Multiple power path management with micro-energy harvesting

摘要

An apparatus comprises an output port for a circuit load, a first input port for an energy harvest source, an input/output port a second energy source, a first circuit path from the energy harvest source to the second energy source at the input/output port and to the variable load at the output port, a second circuit path from the second energy source to the output port, a cold start circuit that produces a first voltage level at the output port by charging a capacitor at the output port using energy of the energy harvest source, and a main converter circuit that produces a second regulated voltage level at the input/output port using energy of the energy harvest source when the voltage at the output port capacitor is above a specified voltage value and uses the energy of the capacitor at the output port during startup of the main converter circuit.

主权项

1. A power converter circuit comprising:
an output port configured for electrical coupling to a variable circuit load; a first input port configured for electrically coupling to an energy harvest source; an input/output port configured for electrically coupling to a second energy source; a first circuit path from the energy harvest source to the second energy source at the input/output port and to the variable load at the output port; a second circuit path from the second energy source to the output port; a cold start circuit configured to produce a first voltage level at the output port by charging a capacitor at the output port using energy of the energy harvest source; and a main converter circuit configured to produce a second regulated voltage level at the input/output port using energy of the energy harvest source when the voltage at the output port capacitor is above a specified voltage value and to use the energy of the capacitor at the output port during startup of the main converter circuit.