A Single Stage Boost Converter for Body Heat Energy Harvesting with Maximum Power Point Tracking and Output Voltage Regulation

摘要

The proposed circuit aims to harvest energy from body heat, in which the thermal gradient is only a few degrees. The boost converter operating in a burst mode offers a high conversion ratio while minimizing power loss. Maximum power point tracking based on the fractional open circuit voltage method ensures that the proposed circuit can be applied for a variety of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and TEG setups. The proposed circuit is designed and laid out in CMOS 0.25 μm technology. Post layout simulation results indicate the converter is able to boost input voltages as low as 50 mV to the regulated output of 3 V, while achieving peak efficiency of 81%.