A Self-Powered Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Interface with Wide Input Range in 65 nm CMOS Process

Abstract

A self-powered piezoelectric energy harvesting interface circuit (PEHIC) with wide input range and good performance is presented in this paper. The proposed PEHIC consists of a two-stage active charge pump rectifier and an ultra-low power intermittent power management unit (IPMU). Active diodes based on unbalanced-biased comparators improve the reverse leakage current problem that conventional active diodes faced. By limiting the output voltage between 1.2 and 0.8 V, the IPMU working in intermittent mode can provide an expanded input range and ensure that the interface circuit has a large transient output power. Implemented in a 65 nm standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology, the PEHIC has been simulated and verified. Simulation results show that an AC signal with amplitude ranging from 0.32 to 1.5 V and frequencies of 20 Hz–3 kHz can be rectified. The maximum output current is as large as 5 mA. The peak power conversion efficiency is up to 81% when the input voltage is 0.8 V at 200 Hz. The PEHIC can be self-powered without the need for additional power supply.