TW201405273A - Energy converting apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an energy converter for converting energy received from at least one energy source, wherein the at least one energy source includes a first photovoltaic generator, wherein the energy converter is configured to be connected to a second photovoltaic generator; the energy converter further includes a sensing unit configured to sense an open circuit voltage (VPVSS) of the second photovoltaic generator; and the energy converter is configured to convert energy received from the first photovoltaic generator based on the open circuit voltage sensed by the sensing unit. Moreover, the present invention relates to an energy conversion and storage system including the energy converter and least one energy storage element.

Description

Energy conversion device and method

The invention relates to the field of energy harvesting, energy conversion and energy storage. More specifically, the present invention relates to an energy converter and an energy conversion and storage system.

Recently, access to energy from the environment has been the subject of much research. By acquiring energy from the environment, the user can supply power to the portable device without recharging the battery of the portable device or connecting the portable device to a power source without a cable. In addition, if the energy harvested is renewable energy, the operation of such devices will not cause pollution. Among the different ways of obtaining energy from the environment, a photovoltaic generator, a piezoelectric generator, and a thermoelectric generator are included.

In order to be able to install sufficiently small generators in portable devices, the conversion efficiency of such generators must be high enough. For example, in the latest developments in photovoltage generators, energy conversion efficiencies of up to 40% can be achieved. In less expensive technologies, this conversion factor is in the range of 20% to 25%. In addition, the total power available from a photovoltaic cell also depends on the power density of the incident light. For example, a 5 x 5 cm2 solar cell can provide 200 mW to 1000 mW when receiving direct sunlight, and 200 μW to 1 mW or 10 mW when working indoors. . A photovoltaic cell is used as a current generator or a voltage generator having an output impedance that varies greatly with load and received solar energy. In addition, the output voltage produced by the photovoltaic cell varies with temperature.

In order for the photovoltage generator to achieve the highest possible conversion efficiency, the known method is Continue to change the load impedance. This method is called maximum power point tracking (MPPT). Figure 14 illustrates the output current 9001 as a function of the output voltage of the photovoltaic cell and the output power 9002 produced by such a photovoltaic cell. As shown in Figure 14, when the output voltage is lower than the maximum voltage that the photovoltaic cell can reach (ie, the open circuit voltage of 9003), the photovoltaic cell will deliver the maximum power. It can be seen that when the operation of the photovoltaic cell causes the output voltage to be 15% to 20% lower than the open circuit voltage value, the power 9002 reaches a peak.

Therefore, in order to improve the development and utilization of the power obtained by the photovoltaic cell, the output voltage of the photovoltaic cell should be maintained at 5% to 35% lower than the open circuit voltage; preferably, it is maintained at 15% to 20% lower than the open circuit voltage. Within the range, this range will vary depending on the incident photovoltaic power. Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology can achieve this goal.

However, the maximum power point tracking technique is only applicable when an electronic circuit is available with sufficient power to drive the application and perform the maximum power point tracking technique. Conversely, when the available power is low, the power consumption will be higher than the acquired energy. Therefore, this solution is meaningless for low power applications.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an energy converter that is capable of converting energy from at least one photovoltage generator to ensure improved efficiency and reduced power consumption by using a simple design.

The present invention relates to an energy converter that can be coupled to at least a first generator for converting energy received from the at least one first generator, wherein the energy converter can be coupled to a second generator; The energy converter can further include a sensing unit configured to sense an output value of the second generator, and can estimate the An open circuit voltage of one of the first generators is less; and the energy converter is configured to convert the energy received from the at least one first generator according to the open circuit voltage estimated by the sensing unit.

In this manner, the energy converter of the present invention is capable of efficiently converting the energy received from the first photovoltage generator while reducing the amount of power consumption due to the simple structure.

In some embodiments of the invention, the sensed output value of the second generator may be an open circuit voltage value of the second generator.

The open circuit voltage of the first generator can be easily determined by measuring the open circuit voltage of the second generator. Based on this determination, one of the first generators can be determined to optimize the output voltage.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the sensing unit is configurable to output an optimized voltage corresponding to a value that is less than 5% of the sensed open circuit voltage to Within a range of 35%; preferably, the value is within a range of less than 15% to 20% of the sensed open circuit voltage, and the energy converter is configured to output a voltage to one of the at least first generators Maintained at a value corresponding to the optimized voltage.

Setting the value of the optimized voltage within the above range enables the first generator to operate efficiently.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the energy converter may further include a converter, wherein the converter is a boost converter, a buck converter, and a buck-boost converter. In one case, the converter is controlled by a controller, and the converter is configured to convert the output voltage of the at least first generator into an output voltage (V _OUT ) of the energy converter, the output voltage ( V _OUT ) corresponds to a predetermined reference voltage.

With the converter, it is possible to convert the voltage output by the first generator into a value more suitable for the desired application.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the energy converter may further include a priority order arbitrator configured to receive a first error signal output by a first comparator, the first The error signal indicates a difference value between the optimized voltage and the output voltage of the at least first generator; receiving a second error signal output by a second comparator, the second error signal indicating the reference And a voltage difference from the output voltage of the energy converter; and outputting a control signal to the controller to drive the converter, if the first error signal is within a predetermined range, indicating the at least first The motor can provide the maximum amount of power required by the converter, and the priority order arbiter ensures that the second error signal is minimized. If the first error signal is detected to be outside the predetermined range, then the first An error signal is minimized.

With the prioritized arbitrator, it is ensured that the output voltage of the energy converter can match or correspond to the reference voltage whenever sufficient power is available at the input of the energy converter. At the same time, it is ensured that the power generation of the first generator is maintained at the maximum possible value.

In some embodiments of the invention, the energy converter is further connectable to at least one energy storage element.

By using an energy storage element, excess energy can be stored and the required energy can be recovered based on the energy provided by the first generator and the energy required by the load.

In some embodiments of the invention, the at least one energy storage element can include One less battery and / or one super capacitor.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the energy converter may further include a voltage regulator configured to capture the output voltage from the energy converter and/or the at least one energy storage component. The energy provides a regulated output voltage of one of the energy converters.

With the voltage regulator, a stable output can be provided to the load, and the operation of the load can be ensured even when the power supplied by the first generator is insufficient.

In some embodiments of the invention, the first generator may include a first photovoltage generator, and the second generator may include a second photovoltage generator.

By using the photovoltage generator as the first generator and the second generator, the energy converter can adjust the load of the first photovoltage generator during the conversion to convert the first photovoltage generator from the Energy and enabling the first photovoltage generator to operate effectively.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the energy converter may further include at least one third generator, wherein the at least one third generator may further include a piezoelectric generator and/or a thermoelectric generator.

In addition to or instead of harvesting energy from the first photovoltage generator, energy may be extracted from the environment by the at least one third generator. Therefore, the converter can harvest energy in a changing environment.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the first photovoltage generator and the second photovoltage generator may be part of a single photovoltaic cell, wherein the photovoltaic cell has a first photovoltage generator a first output and a second photovoltage generation The second output of the device.

By this method, the space occupied by having two different photovoltaic cells can be reduced. In addition, if the two photovoltage generators are part of the same photovoltaic cell, it is ensured that the open circuit voltage output by the second photovoltage generator is the same as the open circuit voltage outputted when the first photovoltage generator has no load. Since the first and second photovoltage generators are obtained by the same process and exposed to the same solar power, the open circuit voltage output by the second photovoltage generator and the first photovoltage generator are not loaded. The open circuit voltage output is the same.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the energy converter may further include at least one third generator, wherein the at least one third generator may further include a piezoelectric generator and/or a thermoelectric generator.

With the at least one third generator, more power can be obtained from the environment.

The invention may be directed to an energy converter connectable to at least a first generator for converting energy received from the at least one first generator, wherein the energy converter may be connectable to a plurality of energy storage elements The energy converter can include a charge sequencer configured to manage a charge and discharge sequence of each of the energy storage elements to discharge a first energy storage element, the first energy The storage element is one of the energy storage elements having a highest charge value and/or charging a second energy storage element, the second energy storage element having a lowest charge value among the energy storage elements.

In this manner, the energy converter of the present invention is capable of managing the charging and discharging cycles of a plurality of energy storage elements to extend the useful life of the energy storage elements.

