Fully-Integrated Converter for Low-Cost and Low-Size Power Supply in Internet-of-Things Applications

Abstract

Abstract:The paper presents a fully-integrated and universal DC/DC converter to minimize cost and size of power supply systems in wireless nodes for Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications. The proposed converter avoids the use of inductors and is made by a cascade of switching capacitor stages, implementing both step-down and step-up converting ratios, which regulate input sources from 1 V to 60 V to a voltage of about 4 V. Multiple linear regulators are placed at the end of the cascade to provide multiple and stable output voltages for loads such as memories, sensors, processors, wireless transceivers. The multi-output power converter has been integrated in a Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS (BCD) 180 nm technology. As case study, the generation of 3 output voltages has been considered (3 V, 2.7 V, and 1.65 V with load current requirements of 0.3 A, 0.3 A, and 0.12 A, respectively). Thanks to the adoption of a high switching frequency, up to 5 MHz, the only needed passive components are flying capacitors, whose size is below 10 nF, and buffer capacitors, whose size is below 100 nF. These capacitors can be integrated on top of the chip die, creating a 3D structure. This way, the size of the power management unit for IoT and CPS nodes is limited at 18 mm 2 . The proposed converter can also be used with changing input power sources, like power harvesting systems and/or very disturbed power supplies.

Comparison of Different Large Signal Measurement Setups for High Frequency Inductors

“…There has been a significant number of reports on large signal characterization of discrete passive devices. In the particular case of characterization of inductors, there is an increasing interest because of the thin film components working in Power Supply on Chip or Power Supply in Package [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. These kinds of applications present two main challenges regarding the measurement: (1) the high frequency (above 10 MHz) and (2) the high Q of the component (very small resistance compared to its reactance).…”

Design of Soft-Switching Hybrid DC-DC Converter with 2-Phase Switched Capacitor and 0.8nH Inductor for Standard CMOS Process

“…Recently, developing a fully integrated voltage regulator (FIVR) is one of the design challenges for digital systems [1][2][3][4]. Instead of the conventional external voltage regulation, FIVR can supply the power to the digital system directly without PCB and package interconnections.…”

Research of Nanoscale MOSFET Parameters Impact on the Performance of Energy Converters for Internet of Things

“…Nowadays the devices with wireless supply are increasingly used in industry, commerce, logistics, construction as well as in everyday life. So Internet of Things technologies allow forming 'intellectual' nets of physical objects, interacting between each other through RF radiation, thanks to which the creation of diverse automated systems like smart home is possible [1][2][3][4][5][6]. By means of Wireless Sensor Networks [1,2,4,[6][7][8][9] one can in real-time mode monitor the state of various complex systems and objects, e.g.…”