Device and relative method for scavenging energy

摘要

An energy scavenging device includes an electromagnetic transducer adapted to generate a current in response to accelerations impressed thereto. The device also includes a power switching stage input with the current generated by the electromagnetic transducer, having a network of controlled switches adapted to alternately deliver on output nodes of the switching stage an output current that does not invert its sign and to short-circuit the transducer. There is an output capacitor coupled between the output nodes of the power stage. A controller having a sensor coupled to the electromagnetic transducer is to sense the current flowing therethrough, the controller being adapted to drive the switches of the power stage in order to either short-circuit the electromagnetic transducer or to direct the current flowing through the transducer to charge the output capacitor.

主权项

1. An energy scavenging device, comprising:
an electromagnetic transducer configured to generate a current in response to accelerations impressed thereto; a power switching stage to be input with current generated by said electromagnetic transducer, and comprising a network of controlled switches and output nodes coupled thereto; said network of controlled switches configured to alternately deliver to said output nodes an output current that does not invert its sign, and to short-circuit said electromagnetic transducer; an output capacitor coupled between said output nodes and having first and second terminals; and a controller having a sensor coupled to said electromagnetic transducer configured to sense current flowing therethrough, said controller configured to drive said network of controlled switches to selectively short-circuit said electromagnetic transducer and direct the current flowing through said electromagnetic transducer to charge said output capacitor; said power switching stage comprising
a high-side switch and a low-side switch coupled in series to short-circuit said electromagnetic transducer when both closed, and a common terminal between the high-side switch and low-side switch being coupled to said first terminal of said output capacitor, anda high-side diode and a low-side diode each coupled between said second terminal of the output capacitor and said common terminal of said high-side switch and said low-side switch.