Overview
IEC TR 63071:2016 – "Power supplying scheme for wearable systems and equipment" is a Technical Report from the IEC that provides models and frameworks for power-supplying schemes for wearable devices. It focuses on interoperability, interfaces and measurement methods for wearable power systems (including energy-harvesting) rather than on specific power-generating technologies. The report is intended as state-of-the-art guidance for designers, integrators and test organizations working on wearable power supply and on‑body charging concepts.
Key Topics
- System models and terminology - Defines concepts such as energy harvest and kinetic generator and describes existing models (e.g., wristwatch with secondary battery, solar cell + battery, kinetic generator).
- Physical and logical interfaces - Addresses physical connections (wired connectors, cables, wireless links) and logical connections (protocols for power control and information exchange).
- Charging scenarios - Distinguishes charging while worn versus charging when removed; discusses on-body power generation and supply when the power source and device are on different body locations.
- Energy-harvesting sources - Notes common harvest sources (movement, pressure, thermal gradient, perspiration, light) and device types (solar cells, Peltier elements, kinetic devices, MEMS) while explicitly not specifying their design details.
- Measurement methods and interoperability - Emphasizes the need for standardized measurement approaches and interoperability testing for wearable power-supplying devices.
- Use cases and examples - Includes practical examples such as generators in shoes, animal tracking and wearable sensor systems.
Applications
IEC TR 63071 is practical for:
- Wearable device manufacturers designing power architecture for watches, earphones, headsets, smart textiles, shoes and medical sensors.
- System integrators planning wired (e.g., USB Type-C) or wireless power delivery between a generator and client wearable.
- Test laboratories and certification bodies developing measurement methods and interoperability tests for wearable power-supply systems.
- Standards developers and regulators assessing health, safety and efficiency considerations for on‑body charging and wireless power transfer.
Practical benefits include clearer models for on‑body energy harvesting, guidance on connector/protocol choices, and a framework to evaluate charging scenarios and interoperability for wearable power supplies.
Related Standards
- IEC 62680 series (USB interfaces, including USB Type‑C) - referenced as an example for wired connectors and logical interfaces.
- IEC Electropedia and IEC TC 100 publications - for related terminology and multimedia system context.
Keywords: wearable power supply, energy harvesting, kinetic generator, on-body charging, USB Type-C, wearable systems, power-supplying scheme.