well. Batteries, as well as the products they power, can be built to meet all the requirements, but the more challenging requirements for batteries and their affiliated products include high temperature performance, low temperature performance, and immersion. This article will focus on overcoming these design challenges for handheld and portable products, and the batteries that power them.
July 5, 2010 - Portland Business Journal: Micro Power Recharges
After a year in which sales dipped 25 percent, Micro Power Electronics Inc. is making a renewed investment in product development. The strategy could already be working. Last week, the Beaverton-based battery pack manufacturer said it now has the ability to make rechargeable lithium ion battery packs that can be sterilized without losing performance. The development will let the company enter the market for surgical products and should add 10 percent to its annual revenue. The company had $50 million in revenue last year. The new product capability offers a glimpse of the strategy employed by Micro Power CEO Mike DuBose.
June 25, 2010 - Close-Up Media: Micro Power Makes Surgical Battery Packs for Hydrogen Peroxide Gas
Micro Power Electronics, Inc., a company focused on portable power solutions for mission-critical equipment, announced the capability to manufacture rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs that can be sterilized via hydrogen peroxide gas without performance degradation. In a release, Micro Power Electronics said these battery packs provide surgical instrument manufacturers with the maximum power for a cordless surgical device. The sterilization of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with hydrogen peroxide gas enables hospitals to utilize a popular sterilization process while providing surgeons with the most power for their surgical tools. After two years of research and development, Micro Power is the first battery pack manufacturer to offer lithium-ion battery packs designed to perform after sterilization with hydrogen peroxide gas.
June 23, 2010 - EDN: Medical and Demographic Trends Drive Need for Sterilizable Battery Pack Technology
Robin Tichy, medical marketing manager at Micro Power, a designer and manufacturer of battery packs, points out a significant mash-up of technology and market trends in medicine. First is a change in the demographics of surgeons: An increasing number are women who tend to be, on average, smaller and lighter than male surgeons. In addition, surgery itself is becoming more common, so hospitals are trying to schedule their operating rooms most efficiently, moving patients through faster, and contributing to fatigue for all surgeons, regardless of sex.
June 22, 2010 - Electronic Design: Sterilization Presents a Challenge for Lithium Battery Packs in the Operating Theatre
Last week, Micro Power Electronics announced that it can manufacture rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery packs that can be sterilized via hydrogen peroxide gas. In February, the company made a similar announcement about battery packs that could be sterilized by gamma rays. The questions that immediately come to mind are “why?” and “how?”
June 22, 2010 - Product Design & Development: Rechargeable Surgical Batteries for Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilization
Micro Power Electronics can now manufacture rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs that can be sterilized using hydrogen peroxide gas without performance degradation. Using hydrogen peroxide to sterilize batteries allows hospitals to utilize a popular sterilization process, while still having maximum power for cordless surgical devices.
June 22, 2010 - Wireless Design & Development: Micro Power Builds Surgical Battery Packs for Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilization
Micro Power Electronics, Inc. announces the capability to manufacture rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs that can be sterilized via hydrogen peroxide gas without performance degradation. These battery packs provide surgical instrument manufacturers with the maximum power for a cordless surgical device.