Abstract
Based on circuit simulations, this paper investigates a concept for a power electronic interface circuit for MEMS electrostatic energy harvesters. Two ordinary overlap-varying transducers are first electrically configured as a symmetric voltage doublers which enables the device to self-start from an initially low bias. The harvesting system is then reconfigured to couple with a buck-boost DC-DC converter in order to maximize the power delivered to an electronic load. The losses of electronic components due to diode voltage drop and parasitic resistance of inductors are taken into account for a feasibility investigation. Dependence of the maximum output power on inductance and switching frequency is explored.
Highlights
Development of standalone wireless sensors and implantable electronic devices over the past decades has been in a fast pace [1, 2]
This paper investigates a concept for a power electronic interface circuit for MEMS electrostatic energy harvesters
The harvesting system is reconfigured to couple with a buck-boost DC-DC converter in order to maximize the power delivered to an electronic load
Summary
Development of standalone wireless sensors and implantable electronic devices over the past decades has been in a fast pace [1, 2]. Energy harvesting from vibration is one means for replacing batteries [5] This energy conversion typically uses either piezoelectric, electromagnetic or electrostatic transduction even though some alternatives such as triboelectricity [6] and magnetostriction [7] have been considered. Several conceivable solutions were presented such as buck [14] and reversible buck-boost [15] converters The former circuit is not able to synthesize an optimum load, which makes it hard to optimize the harvested power. X0 Nominal capacitance, C0 Parasitic capacitance, Cp Contact stiffness, ks Impact damping, bs Max displacement, Xmax (b) Interface circuit. Energy harvester lumped-model An anti-phase overlap-varying electrostatic energy harvester is considered for this investigation
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