A 0.3-V Ultralow-Supply-Voltage Boost Converter for Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting With Time-Domain-Based MPPT

This letter proposes a boost converter with ultralow-voltage time-domain control for thermoelectric generators (TEGs). A subthreshold 0.3-V voltage supplied control system is constructed using time domain and constant on-time approach. The maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is realized using the fractional open-circuit voltage scheme. The proposed converter is implemented in a 0.13-mu m CMOS process. The measured minimum TEG open-circuit voltage which can maintain harvesting is 80 mV. The power consumption of the control circuit is down to 840 nW. The peak end-to-end efficiency is 72.1% at 170-mV open-circuit voltage where the input power is 34.4 mu W.

Automated summary

This study introduces a boost converter with ultralow-voltage time-domain control for thermoelectric generators, achieving maximum power point tracking with a minimum open-circuit voltage of 80 mV and a peak efficiency of 72.1%.