Ultra-Low Voltage Circuit Techniques for Energy Harvesting

This book provides design-oriented models for the implementation of ultra-low-voltage energy harvesting converters, covering the modeling of building blocks such oscillators, rectifiers, charge pumps and inductor-based converters that can operate with very low supply voltages, typically under 100 mV. Analyses based on the diode and MOSFET models are included in the text to allow the operation of energy harvesters from voltages of the order of 100 mV or much less, with satisfactory power efficiency. The practical realization of different converters is also addressed, clarifying the design trade-offs of ultra-low voltage (ULV) circuits operating from few millivolts.

• Offers readers a state-of-the-art revision for ultra-low voltage (ULV) energy harvesting converters;
• Provides analog IC designers with proper models for the implementation of circuits and building blocks of energy harvesters, such as oscillators, rectifiers, and inductor-based converters, operating under ultra-low voltages;
• Addresses the design of energy harvesters operating from ultra-low voltages, enabling autonomous operation of connected devices driven by human energy;
• Demonstrates design and implementation of integrated ULV up-converters;
• Includes semiconductor modeling for ULV operation.

Rafael L. Radin received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil, in 2008 and 2021 respectively. In 2016, he was a visiting Ph.D. student at the Polystim Laboratory, Polytechnique Montreal, Canada. His current research is focused on the design of ultra-low voltage energy harvesting converters and power management for IoT and wearable applications.

Marcio Bender Machado received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil in 2006 and 2014, respectively. From 2006 to 2017 he was with the Instituto Federal Sul-Rio-Grandense, and since 2017 he is professor in the Federal Institute of Sao Paulo, Brazil. In 2013, he was a visiting Ph.D. student at the Polystim Laboratory at École Polytechnique d Montréal, Canada. He was awarded the 2015 best Brazilian Ph.D. Thesis in Microelectronics. His current research is focused on the design of ultra-low-voltage electronics and energy harvesting circuits.

Mohamad Sawan received the Ph.D. degree in 1990 in Electrical Engineering, from Sherbrooke University, Canada. He is a Chair Professor Founder and Director of the Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research And INnovation (CenBRAIN) in Westlake University, Hangzhou, China. He is Emeritus Professor of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering and he is founder and director of the Polystim Neurotech Laboratory in Polytechnique Montréal. He was leading the Microsystems Strategic Alliance of Quebec (1991-2019). Dr. Sawan is Vice-President Publications (2019-Present) of the IEEE CAS Society. Dr. Sawan received several awards, among them the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, the Shanghai International Collaboration Award, the Chinese Qianjiang Friendship Ambassador Award, and The Chinese Zhejiang Westlake Friendship Award. He is Fellow of the IEEE, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada, and Officer of the Quebec's National Order.

Carlos Galup-Montoro studied engineering sciences at the University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay, and electronic engineering at the National Polytechnic School of Grenoble (INPG), France. He received the Engineering degree in electronics and a Ph.D. degree from INPG, in 1979 and 1982, respectively. From 1982 to 1989, he worked at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Since 1990, he has been with the Electrical Engineering Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil, where he is currently a Professor. In the second semester of the academic year 1997-1998, he was a Research Associate with the Analog Mixed Signal Group, Texas A&M University. He was a Visiting Scholar at UC Berkeley, from 2008 to 2009, and at IMEP/INPG in the first trimester of 2017.

Márcio C. Schneider received B. E. and M. S. degrees in electrical engineering from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) in 1975 and 1980, respectively, and a doctoral degree in electrical engineering from University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, in 1984. In 1976, he joined the Electrical Engineering Department of UFSC, where he is now a professor. In 1995, he spent a one-year sabbatical at the Electronics Laboratory of the Swiss Federal Institute of technology, Lausanne. In 1997 and 2001, he was a Visiting Associate Professor at Texas A&M University.