Abstract
This paper describes an energy harvesting system composed of an organic photovoltaic cell (OPV) connected to a DC–DC converter, designed in a 130 nm Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technology, with a quasi- maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm to maximize the system efficiency, for indoor applications. OPVs are an emerging technology with potential for low cost indoor light energy harvesting. The OPV current-voltage curves (I-V) under an irradiance of solar simulator Oriel Sol 3A, at room temperature, are obtained and an accurate electrical model is derived. The energy harvesting system is subjected to four different indoor light sources: 35 W halogen, 3.5 W LED, 5 W LED, and 7 W LED, positioned at three different heights (0.45 m, 0.26 m, and 0.11 m), to evaluate the potential of the system for indoor applications. The measurements showed maximum efficiencies of 60% for 35 W halogen and 45% for 7 W LED at the highest distance (0.45 m) and between 60% (5 W LED) and 70% (35 W halogen), at the shorter distance (0.11 m). Under irradiation, the integrated CMOS circuit presented a maximum efficiency of 75.76%, which is, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the best reported power management unit (PMU) energy system using organic photovoltaic cells.
Highlights
The downscaling of integrated circuit technology, especially Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS), is pushing the limits of miniaturization and portability
These two voltages are related to each other by a factor k, which can be defined as k=. This characteristic will be exploited in the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method that is selected for this application, considering the specific characteristics of the organic photovoltaic cell (OPV) cells that serve as harvesters in this work
We present a proof of concept that highlights the possibility for the integration of organic photovoltaic cells and a CMOS power management unit (PMU) circuit for indoor light harvesting
Summary
The downscaling of integrated circuit technology, especially CMOS, is pushing the limits of miniaturization and portability. An organic photovoltaic cell is used as the harvesting device. OPVs have already achieved power density levels of light of 100 mW/cm in laboratory prototypes, using glass substrates [27]. Harvesting devices are connected to a power management unit based on a separated [27]. Harvesting devices are connected to a power management based on with a separated conversion is mostly based on switched inductive converters (usually unit boost type), battery. The DC–DC converters have been designed for relatively small input voltage variations capacitances can be as high as mH and on a separate (few tens to few hundreds of mV), due to the TEG harvesting output range. In contrast with TEGs, harvesting from PV cells requires a converter for a wider range of input voltages. Combing organic photovoltaic cell and a PMU (an integrated CMOS circuit) for indoor applications
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