Electronic Power Conversion Circuit

• US 20090049319A1
• Filed: 07/21/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stichting Imec Nederland
• Original Assignee: Stichting Imec Nederland
• Inventors: Meynants, Guy
• Application Number:
  US12/177,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20090049319A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/322
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps

Abstract

An electronic power conversion circuit is presented for converting an input power to an output power. The circuit comprises at least one conversion block and a clock generator. Each conversion block comprises an input, an output and a plurality of charge storage elements and switches between the input and output. Each block is alternately switchable between a first state in which electric charge is loaded from the input and a second state in which electric charge is supplied as converted power to the output. The clock generator generates clock signals for controlling the switches and thereby switches between the first and second states. The circuit is characterized in that the clock generator comprises at least one input node for receiving at least one input parameter and in that the clock generator is provided for varying the frequency of the clock signals in relation to the at least one input parameter.

Claims

1. An electronic power conversion circuit for converting a variable input power supplied from an energy scavenging means to a substantially fixed output power, said circuit comprising:

at least one conversion block, each block comprising an input, an output and a plurality of charge storage elements, and switches between said input and output, each block being configured such that the block is alternately switchable between a first state in which electric charge is loaded from said input and a second state in which electric charge is supplied as converted power to said output;

a clock generator for generating clock signals for controlling said switches of said at least one conversion block and thereby switching the at least one conversion block between said first and second states;

characterized in that said clock generator comprises at least one input node for receiving at least one input parameter,

in that said clock generator is provided for varying the frequency of said clock signals in relation to said at least one input parameter which is/are received on said at least one input node,

and in that one of said at least one input parameters is formed by said variable input power of said energy scavenging means.

2. A circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that said energy scavenging means is a photovoltaic cell converting light energy into a photovoltaic current.

3. A circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that said energy scavenging means is a thermal energy scavenging device converting thermal energy into a current related to the thermal gradient across said thermal energy scavenging device.

4. A circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that said circuit and said energy scavenging means are implemented on a single substrate and in that said conversion block is configured for converting a negative voltage generated by said photovoltaic cell to a positive voltage.

5. A circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one conversion block is a charge pump, said charge pump comprising a plurality of capacitors as charge storage elements.

6. A circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one conversion block is an inductive power converter, said converter comprising at least one inductor as charge storage element.

7. A circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that one of said at least one input parameters is formed by said output power.

8. A circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that said clock generator comprises a separate power source provided for supplying power in relation to said input power.

9. A circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that said clock generator comprises a ring oscillator connected to said at least one input node and provided for generating a control frequency in relation to said at least one input parameter, said clock signals being generated from said control frequency.

10. A circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that said output is supplied to a load, said circuit and at least part of said load being implemented on a single substrate.