Download Energy harvesting circuits for low power applications

Scuola di Dottorato in ICT
Doctoral School in ICT
Research project for a PhD curriculum in ICT – Curriculum: Electronics and
Telecommunication
Tutor: Paolo Pavan
(Possibile) Italian Co-tutor: Luca Larcher, Alessandro Bertacchini
(Possibile) Foregin Co-tutor:
Proposed Title of the research: Energy harvesting circuits for low power applications
Keywords: integrated circuits, WSN, energy harvesting
Research objectives: --(max 10 rows)
WSN application are facing strong limitations due to the finite battery lifetime, thus requiring maintenance
and healing, that definitely limit the wide range of applications of WSN based solutions.
In this scenario, research objectives are oriented to develop energy harvesting circuit solutions targeted
to low power applications allowing either extending the battery lifetime either replacing the battery.
Typical renewable energy sources considered are sunlight, vibration, temperature, and electro-magnetic
and magnetic field. Given the small energy budget of WSN nodes, analog circuit solution will be
designed to optimize the energy transfer to the WSN nodes, considering both integrated circuit and PCB
solutions.
Proposed research activity --(max 10 rows)
The proposed research has strong interactions with companies, that will provide specification of energy
harvesting circuits.
The proposed research activity will include:
 electrical characterization and modelling of renewable energy sources considered (sunlight,
vibration, temperature, and electro-magnetic and magnetic field;
 design and optimization of energy harvester circuits, comprised of matching network, voltage
rectifier and multiplier sections, energy buffer, and voltage regulator (LDO, and DC-DC
converter);
 realization and characterization of PCB and IC prototypes.
Supporting research projects (and Department)
DISMI
Possible connections with research groups, companies, universities
STMicroelectronics
Laser Elettronica