Furthermore, the invention may be directed to an energy conversion and storage system comprising: an energy converter as described above; at least one energy storage component coupled to the energy converter, wherein the at least one energy storage component comprises at least one battery , or at least one super capacitor.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the energy converter and the at least one energy storage element can be fabricated from a biocompatible material.

In this case, the converter can be equipped for surveying the environment (eg, water quality, animal migration, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), wireless sensor network (WSN) ), installation automation or home automation, etc., and if such devices are not collected and recycled after use, there is no risk of harm to the environment.

Furthermore, the present invention may be directed to an energy conversion method for converting energy received from at least one first generator, the method comprising: a sensing step of sensing an output value of a second generator; a measuring step of estimating an open circuit voltage of the at least one first generator according to the sensed output voltage of the second generator; and a converting step for determining the open circuit voltage according to the estimated Converted from energy received from at least one first generator.

Furthermore, the invention may be directed to an energy conversion method for converting energy received from at least one first generator, the method comprising managing a charge and discharge sequence of one of each of the plurality of energy storage elements The step of managing includes the steps of discharging a first energy storage element, wherein the first energy storage element has a highest charge value in the energy storage elements, and/or charging a second energy storage element The second energy storage element is the energy storage element There is a minimum charge value in the middle.

As an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates an energy converter using a commercially available boost converter 7. A photovoltaic cell 12 is coupled to the input V _{IN of the} boost converter via a switch 13 . Output L is also coupled to the input V _{IN of the} boost converter via an inductor 6 (eg, having a value of 2.2 microhenries). A load 11 is connected to the output of the boost converter, V _OUT . A capacitor 10 (for example, a value of 20 microfarads) and a resistor bridge 8 and a resistor 9 (for example, having values of 390 kohms and 50 kohms, respectively) are also connected to the riser. The output of the voltage converter is connected in parallel with the load 11. The output of the bridge is fed back to the FB of the boost converter. In addition, the input V _{IN of the} boost converter is also connected to the capacitor 1 and the capacitor 2 (for example, the values are 100 microfarads and 10 microfarads, respectively), and is connected to a resistor 3 and a resistor 4 (for example, The values are 270 kohms and 50 kohms respectively. The output of the resistor bridge is input to the UVLO of the boost converter. Finally, the VAUX of the boost converter is connected to a capacitor 5.

As an example boost converter 7 that can be used in this configuration, a TPS61200 from Texas Instruments can be considered. An advantage of such a boost converter is that it can operate at input voltages as low as 0.5 volts.

However, this architecture is not suitable for obtaining electricity from a small photovoltaic cell.

More specifically, the purpose of the architecture is to increase the output voltage to 4.4 volts by using a constant current of about 1 amp (this value depends on the particular feedback circuit being implemented). However, a small photovoltaic cell cannot provide such a high current. In contrast, such small photovoltage generators operate in the range of a few milliamps. Therefore, an example is needed For a 100 microfarad capacitor, the capacitor is precharged to about 3 volts by a photovoltage generator before the boost converter is turned "on". This allows the capacitor to provide the high current required by the boost converter. Once the output voltage of the boost converter is stabilized, the boost converter will change to the power-down mode if the load no longer consumes any current. This characteristic can be better understood with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

2A illustrates a waveform when the load does not consume any current during one of the boost-up operation of the boost converter. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A, two parts 2A1 and 2A3 are illustrated. The signal shown in part 2A3 refers to an enlarged view of a smaller portion of the 2A1 portion represented by the area 2A2. As shown in Section 2A3, the power up operation causes the input voltage V _IN 2A6 to produce a voltage drop of approximately 700 millivolts. After the power-on operation, as shown in Section 2A1, the boost converter enters a power-saving mode with a frequency of approximately 200 Hz because the load does not consume current, and only the boost converter and the resistor bridge consume current.

On the other hand, Fig. 2B relates to the case where the load draws, for example, a current of 1.35 mA. As shown, the output voltage V _OUT 2B7 begins at the desired value. However, since a small photovoltaic cell cannot provide enough current for the boost converter, the input voltage V _IN 2B9 will slowly drop down to a value that will cause the boost converter to automatically turn off, such as the voltage drop of V _OUT 2B7. Show.

Therefore, this architecture is not optimal when the load draws an excessive current. Even if the circuit is modified to operate in a pulsating manner, the conversion efficiency is not optimal because the capacitor 2 is connected to the photovoltage generator and forces the photovoltage generator to operate in a short circuit for a long period of time. This short circuit operation is not an ideal operation because the output power of the photovoltage generator is not maximized when operating in a short circuit mode.

To improve this solution, one of the energy converters shown in Figure 3 can be achieved.

As shown, energy converter 300 can be coupled to two generators 301 and 302 (eg, a two photovoltage generator). The energy converter includes a reference voltage unit 303, two comparators 304 and 305, a priority order unit 306 and a converter unit 307.

The purpose of the reference voltage unit 303 is to output a reference voltage V _INTarg for use as a target voltage of the input voltage V _INPV received from the first generator 30. The target voltage is a value that is desired to maintain the input voltage V _INPV in order to increase the efficiency of the first generator 301. The reference voltage unit 303 can generate the reference voltage V _INTarg by sensing an output voltage (eg, an open circuit voltage value) of one of the second generators 302. Assuming that the first generator and the second generator have a similar open circuit voltage, the open circuit voltage of the second generator can be determined to easily estimate the open circuit voltage of the first generator.

Alternatively, or in addition, the open circuit voltage of the second generator may be different from the open circuit voltage of the first generator, but the relationship between the two open circuit voltage values may be known and may be measured according to This relationship is taken into account when estimating the open circuit voltage of the second generator to estimate the open circuit voltage of the first generator.

More generally, any characteristic of the second generator 302 that can be used to estimate an open circuit voltage value of the first generator 301 (e.g., an output current through one of a predetermined resistance) can be used.

The two comparators calculate an error of the input voltage V _INPV of the energy converter 300 and an error of the output voltage V _OUT . Based on this information, the priority unit 306 controls a converter unit 307, by priority to the stability of the input voltage _V INPV the stability of the output voltage V _OUT or the input voltage _V INPV converted into an output voltage V _OUT.

By this method, the adjustment of a desired output voltage V _OUT can be _achieved by maintaining the value of the input voltage V _INPV within a range in which the efficiency of the first generator 301 is high.

First embodiment

Figure 4 illustrates an energy converter 1000 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the energy converter 1000 is coupled to a first photovoltage generator 1101 and a second photovoltage generator 1102. The two photovoltage generators 1101 and 1102 can be physically different photovoltaic cells, or the photovoltage generator 1102 can be a small portion of a photovoltaic cell including the photovoltage generator 1101. In both cases, the energy converted by the energy converter 1000 is generated by the photovoltage generator 1101.

The purpose of the photovoltage generator 1102 is to provide the energy converter 1000 with an open circuit voltage value generated by the second photovoltage generator 1102 as a first photovoltage when assuming no load is connected to the output of the first photovoltage generator 1101. The generator 1101 will generate an estimate of the open circuit voltage.

The first photovoltage generator 1101 is coupled to the input _埠 V _{INPV of the} energy converter 1000 and the second photovoltage generator 1102 is coupled to the input _埠 V _{PVSS of the} energy converter 1000.

To ensure that the open circuit voltages produced by the two photovoltage generators are similar, the position and electrical characteristics of the photovoltage generators 1101 and 1102 are similar. Alternatively, or in addition, if the position and/or electrical characteristics of the photovoltage generators 1101 and 1102 are different, the relationship between the open circuit voltage of the photovoltage generator 1101 and the open circuit voltage of the photovoltage generator 1102 The relationship may be determined and used when the open circuit voltage of the photovoltage generator 1101 is measured based on the measured open circuit voltage of the photovoltage generator 1102.

The energy converter 1000 can boost the value of the voltage V _INPV generated by the photovoltage generator 1101 by a booster composed of the inductor 1010, the diode 1007, the transistor 1603, and the boost controller 1602. In addition, the signal that the boost controller 1602 is based on raising the input voltage V _INPV to obtain the output voltage V _OUT is output from a priority order arbiter 1601.

