A parallel auto-adaptive topology for integrated energy harvesting system. (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Flores-Quintero, Roberto Rafael; Flores-Verdad, Guillermo Espinosa; Gonzalez-Diaz, Victor Rodolfo; Carrillo-Martinez, Luis Antonio
• Is Part Of: Microelectronics journal. Volume 98(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: Thermal energy harvesting -- Radio frequency energy harvesting -- Start-up circuit -- High efficiency; Microelectronics -- Periodicals; Microélectronique -- Périodiques; Microelectronics; Electronic journals; Journals - contents and abstracts; Periodicals; 621.3805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mejo.2020.104736
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-8324

Abstract

Abstract: This work presents a new topology for a thermal and RF energy harvesting system for integrated circuits. The system improves two circuit parameters: low start-up voltage and high-efficiency energy extraction. The high efficiency is achieved with a new parallel auto-adaptive DC-DC converter with a charge-pump based design to collect thermal energy. The low start-up voltage is possible with the assistance of a Radio-Frequency harvester circuit, resulting in a new hybrid energy harvesting architecture. The circuit was designed and fabricated with a CMOS 180 nm process, using an active area of 954 μ m × 341 μ m. The measurement results show an 87 % peak efficiency with a maximum regulated output voltage of 2 V. The minimum operating input voltage is 250 mV without the start-up circuit and 30 mV with the RF start-up circuit at 33 KHz of switching frequency.