The AE3 Battery Shield comes with a case that wraps around the OpenMV AE3. We are still working on this and will update the product images with the case once we've finished it.

The AE3 Battery Shield powers your OpenMV AE3 from a 1.8V to 5.5V source connected using a standard 2.1mm DC barrel jack (see the 2-pin JST to 2.1mm Connector). This is perfect for powering your OpenMV Cam from three alkaline batteries in series using a standard battery holder with a 2.1mm DC plug. Two alkaline batteries in series also work, although the full capacity of both batteries cannot be used completely before the battery shield shuts down.

You may attempt to use four alkaline batteries in series; however, the fully charged voltage of four alkaline batteries in series may slightly exceed the onboard buck/boost converter's maximum allowed voltage. Proceed with caution.

For data recording, the shield has an SPI attached μSD card socket attached to P0-P3 (MOSI, MISO, SCLK, SS) with a power enable pin (P11). The SD card can easily be mounted and used for data storage with the sdcard micropython library. Write performance will be about 300 KB/s, and read performance will be about 100 KB/s.

The shield also features a wide voltage range 6-36V input (see the 2-pin JST to wire leads), which is robust to reverse voltage and features robust transient surge protection. Use this input to power your OpenMV Cam from 12/24V power supplies without having to worry about damaging your camera. This input can be used at the same time as the 1.8V to 5.5V input.

Finally, the shield has a 3.7V 1S LiPo battery charger onboard capable of charging an attached LiPo battery at up to 100mA sourced from either the wide voltage range 6-36V input or 5V USB from the OpenMV AE3.

Note that the 1.8V to 5.5V input directly bypasses the onboard battery charger. The battery shield is designed to draw microamps of current in operation, allowing you to deploy an OpenMV AE3 to run for years on alkaline batteries while your OpenMV AE3 is in deep sleep.

Specifications

HV PWR (5V-36V) - Reverse Voltage Tolerant (up to -36V) - provides 3.3V output - up to 600mA Draw
BAT (C3.7V) - NOT Reverse Voltage Tolerant - charges 3.7V 1S LiPo at up to 100mA
or draws from LiPo - provides 3.0V output - up to 800mA Draw
LV PWR (1.8V-5.5V) - Reverse Voltage Tolerant (up to -5.5V) - provides 3.0V output - up to 800mA Draw
All external interfaces have robust transient voltage protection

Applications

This shield is perfect for customers who need to power their OpenMV Cam from intrinsically safe voltage sources and LiPos.

Why make the battery shield? We were asked to! The battery shield has found a home powering OpenMV Cams from batteries for years, deployed in industrial facilities!