The prioritized arbitrator receives two input signals _indicative of an error in the output voltage V _OUT and an error in the input voltage V _INPV . The error of the input voltage V _INPV is generated by the comparator 1303. The purpose of comparator 1303 is to ensure that the input voltage V _INPV received from photovoltage generator 1101 remains close to the ideal value V _INTarg of the output of optimum V _IN estimator 1302 to achieve high power transfer. The error in the output voltage is produced by a comparator 1502. If the feedback voltage V _OUT received via the 埠FB is different from the reference voltage V _REF , the comparator 1502 generates a voltage error signal. Therefore, any desired output voltage V _OUT can be obtained by correctly selecting the reference voltage V _REF .

The preferred V _IN estimator 1302 has two inputs that are coupled to a temperature sensor 1301 and to 埠V _PVSS and then to the second photovoltage generator 1102. The optimum V _IN estimator 1302 senses the open circuit voltage value generated by the second photovoltage generator 1102 and functions as a sensing unit. Further, the optimum V _IN estimator 1302 calculates an optimal voltage value _V INTarg, the optimal voltage value _V INTarg corresponds to a value in the open-circuit voltage is less than the second light generated by the voltage generator 1102 The value is in the range of 5% to 35%; preferably, the value is in the range of 15% to 20% less than the open circuit voltage value generated by the second photovoltage generator 1102. In addition, the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 1301 can also be taken into account when calculating the optimization voltage V _INTarg .

More specifically, the efficiency of a photovoltage generator and hence its output power is 15 Below 25 degrees Celsius is constant. Above this temperature value, the efficiency and output power of the photovoltage generator decrease with increasing temperature and decrease by about 0.4% for every 1 degree Celsius increase.

More specifically, for example, one of the possible implementations of calculating V _INTarg by the optimal V _IN estimator 1302 can be as follows. Before the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 1301 is lower than a predetermined threshold temperature T _TH between 0 ° C and 30 ° C (the predetermined threshold temperature T _{TH is} preferably between 15 ° C and 25 ° C) Applying a correction factor α to the open circuit voltage V _{PVSS , the} correction factor α is between 5% and 35%; and the correction factor α is preferably between 15% and 20%, such that V _INTarg =V _PVSS *(1-α)

When the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 1301 is higher than the predetermined threshold temperature T _TH , a correction factor β of between 0.1% and 1%, preferably 0.4%, is also applied, so that V _INTarg = V _PVSS *(1-α-β*(temperature-T _TH ))

It should be noted that the temperature sensor 1301 is optional and can calculate V _INTarg based entirely on the open circuit voltage received from the second photovoltage generator 1102, in other words, the correction coefficient β can be considered to be equal to zero. Alternatively, or in addition, temperature measurements can be achieved by an external temperature sensor.

As a further alternative, the two generators 1101 and 1102 can have a predetermined different characteristic with respect to temperature, and the temperature can be measured by measuring certain output characteristics of the two generators. For example, the open circuit voltage of the two generators can be measured, and the temperature can be derived according to the two measured values.

The priority order arbiter 1601 is used to ensure that the output voltage V _OUT corresponds to the desired reference voltage V _REF and that the input voltage V _{INPV is} maintained within a range that allows the photo voltage generator to optimally generate power. When the photovoltage generator 1101 generates sufficient power, the adjustment of the output voltage V _OUT will be prioritized. Conversely, whenever the available power is less than the power required by the load, the adjustment of the input voltage V _INPV will be prioritized. Whether the photovoltage generator generates sufficient power is determined according to whether the error signal of the input voltage V _INPV can be maintained below a certain threshold. If sufficient power is not available, the error in the input voltage V _INPV will inevitably tend to increase, indicating that there is not enough power available to maintain the output voltage V _OUT to the desired level V _REF .

The energy converter 1000 is further coupled to a battery 1201 via a V _BAT1 to achieve an energy conversion and storage system in accordance with the present invention. In this case, the energy conversion and storage system operates as a single battery. However, the invention is not limited thereto, but rather an energy conversion and storage system can be achieved with more than one battery and/or ultracapacitors as will be described below.

In addition, the energy converter 1000 is provided with an output 埠V _LDO connected to an output of a low dropout regulator (LDO) 1701. A potential load can be connected to the 埠V _LDO . Thus, this potential load can be driven by the first photovoltage generator 1101 and powered by the boost converter, and/or by the power drawn from the battery 1201. In the case where the power generated by the first photovoltage generator 1101 is insufficient, additional power can be obtained by discharging the battery 1201. Conversely, if the power generated by the first photovoltage generator 1101 is higher than the power required by the load, the unused power can be diverted to recharge the battery. Therefore, in the case where no load is connected to the energy converter, the entire power generated by the first photovoltage generator 1101 can be used to recharge the battery 1201. Meanwhile, if the first photovoltage generator 1101 does not generate power, a potential load can be driven by discharging the battery 1201. Thus, this configuration provides a wide range of modes of operation for the energy converter 1000 of the present invention and ensures that the load connected to the 埠V _LDO is always operational when needed.

In addition to the above components, the energy converter 1000 of the present invention also includes an under voltage lockout (UVLO) 1403, and the undervoltage lockout (UVLO) 1403 is connected to the first photovoltage generator 1101 via 埠V _UVLO . The output. The purpose of undervoltage lockout (UVLO) 1403 is to generate a signal for activating energy converter 1000 once voltage V _UVLO reaches a predetermined reference value. The energy converter will then remain active until the voltage V _UVLO becomes below the predetermined reference voltage. The undervoltage lockout component 1403 has a certain degree of hysteresis. This allows the energy converter 1000 to operate in a reliable manner even if oscillations occur in the V _UVLO voltage, for example due to the power up operation of the boost converter.

In addition, energy converter 1000 includes one of the VREF generators represented by block 1501 along with other analog circuits. The output V _{REF of} block 1501 is input to comparator 1502. The output V _{REFLDO of} block 1501 is input to a low dropout regulator (LDO) 1701. The purpose of the voltage V _REFLDO is to drive the output voltage V _{LDO of the} low dropout regulator 1701.

Additionally, block 1501 produces outputs V _RefMAX and V _RefMIN that are input to SWAP comparator 1801. The SWAP comparator 1801 further receives the voltage V _BATSENSE as an input. Based on the three inputs, the SWAP comparator 1801 is capable of managing the charge/discharge cycles of the batteries. Use at least two comparators. The first comparator manages the battery during the charging phase and switches whenever the voltage V _BATSENSE at the terminal of the battery 1201 reaches a high voltage V _RefMAX indicating that the battery has been charged. The second SWAP comparator manages the battery when the battery is discharged to drive the load and _switch whenever the voltage V _BATSENSE at the terminal of the battery 1201 reaches a low voltage value V _RefMIN indicating that the battery has been discharged. The outputs of the SWAP comparators are input to a charge sequencer 1802.

The charge sequencer 1802 is used to store the state of charge of the battery 1201, and is used to manage the power generated by the first photovoltage generator 1101 and converted by the boost converter, the power stored in the battery 1201, and connected to the node V _LDO. The power flow between the required power loads. Accordingly, the charge sequencer 1802 is coupled to the switch 1804 to enable the low dropout regulator (LDO) 1701, the battery 1201, and the first photovoltage generator 1101 to be connected in a manner required for one of the energy converters 1000 to operate. .

More specifically, battery 1201 can be implemented in different technologies. Each technology is required to comply with a certain charge/discharge threshold to extend battery life.

For example, a thin film battery can have a maximum discharge threshold V _RefMIN of 30%, which means that it cannot be consumed more than 30% of its nominal capacity. Similarly, an alkaline battery can have a maximum discharge threshold of 50%. Other batteries may have different maximum discharge thresholds.

Symmetrically, the thin film battery can have a minimum charge threshold V _{RefMAX of} 90% (preferably 100%), which means that it should be recharged to at least 90% of its nominal capacity before being discharged, Or even its full nominal capacity. A similar value can be used for alkaline batteries. Other batteries may have different minimum charging thresholds.

The maximum discharge threshold and the minimum charge threshold of the battery 1201 can be stored in the charge sequencer 1802. Based on this value, an improved battery cycle is obtained.

