Sanyo Electric Co Ltd will release the Eneloop Warmer Series line of products, Oct 10, 2008, including the Eneloop Solar Light, a lighting device with a solar cell, rechargeable hand warmer and lap blanket.
The Eneloop Solar Light is equipped with Sanyo's HIT Solar Cell and dedicated built-in nickel-metal-hydride secondary batteries for charging. The light is especially designed for outdoor use or application in times of disaster when no power source is available. The light can also be fed or charged from an external 100V power source with an AC adapter.
The product is equipped with a panel light and a beam light. The panel light can illuminate a wider area and the beam light can be used as a flashlight, allowing users to selectively use two kinds of LED lighting in accordance with the purpose.
The light uses two 3,000mAh secondary batteries that can be charged in about 15-30 hours by using the solar cell. The panel light is composed of nine white LEDs and the luminance can be adjusted in three levels. The light can be used for approximately nine hours even at the highest luminance with all nine LEDs turned on, according to the company.
The light is also equipped with a USB bus to be fed from an external power source, allowing it to charge mobile phones, etc.
The products of the Eneloop Warmer Series have an advantage that they can be repeatedly used without a power source. The Eneloop Kairo (hand warmer) is a rechargeable palm-size warmer that can be carried around in a pocket, etc.
In addition to the built-in rechargeable battery model, which sold 100,000 units last year, the company will release a new version that is powered by two AA Eneloop nickel-metal-hydride secondary batteries. The new version has two heaters to heat both sides of the warmer and can operate for about four hours in the High Mode (surface temperature: approx 40°C) and about five hours in the Low Mode (surface temperature: approx 37°C).
The Eneloop Soft Warmer, a rechargeable lap blanket, has a dedicated built-in Li-ion secondary battery and can be used for about 3.5 hours in the standard mode. The heater mat serving as a heat generation unit is removable from the dedicated cover, which can contain the mat and the controller. The mat can also be used without the cover.
The Eneloop Anka (foot warmer), a rechargeable portable warmer, took over the basic functionalities from the model released in the past year, but features a longer continuous operation time for better usability. It is a splash-proof product and, thus, suitable for outdoor use.
The lap blanket and the hand warmer are equipped with an overheating prevention function controlled by a microcomputer control and a function to indicate the remaining battery charge.
The company also paid special attention to the design. The Eneloop Solar Light is shaped like a handbag, making it easy to use outside.
"Aiming at the simple, convenient Eneloop design, our products symbolize the clean energy in the future," Sanyo said.
The Eneloop Soft Warmer comes in two types. The Sicilian White type has a stylish design with an artificial leather cover and the Scandinavian Stripe type has a fleece cover. The Sicilian White is targeted at adult males, and the Scandinavian Stripe is for people in their twenties to forties, the company said.
"The concept of the Eneloop Series, which is embodied by solar technology and repeated use, suits our brand concept of 'Think Gaia'," said Hiroshi Shimozono, general manager of the Consumer Sales Management Department in the Global CRM Division of Sanyo's Mobile Energy Company. "We will continue to develop products that utilize natural energies."
There are no manufacturer's suggested retail prices, but the expected street prices are ¥16,000 (approx US$147) for the Solar Light, ¥10,000 and ¥13,000 for the lap blanket, ¥5,000 for double-sided heating hand warmer, and ¥15,000 for the portable warmer.
Nikkei Electronics Asia magazine is available each month free of charge to engineers, managers and other qualified readers.
Nikkei Electronics |
Nikkei Monozukuri |
Nikkei Microdevices |
Nikkei Automotive Technology |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The magazine for electronics designers and managers. | Design You Won't Regret - How to Reduce the Risk of Accidents | The most comprehensive technical journal for makers and users of LSIs and LCDs. | The comprehensive automotive technology magazine. |
Copyright © 1995-2009 Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
All editorial content and graphics on this Web site may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the copyright owner.
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009