Abstract: A method for energy harvesting and charging energy storage devices is provided. The method uses a voltage converter system and includes the steps of monitoring a parameter VBatt1 indicative of a charging level of a first rechargeable storage device and of maintaining this parameter VBatt1 between a lower and an upper threshold value. The method further includes steps of charging a second rechargeable storage device and operating the voltage converter system for transferring charges from the second to the first rechargeable storage device. An integrated circuit for energy harvesting is provided in which a terminal connectable with a second rechargeable storage device is switchably coupled to both the input and the output of the voltage converter system.

Abstract: A power management device is provided that includes a voltage converter, a power point tracker for determining an operational voltage for extracting power and a controller. The device has a sensing device configured for: monitoring an energy harvesting signal, comparing the energy harvesting signal with a first threshold value, and based on the values sometimes generating a trigger signal. The controller performs energy harvesting until a trigger signal is generated by cyclically operating the power point tracker for determining a first and second target voltages performing energy harvesting conditionally based on sensing device signals else operating the voltage converter. The sensing device has a signal output of the first trigger signal and the signal output is electrically connected with a signal input of the power point tracker. The power point tracker is configured for starting a determination of the second target voltage when receiving the first trigger signal.

Abstract: A method for charging a storage device, such as a capacitor or a supercapacitor, with energy from an energy harvester and using a voltage converter having a coldstart voltage convertor and a main voltage converter is provided. After charging a buffer capacitor with the coldstart voltage converter up to the first voltage V1, the method repetitively performs steps of a) charging the buffer capacitor with the main voltage converter up to a voltage V2>V1, followed by transferring charges from the buffer capacitor to the storage device, b) stopping transferring charges to the storage device when the voltage of the buffer capacitor is below a third voltage value V3, with V1<V3<V2. The steps a) to b) are repeated until the storage device has reached a storage reference voltage value Vst-ref with V1<Vst-ref<V3. A power management integrated circuit for charging a storage device according to the method is provided.

Abstract: A method for energy harvesting is provided that uses an auxiliary energy storage device as a voltage source for the controller of a main voltage converter system. The auxiliary energy storage device is initially charged with a cold-start voltage converter and thereafter a main voltage converter system is charging a first rechargeable energy storage device until an upper charging threshold level is reached. The voltage of the auxiliary energy storage device is monitored and kept equal to a target value suitable for operating the controller, or alternatively within a predefined voltage range corresponding to the supply voltage range for the controller. A power management integrated circuit for energy harvesting is provided that includes a cold-start and a main voltage converter system, an internal voltage node is kept at a target value or within a voltage range suitable as a supply voltage for the controller.

Abstract: A method for energy harvesting and charging energy storage devices is provided. The method uses a voltage converter system and includes the steps of monitoring a parameter VBatt1 indicative of a charging level of a first rechargeable storage device and of maintaining this parameter VBatt1 between a lower and an upper threshold value. The method further includes steps of charging a second rechargeable storage device and operating the voltage converter system for transferring charges from the second to the first rechargeable storage device. An integrated circuit for energy harvesting is provided in which a terminal connectable with a second rechargeable storage device is switchably coupled to both the input and the output of the voltage converter system.

Abstract: A power management integrated circuit (PMIC) is provided for managing energy from an energy harvester. The PMIC includes a voltage converter and switches configured for switchable connecting an input of the voltage converter with either a first input terminal connectable to the energy harvester or with a second input terminal connectable with a primary battery. The PMIC further includes a controller for driving the switches based on energy status signals related to the energy storage device and/or the energy harvester. The power management integrated circuit (PMIC) is also related to an energy harvesting system that includes a PMIC, an energy harvester connected to the first input terminal, an energy storage device connected to the output terminal, and a primary battery connected to the second input terminal.

Abstract: A power management integrated circuit (PMIC) is provided for extracting power from an energy harvester. The PMIC includes a power point tracker configured for defining an optimum operational voltage for efficiently extracting power from any type of energy harvesters such as electromagnetic energy sources, photovoltaic cells or thermal electric generators. The power management integrated circuit (PMIC) also relates to an energy harvesting system that includes an electromagnetic energy source and an impedance connected to the PMIC.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) for energy harvesting is provided. The IC includes a voltage converter for converting an input power into an output power and a power point tracker for determining a target voltage for regulating the input voltage of the voltage converter. The IC includes an interface circuit to exchange information between the controller of the IC and one or more additional IC's for energy harvesting. The controller of the IC is configured to enable switching to a normal operating state on condition that a trigger signal from the interface circuit changes from a first reference value to a second reference value. The controller is further configured for outputting a status signal to the interface circuit wherein the status signal indicates if the power point tracker is enabled or disabled.