Therefore, the charge sequencer 1802 controls the switches 1804 to connect the low dropout voltage regulator 1701, the battery 1201, and the first photovoltage generator 1101, thereby extending the life of the battery while ensuring the operation of the load. How to achieve this effect will be explained in detail below.

The energy converter 1000 further includes a charge controller 1803. The purpose of the charge controller 1803 is to act as a linear charger or as a bypass charger. When the battery 1201 is charged with a current having a constant value, the linear charger mode is employed whenever the input power generated by the first photovoltage generator 1101 is insufficient to provide the battery 1201 with all of the current that the battery 1201 can absorb. Conversely, bypass mode is used when there is enough power to allow the battery to absorb all of the current it can absorb. The charge sequencer 1802 turns the charge controller 1803 on and off whenever the charge sequencer 1802 determines that battery 1201 is needed or not needed. In addition, the charge controller 1803 is controlled by an output (not shown) of one of the priority order arbiters 1601 for determining whether the charge controller 1803 should operate in a linear mode or in a bypass mode.

Thus, the charge controller 1803 can operate to cause all current to flow through the transistor 1805 (bypass mode) or by applying an appropriate control voltage to the gate of the transistor 1805 to control the amount of current flowing to the battery 1201 (linear mode). The charge controller 1803 receives a feedback voltage generated by the current detector 1806, which represents the current flowing through the transistor 1805.

Furthermore, the energy converter 1000 includes a _V BATOUT _node, the node _V BATOUT voltage battery can be used for direct access 1201. In addition, a resistor 1807 can be connected between the node V _OUT and the transistor 1805. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, capacitors 1006 and 1008 ranging from 1 microfarad to 10 microfarads can be connected to input node _Vimpv and output node _{VOUT as needed} . Capacitor 1006 can be used to provide the high current required for the activation of the energy converter, and capacitor 1008, which is in the range of 50 nanofarads (nF) to 150 nanofarads, and preferably 100 nanofarads, can be used as needed. For smoothing the output of the boost converter.

First alternative to the first embodiment

Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the first embodiment shown in Figure 4.

As shown in FIG. 6, energy converter 2000 differs from energy converter 1000 in that there are transistors 2604 and 2605 controlled by a boost controller 2602 in energy converter 2000. The purpose of the diode is to act as a synchronous output switch to reduce the series losses of the diode 1007.

Second alternative to the first embodiment

Figure 7 illustrates a second alternative to the first embodiment of Figure 4.

As shown in FIG. 7, the energy converter 3000 is different from the energy converter 1000 in that there is an optional switch SW cap regulator 3401 in the energy converter 3000, and an analog power supply AVDD selection block. 3402, and capacitors 3003 and 3004.

The purpose of the AVDD selection block 3402 of the energy converter 3000 is to instantly select a voltage source for powering the analog function of the energy converter 3000. More specifically, the voltage source can be selected between V _OUT and V _IN .

As shown in FIG, AVDD selects the output of block 3402 is connected to a port A _VDD, which in turn is connected to the port A _VDD capacitor 3004. The purpose of capacitor 3004 is to ensure that the power supply of the analog component corresponding to the A _VDD signal remains stable.

The purpose of the optional SW capacitor regulator 3401 is to generate a high voltage from the low voltage V _IN . More specifically, the regulator 3401 can double the voltage V _IN and adjust the voltage by connecting to the capacitor 3003 to generate a high voltage value of, for example, 3.3 volts or a desired high voltage value to maintain The operation of the analog function of the energy converter 3000.

Third alternative of the first embodiment

Figure 8 illustrates a third alternative to the first embodiment of Figure 4.

As shown in FIG. 8, the energy converter 4000 differs from the energy converter 1000 in that a plurality of batteries 4202 and 4203 are present in the energy converter 4000. Although there are two additional batteries in the energy converter 4000, any number (from one to, for example, five, ten, twenty or even more) of additional batteries can be used. The presence of multiple batteries will have the advantage of storing more energy, providing higher energy bursts as needed, and providing a redundant design that even in the event of a failure of one or more batteries Can ensure operation.

In addition, the presence of a plurality of batteries enables more efficient management of the charge/discharge cycles of each of the batteries, thereby extending the useful life, as will be explained below.

Since there are a plurality of batteries 1201, 4202, and 4203, it is necessary to replace the switch 1804 of the energy converter 1000 with the switch 4804 of the energy converter 4000. Each switch 4804 can operate in a parallel manner to connect all of the batteries in the same manner. In other words, the switch 4804 can connect the batteries 1201, 4202, and 4203 to the same signal, which is V _BATOUT , and / or V _BATSENSE , and / or V _OUT . Alternatively, each switch 4804 can be operated to connect each of the individual cells in a different manner. For example, battery 4203 can be connected to signal V _BATOUT to power the load via low dropout regulator 1701. At the same time, the battery 4202 can be connected to the signals V _BATSENSE and V _OUT to be charged by the power generated by the first photo voltage generator 1101. At the same time, the battery 1201 can also be connected by one of the charging methods, or can be disconnected from the energy converter 4000, or can be connected to the signal V _OUT to help charge the battery 4202, or can be connected to the signal V _BATOUT to help the battery 4203 via the low voltage The voltage regulator 1701 is lowered to drive the load. More generally, each switch 4804 can be configured to control each of the batteries 1201, 4202, and 4203 in a manner independent of each other based on the logic controlled by the charge sequencer 1802.

Fourth alternative to the first embodiment

Figure 10 illustrates a fourth alternative to the first embodiment of Figure 4.

As shown, the fourth alternative energy converter 5000 is different from the energy converter 1000 of the first embodiment in that an energy converter 5000 is present for achieving a resistance between the signal V _OUT and the node FB. Bridge resistors 5001 and 5002, and resistors 5005 and 5009 for achieving a resistive bridge between signal V _INPV and node V _UVLO .

The designer of the energy converter 5000 can determine the size of the resistor bridges to provide an appropriate ratio for the feedback signal FB input to the comparator 1502 and the signal used to drive the UVLO 1403.

Finally, Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment of an energy converter 6000 that includes all of the features of the first embodiment, and the first, second, third, and fourth variations of the first embodiment. It should be understood that the first, second, third and fourth variants of the first embodiment may Any combination form is applied to the first embodiment. For example, a designer may decide to apply only the first variant to the first embodiment. Alternatively, a designer may decide to apply both the first variation and the fourth variant to the first embodiment. As a further alternative, the first embodiment can be employed without any modification. More generally, any combination of energy converters 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000 can be implemented.

Operation of the first embodiment

Figure 5 shows a schematic operation of one of the first embodiments shown in Figure 4.

Power up

As shown in FIG. 5, the energy converter 1000 is activated in step S10. The startup program can be mainly to switch an ON/OFF button. Alternatively, or in addition, the startup process can be automatically controlled by undervoltage lockout (UVLO) 1403 to a predetermined reference value.

More specifically, the first photovoltage generator 1101 charges the capacitor 1006 when illuminated by light. At this time, the capacitor 1006 appears to be a short circuit in the photovoltaic cell 1101. Thus, photovoltaic cell 1101 will charge capacitor 1006 with a short circuit current of capacitor 1006, which is dependent on the incident light power. Once the voltage on node V _UVLO reaches the value required to trigger undervoltage lockout 1403, the output of undervoltage lockout 1403 switches to turn the energy converter on. For example, for the energy converters 5000 and 6000, since there is a resistance bridge realized by the resistors 5005 and 5009, the time required for the undervoltage lockout 1403 to reach the trigger value V _UVLO will be expressed by the following equation (Eq1) (Eq1) )T _{UVLO_OK} =C _IN (V _UVLO ×(R ₂ +R ₁ )/R ₁ )/I _INPV

Wherein R ₁ represents a resistor 5009, R ₂ represents a resistor 5005, V _UVLO represents a trigger voltage of the undervoltage lockout 1403, C _IN represents an input capacitor 1006, I _INPV represents a short circuit current provided by the first photovoltaic cell 1101, and T _{UVLO_OK} represents The time required for the undervoltage lockout to switch.

In step S11, the analog circuit is energized to provide the desired analog signal for each component in the energy converter 1000.

