A self-start circuit with asymmetric inductors reconfigurable technology for dual-output boost converter for energy harvesting

Abstract

A self-start circuit with asymmetric inductors reconfigurable technology for dual-output boost converter for energy harvesting is presented in this paper. It is found that the cross-coupled LC oscillator with asymmetric inductors can output much higher voltage than ordinary oscillators. Thus, the asymmetric inductors reconfigurable technology (AIRT) is used in the self-start circuit and a minimum startup voltage of 150mV is achieved. The AIRT realizes dual-output and improves the utilization of chip pins by reusing inductors in the self-start circuit and the boost system. The self-start circuit and the boost system are implemented in a 0.13µm CMOS process and a 73.7% converter efficiency is achieved. The chip area of the boost converter is 0.155mm². The area occupied by self-start circuit is only of 0.006mm² without other extra energy sources.