Sub-threshold CMOS voltage-multipliers using hybrid RF-piezoelectric energy scavenging

Nguyen Thanh Trung, Tao Feng, Philipp Hafliger, Shantanu Chakrabartty

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

We present a novel hybrid voltage-multiplier circuit that can efficiently scavenge energy from a combination of a radio-frequency (RF) signal and a sensor signal which is a low-frequency, low-energy piezoelectric signal from a piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric sensor signal is utilized for biasing a cross-coupled differential rectifier chain to an operating point where the RF signal energy can be efficiently harvested even if its amplitude is below the threshold voltage of the cross-coupled rectifier transistors. An adaptive biasing circuit ensures that the optimal operating point of the rectifier/multiplier can be tracked across different levels of input RF signal. The measurement results obtained from a 7-stage hybrid voltage-multiplier operating on 10 MHz RF signals show that the proposed technique can yield significant improvements in power conversion efficiency for low input power as compared to a conventional cross-coupled voltage multiplier circuit on the same die.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2014 IEEE 5th International Conference on Communications and Electronics, IEEE ICCE 2014
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages304-308
Number of pages5
ISBN (Electronic)9781479950515
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 3 2014
Event5th IEEE International Conference on Communications and Electronics, IEEE ICCE 2014 - Da Nang City, Viet Nam
Duration: Jul 30 2014Aug 1 2014

Publication series

Name2014 IEEE 5th International Conference on Communications and Electronics, IEEE ICCE 2014

Conference

Conference5th IEEE International Conference on Communications and Electronics, IEEE ICCE 2014
Country/TerritoryViet Nam
CityDa Nang City
Period07/30/1408/1/14

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