Once the undervoltage lockout 1403 is switched, it turns on the analog function 1501 to operate the energy converter. The analog function is designed such that the current consumed by the functions does not exceed a predetermined level of, for example, 10 microamps to 20 microamps to ensure that the load represented by the analog functions does not degrade the input voltage I _INPV and triggers the UVLO again. And disconnect the energy converter.

Once the analog function is active and stable, a logic signal or a signal indicating that the analog function is active and stable (not shown) is used to initiate from an RC timer (not shown). The boost converter obtains the output voltage V _OUT by raising the input voltage V _INPV .

The output voltage V _OUT is ramped up to limit the average current drawn from the capacitor 1006. This step is performed to avoid that the current drawn by the self-capacitance 1006 is greater than the current supplied by the photovoltage generator 1101 and/or the capacitor 1006. The boost converter will then operate in a pulse while monitoring the input voltage V _INPV and ensuring that the input voltage V _INPV remains close to the optimum voltage value V _INTarg generated by the optimum V _IN estimator 1302. This enables the output capacitor 1008 to be charged with a limited current while ensuring that the voltage V _{INPV is} maintained at a value that is capable of providing the best possible power transfer from the first photovoltaic cell 1101.

Analog power supply A _VDD management

The energy converter of the first embodiment can be implemented as a photovoltage generator 1101 capable of providing a nominal voltage of about 2 volts. In this case, a voltage A _{VDD for} powering the analog function of the energy converter can be generated which is higher than the 2 volt generated by the photovoltage generator 1101. A voltage value higher than 2 volts can achieve one of the analog functions, better linearity, a better Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR), and better frequency performance. Moreover, such higher voltages can be derived from different sources in the energy converter (eg, output voltage _VOUT or voltage stored in battery 1201).

At the same time, a small regulator 3401 _{capable of} doubling the input voltage V _INPV and adjusting it to a value of, for example, 3.3 volts can be included in the energy converter (eg, energy converter 3000).

Open circuit adjustment

In step S12, the priority order arbiter 1601 starts operating to convert the power received from the first photovoltage generator 1101 into an output node V _OUT .

The output voltage V _OUT reaches a stable value as a function of voltage V _REF . For example, in the case of the energy converter 6000 shown in Fig. 11, the output voltage V _OUT is expressed by the following equation (Eq 2) (Eq2) V _OUT = V _FB × ((R ₃ + R ₄ ) / R ₃ )

Where V _FB represents the voltage at node FB, R ₃ represents resistance 5002, and R ₄ represents resistance 5001. For example, if battery 1201 has a maximum operating voltage of 4.1 volts, voltage V _{REF is} selected to ensure that voltage V _OUT does not exceed a maximum rated voltage of 4.1 volts.

Therefore, the boost converter can, for example, drive a current pulse in a Pulse Frequency Modulation (PFM) mode and cause the voltage V _{INPV to} deviate to become equal to the open circuit voltage.

In step S13, the priority order arbiter evaluates whether the converted power is sufficient to power the load connected to the node _VLDO . This evaluation can be performed by the inputs provided by comparators 1502 and 1303.

If the result of the determination in step S13 is that the converted power is not greater than the power required to connect to the load of the node _VLDO , then in step S16, the priority arbitrator evaluates whether the converted power is just enough to connect to the node V. The load of the _LDO is powered. This evaluation can be performed by the inputs provided by comparators 1502 and 1303.

If the result of the determination in step S16 is that the converted power is just enough to supply power to the load connected to the node _VLDO, the load is driven in step S17.

Charging batteries

If the result of the determination in step S13 is that the converted power is greater than the power required to connect the load to the node _VLDO, the load is driven in step S15. At the same time, the battery 1201 is recharged in step S140.

Steps S15 and S140 are performed by properly connecting the switches 1804 according to the charge sequencer 1802. More specifically, to drive the load and recharge the battery, node V _{OUT is} connected to node V _BATOUT and node V _BAT1 .

Steps S15 and S140 are performed until it is detected by the comparators 1502 and 1303 and the priority order arbitrator 1601 that the converted power has changed, and/or Until the power used to detect the load has changed.

The battery recharging step S140 is composed of steps S141, S142, and S143. Step S141 recharges the battery by connecting at least V _OUT to V _BAT1 . In step S142, it is determined by the SWAP comparator 1801 whether the battery has been charged to a value corresponding to the minimum charge threshold of the battery 1201 stored in the charge sequencer 1802. If it is determined in step S142 that the battery is charged to at least the minimum charge threshold, then V _{BATOUT is} disconnected from V _OUT and the priority order arbiter 1601 is operated to convert power to drive the load. This will effectively discard the amount of power that would otherwise be converted and not needed by the load.

More specifically, once the output voltage V _{OUT is} stabilized, the state of charge of the batteries can be determined prior to charging the batteries. In the case of having a plurality of batteries 1201, 4202, and 4203, the state of charge of each of the batteries can be determined. This not only informs the state of charge of the batteries, but also detects potential problems with the batteries (eg, a short circuit or an open circuit can be detected).

The charge sequencer 1802 is configured to store information related to the quality of the batteries (charging level and/or defect) and to manage the batteries in an appropriate manner based on the stored information during operation of the energy converter Charging and discharging. For example, if a battery has been identified as having a defect during a previous inspection, the charge sequencer may decide not to check the battery. Additionally, the charge sequencer may decide not to charge and/or discharge the battery.

When using a commercially available thin film battery, it is recommended to use a constant voltage charging method. However, in the case of charging a 1 mA (mAH) battery at 30 ° C, a constant voltage of, for example, 4.1 volts can be applied to inject a current of 10 mA to 30 mA into the battery. At the same time, such current may not be obtained from the output of the photovoltage generator 1101. In this case, a constant voltage can be used instead of a constant voltage to charge the battery. Therefore, the priority order arbiter 1601 is configured to detect the divergence of the output voltage V _OUT and initiate a functional mode in which the charge controller 1803 operates in a linear mode. The priority order arbiter 1601 is further configured to operate the boost converter in a manner that regulates the input voltage V _{INPV by} transferring a current pulse from the capacitor 1006 to the capacitor 1008.

There are different options for generating current pulses. For example, the pulses can be dynamically spaced to adjust the input voltage.

Battery charging of the third alternative of the first embodiment

Figure 9 illustrates a charging operation for a third alternative (including a plurality of batteries 1201, 4202, and 4203) of the first embodiment.

The operation shown in Fig. 9 differs from the operation shown in Fig. 5 in that there is more than one battery in the operation shown in Fig. 9. More specifically, steps S140 and S190 of FIG. 5 are replaced by steps S240 and S290 of FIG. 9, respectively.

The discharging step S240 includes step S244, step S141, step S142, step S245, and step S143. Step S141, step S142, and step S143 correspond to the corresponding steps of FIG. 5, respectively.

In step S244, the charge sequencer 1802 determines which battery needs to be charged. More specifically, the battery to be charged is the one having the lowest charging value.

Once the battery is charged, during the steps S141 and S142, the charge sequencer 1802 determines whether another battery needs to be charged. If "yes", then as mentioned above The next battery to be charged is selected in step S244. If "No", the excess power is discarded in step S143 as described in FIG.

In this way, it will be ensured that the battery having a lower charging value is preferentially recharged. This is advantageous in that the charge/discharge cycle can be reduced by recharging the battery whose charge value is closer to the value corresponding to the maximum discharge threshold, instead of recharging a battery having a higher charge value. And therefore will extend the life of the battery.

Battery discharge

If the result of the determination in step S16 is that the converted power is insufficient to supply power to the load connected to the node _VLDO, the load is driven in step S18 while discharging the battery in step S190.

Steps S18 and S190 are performed by properly connecting the switches 1804 according to the charge sequencer 1802. More specifically, to drive the load and discharge the battery, node V _{OUT is} connected to node V _BATOUT and node V _BAT1 .

Steps S18 and S190 are performed until it is detected by the comparators 1502 and 1303 and the priority order arbiter 1601 that the converted power has changed, and/or until the power used to detect the load has changed. And/or until the battery 1201 is detected to be discharged by the SWAP comparator 1801 to a value corresponding to the maximum discharge threshold stored in the charge sequencer 1802.

