A High-Efficiency Synchronous Boost Converter with Near-Threshold Self-Start

Abstract

A high-efficiency synchronous boost converter with near-threshold self-starting is proposed. It adopts a novel phased start-up method to achieve self-start when the input voltage is below the threshold voltage of the MOS device and without external auxiliary measures. This boost converter is fabricated in a 0.18 um COMS process with a 1.24 × 0.78 um 2 chip area, and can achieve a reliable self-start when the input voltage is below the threshold voltage of 40 mV. It has an input voltage range of 0.7–5 V, a load current range of 0–300 mA, a stable output voltage of 5 V, and a maximum peak efficiency of 95.01%.