Japan Airlines and shopping malls test Beacon device with integrated energy harvesting technology
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Japan Airlines is testing a Bluetooth beacon solution at its 13 airports, provided by Dai Nippon Printing (DNP), and Japanese shopping mall Aeon Mall is also participating in a simple test.
DNP has installed Spansion’s MB39C811 Bluetooth low energy beacon in each of its venues, which collects solar energy and converts it into electrical energy to provide energy for the normal operation of the device’s circuits and data transmission. DNP’s beacon solution can effectively identify location information, and Japan Airlines and Aeon Mall can obtain relevant information through smartphone APPs.
Spansion’s MB39C811 beacon uses a solar panel, which can replace the battery when the sun is full.
DNP is a Japanese technology company that provides various information technologies such as printing materials, smart cards, solar beacons, and DNP back-end software.
DNP and Japan Airlines started a plan in September 2014 to install a beacon at each entrance of Japan’s 13 airports, but it has been delayed until the end of this year. The purpose of the implementation project is to provide passengers with up-to-date flight information so that they can automatically obtain boarding passes through a mobile app. The boarding pass is then quickly checked by airport personnel.
Due to the limited light intensity in the airport, additional power is assisted via a USB connection.
First, the user downloads the latest version of the JAL Countdown mobile app from iTunes. At present, many passengers can obtain information such as flight delays and weather conditions through this program. When the user passes through the entrance where the beacon is installed, the mobile phone detects the signal of the beacon, and its unique ID code is connected to the entrance. The Countdown app displays information about a passenger’s flight along with the information on the boarding pass, so passengers can use their mobile phone instead of a boarding pass to pass through checks. Currently the app only supports iOS phones.
Previous beacons were powered by batteries, but the batteries needed to be replaced every 3-12 months. The battery life becomes a bottleneck for the beacon. Later, it was discovered that energy harvesting techniques could be employed.
Aeon Mall, a shopping mall, uses this beacon to transmit data for arriving customers. Beacon is installed in the parking lot or the entrance of the shopping mall. After the customer installs the app (currently only supports installation on the iOS system, Android is planned). After customers enter the mall, the app provides guidance services for customers.
The size of the beacon with energy harvesting technology is 35mm*65mm*11mm and the weight is 15 grams. The area of solar panels is half of that of commercial panels. The device can also harvest energy through piezoelectric technology, which converts mechanical pressure into electricity. In addition, a button battery is also available for emergencies. Meanwhile, the beacon’s mini-USB port can be connected to a USB power source. The beacon of the MB39C811 series also includes a temperature sensor.
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