The battery discharging step S190 is composed of steps S191 and S192. Step S191 discharges the battery by connecting at least V _BAT1 to V _BATOUT . In step S192, it is judged by the SWAP comparator 1801 whether or not the battery has been discharged to a value corresponding to the maximum discharge threshold value of the battery 1201 stored in the charge sequencer 1802. If it is determined that the battery has been discharged to at least one value corresponding to the maximum discharge threshold of the battery 1201, steps S18 and S190 are interrupted.

Battery discharge of the third alternative of the first embodiment

Figure 9 illustrates a discharge operation of a third alternative (including a plurality of batteries 1201, 4202, and 4203) of the first embodiment.

The operation shown in Fig. 9 differs from the operation shown in Fig. 5 in that there is more than one battery in the operation shown in Fig. 9. More specifically, steps S140 and S190 of FIG. 5 are replaced by steps S240 and S290 of FIG.

The discharging step S290 includes step S292, step S191, step S192, and step S294. Step S191 and step S192 correspond to the corresponding steps of FIG. 5, respectively.

In step S294, the charge sequencer 1802 determines which battery can be discharged. More specifically, the battery to be discharged is the one having the highest charging value.

In steps S191 and S192, once the battery is discharged to a level corresponding to the maximum discharge threshold, the charge sequencer 1802 determines whether another battery can be discharged to keep the drive under load. If YES, the next battery to be discharged is selected in step S294 as described above. If "No", the drive to the load is interrupted.

In this way, it is ensured that the battery having a higher charging value is preferentially discharged. This is advantageous in that the number of charge/discharge cycles can be reduced by discharging a battery having a charge value closer to a value corresponding to the minimum charge threshold instead of discharging a battery having a lower charge value. And thus extend the life of the battery.

Therefore, the charging/discharging operation performed when having a plurality of batteries is advantageous because it provides greater flexibility and thus prolongs the service life. In only one In the case of a battery, the system can only charge/discharge a single battery when it is rechargeable or needs to be discharged, regardless of the level of charging of the battery. When there are multiple batteries, the system can determine which battery(s) are being charged/discharged in an attempt to fully charge/discharge each of the batteries. In this way, each of the batteries can be operated independently, thereby achieving greater flexibility.

For example, if only one battery with a certain capacity is available and 40% of the capacity is used to drive the load, then when some extra power is converted so that it is no longer necessary to discharge the battery to drive the load, The battery is recharged. However, this means that the battery will undergo a 100% to 60% to 100% charge cycle, which may be undesirable.

In the same situation, if two batteries having one-half of a single battery capacity are used, the first battery can be used to drive the load, thereby achieving a final charge level corresponding to 30% of the capacity. When there is additional power again, the battery can be fully charged, thereby achieving a 100% to 30% to 100% charge cycle, while the second battery remains 100% throughout the cycle. This is advantageous in that it will increase the service life of the two batteries.

Sleep mode

In situations where the available power generated by the first photovoltage generator 1101 and/or the energy stored in the battery is insufficient to meet the power requirements of the energy converter, the energy converter can be placed into a sleep mode. In this alternative sleep mode, only undervoltage lockout 1403 and comparators 1303 and 1502 and circuitry participating in generating a reference signal input to the two comparators may remain on. This allows the energy converter to maintain the evolution of the voltage while consuming the least amount of power possible.

Second embodiment

Figure 12 illustrates an embodiment of an energy converter 7000 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The energy converter 7000 is different from the energy converter 1000 of the first embodiment of the present invention in that energy is not stored in the battery 1201 but in an ultracapacitor 7201.

When replacing the battery 1201 with an ultracapacitor 7201, it is mainly necessary to modify the output stage of the energy converter to utilize the way in which the supercapacitor can provide power. More specifically, the SWAP comparator 7801 of the energy converter 7000 has an additional input TX to initiate a high power mode that allows high current bursts to be delivered from the ultracapacitor 7201 to the load via the LDO 1701. This is especially advantageous in RF applications that require high power periodically. In addition to the high power bursts provided by the ultracapacitors, the energy converter 7000 is also capable of providing the energy harvested by the photovoltaic cells 1101.

The energy converter 7000 can further include a PowerOk output for signaling the external environment that the ultracapacitor has been charged.

In addition, the energy converter 7000 does not require components for recharging the battery in the first embodiment (eg, the charge sequencer 1802, the charge controller 1803, the resistor 1807, and the detector 1806).

It should be understood that the first embodiment can be combined with the second embodiment. This has several advantages. Power can be supplied by the photovoltage generator 1101. At the same time, potentially excess power can be stored in the battery or in the supercapacitor. If the power obtained from the photovoltaic cell is insufficient, if a stable current is required, the power can be drawn from the battery and/or the ultracapacitor, or if a high current value is required, the power can be extracted from the supercapacitor. In this way, no The type of current consumption required by the load can always ensure the operation of the load. In addition, for example, if only a high current burst is required, power can be transferred from the battery to the supercapacitor.

Further, various modifications of the first embodiment can be applied to the second embodiment, thereby providing the same advantageous effects as those outlined for the first embodiment.

The operation of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment except that the supercapacitance is charged/discharged instead of the battery. Since the charging voltage of the ultracapacitor does not need to be fixed as a battery, the ultracapacitor can always be charged in bypass mode without using a linear mode. In this case, the adjustment of the input voltage V _INPV takes precedence over the adjustment of the output voltage V _OUT . By preferentially adjusting the input voltage, it is ensured that the maximum amount of power is extracted from the photovoltage generator.

When the second embodiment is combined with the first embodiment, during the charging of the battery, the priority order between the output voltage adjustment and the input voltage adjustment can be managed as described in the first embodiment, and during the supercapacitor charging, This priority order is managed as described in the second embodiment. If the battery is charged simultaneously with the supercapacitor, the priority of the first embodiment can be used for both the capacitor and the battery.

Third embodiment

Figure 13 shows an energy converter 8000 in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

The energy converter 8000 is different from the energy converter 6000 of the first embodiment in that a piezoelectric generator 8103, a thermoelectric generator 8104, and additional components required for the operation of the two generators are present in the energy converter 8000. The specificity of the voltage source is that delivery is limited to a few milliwatts of AC power and has a high loss impedance. Similar characteristics Also suitable for hot power.

In addition, the energy converter 8000 further includes a diode 8014 and 8012, a capacitor 8013, a switch 8018, an inductor 8011, a resistor bridge formed by the resistors 8016 and 8017, an optional SW capacitor adjuster 8401, and a AVDD selects block 8402 and a UVLO2 8404. Since the piezoelectric generator can generate a high output voltage, the energy converter 8000 can further include a clamp diode 8015.

If only a piezoelectric power source or only a thermal power source is used in the energy converter 8000, the operation of the energy converter 8000 differs from that of the first embodiment in that the current flowing through the regulator 8011 is preferentially adjusted. Once the signal reaches UVLO2 8404 V _UVLO2 high threshold _V UVLO2H, the boost converter output voltage V _OUT will then ramped up, for example, and if the energy converter in a battery discharge mode, the charging operation of the sorter to select at least A battery to be charged and charged by limiting the charging current. In this case, the boost converter can operate in a Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) mode.

In addition, when charging is performed at a voltage required to recharge the battery, the charge stored in the input capacitor 8013 is higher than the charge required to output the capacitor 1008. More specifically, the value of capacitor 8013 is selected such that once the boost converter is charged, UVLO2 will not be driven to its lower trigger value. In other words, the value of capacitor 8013 is sufficient to ensure proper startup of the boost converter and charging of output capacitor 1008 while maintaining voltage V _UVLO2 above the lower trigger voltage of UVLO2. In this manner, the abnormal shutdown of the energy converter 8000 during the startup operation can be avoided when power is only supplied from the piezoelectric power source and/or the thermal power source.

As mentioned above, the charger can limit the battery charging current. As an alternative, or In addition, if the generated power is sufficient to charge the battery at a constant voltage, the charger can be put into the bypass mode and the boost converter can transfer the charge stored in the capacitor 8103 to the battery.

