TI analog design engineer, Yogesh Ramadass, was “One to Watch” back in January and has definitely earned that distinction. Ramadass has just been named Innovator of the Year in UBM’s 2013 Annual Creativity in Electronics Awards (UBM ACE Awards) for the energy harvesting work he’s so passionate about. He has been focused on next-generation energy harvesting chips, while helping develop high-power mobile phone charging systems.
Here is what this prestigious award means to him.
Congratulations on being named the Innovator of the Year! What does this accomplishment mean to you?
Personally, it is very gratifying winning this prestigious award. It is a great recognition for the efforts that TI’s battery management team and I have put in over the last few years in getting energy harvesting projects off the ground, and bringing industry-leading products out to the market. Moving forward, it is a huge motivation for our team to develop better, more innovative products for existing and emerging markets.
Innovation is a term that we all hear quite often. What is your take on being innovative?
Innovation is not just about having a new idea. It is about believing in it, being committed to it, and putting in the work to implement it. I like to use the example that it is OK to reinvent the wheel, as long as you end up with a newer wheel design and gain more insights along the way.
Where do you think your work in energy harvesting will be in 5, 10 and 20 years?
I hope our energy harvesting products will be everywhere - in a variety of electronic products in our homes to far-flung areas for remote sensing; wearable electronic monitors to safety sensors in big industrial settings. The possibilities really are endless.
Read more about Ramadass and his award in this EE Times article.