Universal and Inductorless DC/DC Converter for Multi-output Power Supplies in Sensor and Actuator Networks

This work proposes a universal and inductorless DC/DC converter that can be used for a wide input range, from few V to 60 V, to regulate output voltages from 5 V down to 1 V in Sensor and Actuator Network nodes. The proposed converter has been developed within the Athenis3D European project.

Effect of CMOS Technology Scaling on Fully-Integrated Power Supply Efficiency

International audienceIntegrating a power supply in the same die as the powered circuits is an appropriate solution for granular, fine and fast power management. To allow same-die co-integration, fully integrated DC-DC converters designed in the latest CMOS technologies have been greatly studied by academics and industrialists in the last decade. However, there is little study concerning the effects of the CMOS scaling on these particular circuits. To show the trends, this paper compares the achievable efficiencies of the 2:1 switched capacitor DC-DC converter topology under the same constraints in 65, 130 and 350nm bulk CMOS nodes and 28nm in bulk and FDSOI technologies with various capacitor options

Design and Measurement of Integrated Converters for Belt-driven Starter-generator in 48 V Micro/mild Hybrid Vehicles

With reference to a 48 V belt-driven starter-generator, used in micro/mild hybrid vehicles, the paper shows the design and measurement of an integrated H-bridge and of a compact DC/DC converter, both fabricated in low-cost HV-MOS technology. The H-bridge is in charge of rotor excitation and, thanks to a direct copper bonding of the HV-MOS devices on a ceramic substrate, it ensures a full-integrated solution with low ON-resistance values. The compact DC/DC converter interfaces the 48 V power domain with the lower voltage domain of sensing and control electronics, such as 5 V and 1.65 V in this case study, without using cumbersome inductors and transformers. The latter are difficult to integrate in silicon technology. The converter has a multi stage architecture, where each stage implements a switched capacitor regulation. Multiple voltage outputs are supported, with a configurable regulation factor, sustaining an input voltage variation from 6 V (in case of cranking) up to 60 V. Specific design techniques have been implemented to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI), typical of switching converters. Experimental measurements on fabricated prototype chipsets confirm the suitability of the presented designs for low-EMI 48 V application

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationMicroelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonators on Si have the potential to replace the discrete passive components in a power converter. The main intention of this dissertation is to present a ring-shaped aluminum nitride (AlN) piezoelectric microreson

An Evaluation of 2-phase Charge Pump Topologies with Charge Transfer Switches for Green Mobile Technology

The development of charge pumps has been motivated by the power supply requirements of portable electronic devices. Charge pumps are inductorless DC-DC converters that are small size and high integration. The quality of the charge pump greatly depends on the effectiveness of switches to turn on and off at the designated clock phases. However, to date, no analysis has been carried out on the overall performance of charge pumps based on switch components in practice. This work demonstrates the characteristics of transistors as charge transfer switches and their effects on the performance of a charge pump. Three most common charge pump topologies are evaluated in terms of voltage drop due to on-resistance and charge loss per switch. Simulations are performed in 0.35μm Austriamicrosystems (AMS) technology for Dickson, Voltage Doubler and Makowski charge pump topologies in steady and dynamic states. In addition, the effect of switch parameters for different charge pump topologies are compared and analysed. We demonstrate that the Makowski charge pump is the topology for future green mobile technology