If the piezoelectric generator 8103 and/or the thermoelectric generator 8104 are used in combination with the photovoltage generator 1101, since the capacitance of the input capacitor 8103 can be greater than the input capacitance 1006, the output of the UVLO2 8404 is prioritized over the UVLO 1403 during power up. The output. This is because if the larger input capacitor 8013 indicates that there is a sufficient charge level, the boost converter can drive the output voltage in a faster manner by switching the UVLO2 8404 without waiting for the UVLO 1403 to switch. More generally, the switching of either of the two UVLOs is sufficient to initiate operation of the energy converter.

If all generators are working, the photovoltage generator can provide more power than other generators. For example, a photovoltage generator can generate an order of magnitude more power than a TEG (thermoelectric generator) and a piezoelectric generator. Therefore, when the operational state of the energy converter is specified, the photovoltage generator is considered to have a priority order.

Alternatively, or in addition, if the power is insufficient to ensure that the battery is being charged while driving the load, a piezoelectric generator or thermoelectric generator can be used to power the battery.

Alternatively, or in addition, if the photovoltage generator does not provide energy, the thermoelectric generator or piezoelectric generator can be coupled to the output via a charge pump regulator.

Alternatively, instead of using a single thermoelectric generator 8012, a plurality of thermoelectric generators 8012 may be connected in series. This will provide the following additional advantages: these thermoelectric The output voltage of the generator 8012 can be higher than the output voltage of a single generator. Moreover, by using such a method, the design of the energy converter 8000 can be made simple because there is no need to boost the output of the thermoelectric generator 8012.

The energy converter can be implemented without generating toxic substances (for example, lead, phosphorus, Bi2Te3 containing bismuth, bismuth) which are undesirable for living organisms and the environment. Instead, energy converters can be implemented with or without any environmentally friendly material.

The operations of the second embodiment and the third embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment. In other words, the management of the charge/discharge cycle for one or more energy storage elements is similar regardless of the type of generator used and independent of the type of energy storage element used.

The present invention relates to an energy converter capable of converting energy received from a plurality of generators that are capable of extracting power from the environment. One of such generators can be, for example, a photovoltage generator. In this case, the energy converter of the present invention is configured to receive the output of the first photovoltage generator as a first input. Additionally, the energy converter is configured to receive a second input from a second generator (eg, a second photovoltage generator). A first input of the energy converter can be used to receive energy from the first photovoltage generator, which energy can be converted by the energy converter. At the same time, the second input of the energy converter can be used to receive an open circuit voltage from the second photovoltage generator. In this way, an accurate open circuit voltage value of one of the second photovoltage generators can be sensed and used as one of the open circuit voltage estimates of the first photovoltage generator.

By using the sensed open circuit voltage, it is estimated that the voltage output by the first photovoltage generator should be maintained to increase power efficiency. In other words, by referring to the sensed open circuit voltage of the second photovoltage generator, the energy converter can be converted and received from the first The energy of the photovoltage generator maintains the voltage output by the first photovoltage generator at a level that increases the amount of power generated by the first photovoltage generator.

By using this method, the energy converter of the present invention is capable of drawing near-optimal power from the first photovoltage generator without the need for a complicated solution (e.g., the solution represented by the MPPT technology).

More generally, although various embodiments of the present invention have been explained with reference to a photovoltage generator, the present invention is not limited thereto but can be applied to any of the voltage-current characteristics similar to those shown in FIG. Motor.

Furthermore, the energy converter of the present invention can be configured to draw power from an additional thermoelectric generator and/or an additional piezoelectric generator. Even when the energy converter of the present invention is implemented to obtain power from the above three types of generators, the architecture of the energy converter of the present invention can be kept simple, and the power required for its operation is reduced compared to MPPT technology.

Furthermore, the invention relates to an energy conversion and storage system comprising an energy converter and at least one energy storage element.

Further, although the current detector 1806 is shown between the node V _OUT and the transistor 1805 in FIGS. 4 to 14, the present invention is not limited thereto. Alternatively, or in addition, current detector 1805 can be placed between transistor 1805 and battery 1201. As a further alternative, or in addition, current detector 1806 can be placed between diode 1007 and node _VOUT .

Further, various embodiments are explained with reference to a boost converter. However, the invention is not limited to this. A buck converter can be used instead of a boost converter. Alternatively, a buck-boost converter can be used. It is possible to decide whether to operate the converter in a boost (boost) or a buck (drop) mode before or after estimating the optimum output voltage of the first generator. This decision is performed by comparing the first generator output voltage (either before or after optimization is achieved by considering the second generator) V _INPV to the battery voltage V _BAT and/or the output voltage V _OUT .

For example, in operation, V _INPV can be equal to 20 volts and V _BAT can be equal to 4 volts at a time. At this point, a buck-boost converter can operate in a buck mode (downconverting). At a different time, V _INPV can be equal to 3 volts and V _BAT can be equal to 4 volts, at which point a buck-boost converter can operate in a boost mode (up-conversion). This is advantageous in that it provides flexibility in accordance with the voltage currently being output by the first photovoltage generator.

Alternatively, or in addition, if the voltage value of the first photovoltage generator is designed to be maintained at V _INPV = 20 volts and V _BAT = 4 volts, a buck converter can be implemented instead of Buck-boost converter.

As a further alternative, or in addition, if the voltage value of the first photovoltage generator is designed to be maintained at V _INPV = 3 volts and V _BAT = 4 volts, a boost converter can be implemented instead of Buck-boost converter.

Alternatively, or in addition, a plurality of first photovoltage generators 1101 can be used, and the connections between the generators and the energy converters can be electrically controlled to be a parallel connection or a series connection. More specifically, some of the generators in a group may be connected in parallel, and the group may be connected in series with another generator or a group of generators. More generally, any connection between any two generators can be achieved. By this way, according to the desired output voltage may be connected between the generator may be controlled such as to provide a _V INPV, the value of _V INPV closest to the desired output voltage.

For example, if five generators each providing 4 volts are used and the required V _BAT system is 3 volts, the generators can be connected in parallel. On the other hand, if each of the generators provides 4 volts and the required V _BAT is 4 volts, they can be connected in series. In addition, if each of the generators provides 2 volts and the required V _BAT is 4 volts, the generators can be connected in series, and the groups of two and two series can be connected in parallel with each other.

Although the embodiment shown in FIG node _V BATOUT V _LDO and the floating system, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it can be separately connected to a decoupling capacitor, the other node of which is connected to a reference voltage (eg, ground voltage).

1‧‧‧ capacitor

2‧‧‧ capacitor

3‧‧‧Resistors

4‧‧‧Resistors

5‧‧‧ capacitor

6‧‧‧Inductance

7‧‧‧Boost converter

8‧‧‧Resistors

9‧‧‧Resistors

10‧‧‧ capacitor

11‧‧‧ load

12‧‧‧Photovoltaic cells

13‧‧‧ switch

V _IN ‧‧‧ input

UVLO‧‧‧埠

VAUX‧‧‧埠

L‧‧‧ output

300‧‧‧Energy Converter

301‧‧‧First generator

302‧‧‧second generator

303‧‧‧reference voltage unit

304‧‧‧ Comparator

305‧‧‧ Comparator

306‧‧‧Priority unit

307‧‧‧ converter unit

V _INPV ‧‧‧ input voltage

V _PVSS ‧‧‧Open circuit voltage / input埠

FB‧‧‧埠/node/feedback signal

V _{INTarg ‧‧‧reference} voltage / optimized voltage value

V _REF ‧‧‧reference voltage

V _OUT ‧‧‧ output voltage

1000‧‧‧Energy Converter

1006‧‧‧ capacitor

1007‧‧‧ diode

1008‧‧‧ capacitor

1010‧‧‧Inductance

1101‧‧‧First photovoltage generator

1102‧‧‧Second light voltage generator

1201‧‧‧Battery

1301‧‧‧Temperature Sensor

1302‧‧‧Best V _IN Estimator

1303‧‧‧ comparator

1403‧‧‧UVLO

1501‧‧‧VREF generators along with other analog circuits

1502‧‧‧ comparator

1601‧‧‧Priority arbitrator

1602‧‧‧Booster controller

1603‧‧‧Optoelectronics

1701‧‧‧Low Dropout Regulator (LDO)

