Ultra-low power electronic devices, as by the way of example sensor nodes, can be powered by environmental energy harvesting. Thermo generators, solar cells, inductive generators, or radio frequency antennas provide an extremely low output voltage that must be amplified to generate a suitable power supply. This work presents an autonomous self-starting ultra-low voltage DC-DC converter that starts operations at 9 mV. The circuit is inspired by the classical zero voltage switching push-pull Royer oscillator, suitably modified by using JFETs to operate at low voltages. Thanks to the soft switching of the transistors and to the symmetrical use of the transformer, it can reach high voltage gain, high frequency, and high efficiency. Theoretical and simulation-based optimizations were used to design the converter; the results were experimentally verified with several prototypes.
Ultra-low voltage push-pull converter for micro energy harvesting
Colalongo L.;Richelli A.;Kovacs Zs.
2020-01-01
Abstract
Ultra-low power electronic devices, as by the way of example sensor nodes, can be powered by environmental energy harvesting. Thermo generators, solar cells, inductive generators, or radio frequency antennas provide an extremely low output voltage that must be amplified to generate a suitable power supply. This work presents an autonomous self-starting ultra-low voltage DC-DC converter that starts operations at 9 mV. The circuit is inspired by the classical zero voltage switching push-pull Royer oscillator, suitably modified by using JFETs to operate at low voltages. Thanks to the soft switching of the transistors and to the symmetrical use of the transformer, it can reach high voltage gain, high frequency, and high efficiency. Theoretical and simulation-based optimizations were used to design the converter; the results were experimentally verified with several prototypes.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
