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access icon free 10 MHz boost converter with subthreshold voltage startup and predictive dead-time techniques for energy-harvesting systems

© The Institution of Engineering and Technology
Received 16/10/2019, Accepted 03/04/2020, Revised 26/12/2019, Published 08/04/2020

A 10 MHz synchronous boost converter with the subthreshold startup scheme and predictive dead-time control for energy-harvesting systems is presented in this study. The input feed-forward technique is adopted to achieve a fast line response, and a three-stage startup technique is proposed to realise subthreshold voltage startup without using any extra startup circuits or special devices. Moreover, the efficiency of the high-frequency converter can be improved by the proposed predictive dead-time control with a high resolution of ∼300 ps. The proposed converter is implemented in a standard 0.18 μm complimentary metal oxide semiconductor process and occupies a die area of 1.4 × 1.5 mm2. Experimental results show that the input voltage ranges from 0.3 to 1.5 V at 1.8 V output, and the minimum startup voltage is 0.3 V. Under V IN = 1.5 V, V OUT = 1.8 V and 150 mA load, the power efficiency can be improved by 2.6% because of the proposed predictive dead-time control. The peak efficiency can reach 90.7% under V IN = 1.5 V. The line transient response can be improved with small overshoot voltage at the output.

Inspec keywords: power convertors; CMOS integrated circuits; predictive control; transient response; feedforward; energy harvesting

Other keywords: minimum startup voltage; size 0.18 mum; fast line response; frequency 10.0 MHz; extra startup circuits; high-frequency converter; predictive dead-time control; input feed-forward technique; current 150.0 mA; input feedforward technique; standard complimentary metal oxide semiconductor process; three-stage startup technique; subthreshold startup scheme; input voltage; voltage 0.3 V to 1.5 V; energy-harvesting systems; synchronous boost converter; voltage 1.8 V; dead-time techniques; subthreshold voltage startup; line transient response

Subjects: Optimal control; CMOS integrated circuits; Power electronics, supply and supervisory circuits; Energy harvesting

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