1801‧‧‧SWAP comparator

1802‧‧‧Charging sequencer

1803‧‧‧Charging controller

1804‧‧‧Control switch

1805‧‧‧Optoelectronics

1806‧‧‧ Current Detector

1807‧‧‧resistance

V _BAT1 ‧‧‧埠

V _LDO ‧‧‧output埠

V _UVLO ‧‧‧埠/voltage

V _BATSENSE ‧‧‧ voltage

V _RefMAX ‧‧‧High voltage

V _RefMIN ‧‧‧Low voltage value

V _BATOUT ‧‧‧ nodes

2000‧‧‧Energy Converter

2602‧‧‧Booster controller

2604‧‧‧Optoelectronics

2605‧‧‧Optoelectronics

3000‧‧‧Energy Converter

3003‧‧‧ capacitor

3004‧‧‧ capacitor

3401‧‧‧Optional Switch SW Capacitor Regulator

3402‧‧‧ analog power supply AVDD selection block

4000‧‧‧Energy Converter

4202‧‧‧Battery

4203‧‧‧Battery

4804‧‧‧Switch

5000‧‧‧Energy Converter

5001‧‧‧Resistors

5002‧‧‧Resistors

5005‧‧‧Resistors

5009‧‧‧Resistors

6000‧‧‧Energy Converter

7000‧‧‧Energy Converter

7201‧‧‧Supercapacitor

7801‧‧‧SWAP comparator

8000‧‧‧Energy Converter

8011‧‧‧Inductors

8012‧‧‧ diode

8013‧‧‧ capacitor

8014‧‧‧ diode

8015‧‧‧Clamping diode

8016‧‧‧Resistors

8017‧‧‧Resistors

8018‧‧‧ switch

8103‧‧‧ Piezoelectric generator

8104‧‧‧Thermal generator

8401‧‧‧Optional SW Capacitor

8402‧‧‧AVDD selection block

8404‧‧‧UVLO2

V _UVLO2 ‧‧‧ signal

The drawings are included in the specification and form a part of the specification Together with the description, the drawings serve to illustrate the features, advantages and principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments and embodiments of the invention, and are not intended to limit the invention. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the invention. A schematic example of an energy converter of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate schematic waveforms of the energy converter of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 illustrates an energy converter according to an embodiment of the present invention. And an illustrative example of an energy conversion and storage system; 4 illustrates a schematic example of an energy converter and an energy conversion and storage system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 illustrates one exemplary operation of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4; An illustrative example of an energy converter and an energy conversion and storage system according to a first variant of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 illustrates an energy converter according to a second variant of the first embodiment of the present invention and An illustrative example of an energy conversion and storage system; FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic example of an energy converter and an energy conversion and storage system in accordance with a third variation of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 illustrates FIG. One of the third variants of the first embodiment shown is schematically operated; FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic example of an energy converter and an energy conversion and storage system according to a fourth variant of the first embodiment of the present invention; 11 exemplifies a schematic example of an energy converter and an energy conversion and storage system including the first, second, third, and fourth modifications of the first embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 12 illustrates a second embodiment according to the present invention. An illustrative example of an energy converter and an energy conversion and storage system of the embodiment; FIG. 13 illustrates an illustrative example of an energy converter and an energy conversion and storage system in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 14 is a view showing one of changes in output current and power of a photovoltage generator as a function of output voltage.

300‧‧‧Energy Converter

301‧‧‧First generator

302‧‧‧second generator

303‧‧‧reference voltage unit

304‧‧‧ Comparator

305‧‧‧ Comparator

306‧‧‧Priority unit

307‧‧‧converter unit

V _INPV : input voltage

V _PVSS ‧‧‧Open circuit voltage / input埠

FB‧‧‧埠/node/feedback signal

V _{INTarg ‧‧‧reference} voltage

V _REF ‧‧‧reference voltage

V _OUT ‧‧‧ output voltage

Claims (17)

An energy converter connectable to at least one first generator for converting energy received from the at least one first generator, wherein the energy converter is connectable to a second generator; the energy converter Included as a sensing unit configured to sense an output value of the second generator, and capable of estimating an open circuit voltage of the at least one first generator; and the energy converter is configured to sense the sensing The open circuit voltage estimated by the unit to convert energy received from the at least one first generator. The energy converter of claim 1, wherein the sensed output value of the second generator is an open circuit voltage value of the second generator. The energy converter of claim 2, wherein the sensing unit is configured to output an optimized voltage (V _INTarg ), the optimized voltage (V _INTarg ) corresponding to a value that is less than the value The sensed open circuit voltage is in the range of 5% to 35%; preferably, the value is within a range of less than 15% to 20% of the sensed open circuit voltage, and the energy converter is configured to An output voltage (V _INPV ) of at least one of the first generators is maintained at a value corresponding to the optimized voltage. The energy converter of any one of clauses 1 to 3, further comprising a converter, wherein the converter is a boost converter, a buck converter, and a buck-boost converter In either case, the converter is controlled by a controller, and the converter is configured to convert the output voltage of the at least one first generator to an output voltage (V _OUT ) of the energy converter, The output voltage (V _OUT ) corresponds to a predetermined reference voltage (V _REF ). The energy converter of claim 4, further comprising a priority order arbiter configured to receive a first error signal output by a first comparator, the first error The signal indicates a difference between the optimized voltage and the output voltage of the at least one first generator; b. receiving a second error signal output by a second comparator, the second error signal indicating And comparing a reference voltage to the output voltage of the energy converter; and c. outputting a control signal to the controller to drive the converter to perform the following steps: i. if the first error signal is at Within a predetermined range, indicating that the at least one first generator is capable of providing the maximum amount of power required by the converter, the priority order arbiter ensures that the second error signal is minimized, and ii. if the first When an error signal is outside of the predetermined range, the priority order arbiter ensures that the first error signal is minimized. The energy converter of any one of clauses 1 to 5, further configured to be coupled to at least one energy storage element. The energy converter of claim 6, wherein the at least one energy storage component comprises at least one battery. The energy converter of claim 6, wherein the at least one energy storage component comprises at least one supercapacitor. The energy converter of any one of clauses 1 to 8, further comprising a voltage regulator configured to provide a stable one of the energy converters by extracting energy from the ones listed below The output voltage after pressing: a. the output voltage (V _OUT ) of the energy converter; and/or b. the at least one energy storage element. The energy converter of any one of clauses 1 to 9, wherein the at least one first generator comprises a first photovoltage generator and the second generator comprises a second photovoltage generator. The energy converter of claim 10, wherein the first photovoltage generator and the second photovoltage generator are part of a single photovoltaic cell, wherein the photovoltaic cell has a first photovoltage generation a first output of the device and a second output for the second photovoltage generator. The energy converter of any one of clauses 1 to 11, further comprising at least one third generator, wherein the at least one third generator comprises: a. a piezoelectric generator; and/or b. A thermoelectric generator. An energy converter connectable to at least one first generator for converting energy received from the at least one first generator, wherein the energy converter is more connectable to a plurality of energy storage elements; the energy conversion The device includes a charge sequencer configured to manage the charging and discharging sequence of each of the energy storage elements, and thereby performing the following steps: - discharging a first energy storage element, the first The energy storage component is one of the energy storage components having a highest charge value, and/or - charging a second energy storage component, the second energy storage component It is one of the lowest energy values in the energy storage elements. An energy conversion and storage system comprising: a. an energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 13; b. at least one energy storage element coupled to the energy converter, wherein the at least one energy The storage element comprises: i. at least one battery, and/or ii. at least one supercapacitor. The energy conversion and storage system of claim 14, wherein the energy converter and the at least one energy storage component are fabricated from a biocompatible material. An energy conversion method for converting energy received from at least one first generator, comprising: a sensing step for sensing an output value of a second generator; and an estimating step for The sensed output value of the second generator to estimate an open circuit voltage of the at least one first generator; and a converting step for converting from the estimated open circuit voltage to receive the at least one first The energy of the generator. An energy conversion method for converting energy received from at least a first generator, comprising: a management step of managing a charge and discharge order of each of the plurality of energy storage elements, the management step comprising the following steps :- discharging a first energy storage element, the first energy storage element having a highest charge value in the energy storage elements, and/or - charging a second energy storage element, the second energy storage The component is one of the energy storage components having a minimum charge value.