Abstract: A power management integrated circuit (PMIC) for managing energy from an energy harvester is provided. The PMIC includes a discontinuous mode (DCM) voltage converter for outputting current pulses wherein the input and output voltages are sensed and digitized. The PMIC includes a power control circuit configured for selecting a power operational mode based on a monitoring of a parameter indicative of the input power Pin and based on a comparison of this parameter with one or more parameter reference values. The PMIC further includes a controller configured for defining a maximum peak current of the current pulses based on the input and output voltages of the voltage converter and based on the power mode selected.

Abstract: A method for charging a storage device, such as a capacitor or a supercapacitor, with energy from an energy harvester and using a voltage converter having a coldstart voltage convertor and a main voltage converter is provided. After charging a buffer capacitor with the coldstart voltage converter up to the first voltage V1, the method repetitively performs steps of a) charging the buffer capacitor with the main voltage converter up to a voltage V2>V1, followed by transferring charges from the buffer capacitor to the storage device, b) stopping transferring charges to the storage device when the voltage of the buffer capacitor is below a third voltage value V3, with V1<V3<V2. The steps a) to b) are repeated until the storage device has reached a storage reference voltage value Vst-ref with V1<Vst-ref<V3. A power management integrated circuit for charging a storage device according to the method is provided.

Abstract: A power management integrated circuit (PMIC) for managing energy from an energy harvester is provided. The PMIC includes a discontinuous mode (DCM) voltage converter for outputting current pulses wherein the input and output voltages are sensed and digitized. The PMIC includes a power control circuit configured for selecting a power operational mode based on a monitoring of a parameter indicative of the input power Pin and based on a comparison of this parameter with one or more parameter reference values. The PMIC further includes a controller configured for defining a maximum peak current of the current pulses based on the input and output voltages of the voltage converter and based on the power mode selected.

Abstract: A power management integrated circuit (PMIC) is provided for extracting power from an energy harvester. The PMIC includes a voltage converter to convert an input power at a voltage Vin into an output power at an output voltage Vout_VC. The voltage converter includes, in addition to a main voltage converter circuit, a cold-start circuit for starting the voltage converter from an OFF state. The PMIC further includes an input terminal for receiving a voltage VEN-CS proportional to the converter input voltage Vin and a voltage comparator for comparing the voltage VEN-CS with a reference voltage Vref. A controller enables the cold-start circuit when VEN-CS?Vref.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) for energy harvesting is provided. The IC includes a voltage converter for converting an input power into an output power and a power point tracker for determining a target voltage for regulating the input voltage of the voltage converter. The IC includes an interface circuit to exchange information between the controller of the IC and one or more additional IC's for energy harvesting. The controller of the IC is configured to enable switching to a normal operating state on condition that a trigger signal from the interface circuit changes from a first reference value to a second reference value. The controller is further configured for outputting a status signal to the interface circuit wherein the status signal indicates if the power point tracker is enabled or disabled.

Abstract: A power management integrated circuit (PMIC) is provided for extracting power from an energy harvester. The PMIC includes a power point tracker configured for defining an optimum operational voltage for efficiently extracting power from any type of energy harvesters such as electromagnetic energy sources, photovoltaic cells or thermal electric generators. The power management integrated circuit (PMIC) also relates to an energy harvesting system that includes an electromagnetic energy source and an impedance connected to the PMIC.

Abstract: A power management integrated circuit (PMIC) is provided for extracting power from an energy harvester. The PMIC includes a voltage converter to convert an input power at a voltage Vin into an output power at an output voltage Vout_VC. The voltage converter includes, in addition to a main voltage converter circuit, a cold-start circuit for starting the voltage converter from an OFF state. The PMIC further includes an input terminal for receiving a voltage VEN-CS proportional to the converter input voltage Vin and a voltage comparator for comparing the voltage VEN-CS with a reference voltage Vref. A controller enables the cold-start circuit when VEN-CS?Vref.

Abstract: A power management integrated circuit (PMIC) is provided for managing energy from an energy harvester. The PMIC includes a voltage converter and switches configured for switchable connecting an input of the voltage converter with either a first input terminal connectable to the energy harvester or with a second input terminal connectable with a primary battery. The PMIC further includes a controller for driving the switches based on energy status signals related to the energy storage device and/or the energy harvester. The power management integrated circuit (PMIC) is also related to an energy harvesting system that includes a PMIC, an energy harvester connected to the first input terminal, an energy storage device connected to the output terminal, and a primary battery connected to the second input terminal.