Method and apparatus for powering circuitry with on-chip solar cells within a common substrate
First Claim
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1. A power supply system for a photo-activated transponder, the system comprising:
- a first photovoltaic power supply providing a voltage and a second photovoltaic power supply providing a voltage with a different polarity than the voltage provided by the first power supply.
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Abstract
A system and method for providing power to a light-powered transponder. In order to create a sufficient voltage differential, two different photovoltaic elements are used. The photovoltaic elements generate voltages of different polarities. Because the photovoltaic elements are used independently to generate voltages with different polarities, the present system can achieve a desired voltage differential despite the inherent difficulties presented by the use of a standard CMOS process.
74 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A power supply system for a photo-activated transponder, the system comprising:
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a first photovoltaic power supply providing a voltage and a second photovoltaic power supply providing a voltage with a different polarity than the voltage provided by the first power supply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A power supply apparatus for a photo-activated transponder, said power supply apparatus comprising:
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a P-type substrate;
a first N-well connected with said P-type substrate;
an N+ contact connected with said first N-well operative to provide power with a negative voltage for a load. a second N-well connected with said P-type substrate; and
a P+ contact connected with said second N-well operative to provide power with a positive voltage for said load. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A power supply apparatus for a photo-activated transponder, said power supply apparatus comprising:
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an N-type substrate;
a first P-well connected with said N-type substrate;
a P+ contact connected with said first P-well operative to provide power with a positive voltage for a load. a second P-well connected with said N-type substrate; and
an N+ contact connected with said second P-well operative to provide power with a negative voltage for said load. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method for supplying power to a photo-activated transponder, said method comprising the acts of:
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generating a positive voltage with a first photovoltaic element;
generating a negative voltage with a second photovoltaic element;
supplying power to a load with both said positive voltage and said negative voltage. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification