Charge Pumping Apparatus for Optimum Power Point Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy harvesting systems, particularly those using inductive DC-DC converters, face challenges in minimizing power loss due to the need for current sensors and separate voltage adjusters, which are costly and inefficient, especially in low-power applications like indoor light energy harvesting.
Innovation Solution
A charge pumping apparatus that tracks the optimum power point by measuring only voltage without a current sensor, using a voltage pumping unit, a voltage pumping control unit, and an optimum power point tracking unit to adjust input impedance and criterion voltages, thereby reducing power loss and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a current detector is used to transfer optimum power to storage medium, then power transfer efficiency is improved, but power loss increases due to the current detector consuming power in proportion to output current
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the current detector from the system entirely and replaces it with a voltage detection-based control mechanism. The controller detects output voltage changes to determine charging states and adjust the charge pump operation, eliminating the power consumption associated with current sensing while maintaining optimal power transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the electrical current detection mechanism with a voltage detection mechanism. By monitoring output voltage variations instead of measuring current directly, the system achieves the same control objective without the power penalty of traditional current detectors, effectively replacing one sensing approach with another that is more energy-efficient.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a separate voltage adjuster is used to convert output voltage to fixed voltage, then voltage stability is improved, but power loss increases due to the additional component
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the voltage adjustment function with the charge pump controller by integrating voltage detection and control logic into the existing control unit. The controller monitors output voltage and directly adjusts the charge pump's operation to maintain stable voltage, eliminating the need for a separate voltage adjuster and its associated power losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge pump controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the charge pump switching, detects output voltage levels, determines charging states, and adjusts operating parameters. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would traditionally require separate components, reducing overall system power consumption while maintaining voltage stability.
3Power
If inductive DC-DC converter is used to convert low input voltage to high voltage, then voltage conversion capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to external inductor requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the inductor function into the charge pump circuitry itself, using the charge pump's switching capacitors and internal circuitry to perform the voltage conversion that would traditionally require a separate inductive DC-DC converter. This consolidation eliminates external inductor requirements and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining voltage conversion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the inductive conversion mechanism with a capacitive charge pump mechanism. Instead of using an external inductor and switch-based inductive converter, the system uses switched capacitors and voltage multiplication stages inherent to charge pump architecture, achieving the same voltage boosting function with simpler, integrated circuitry.
Data Source
AI summary
A charge pumping apparatus includes a voltage pumping unit for pumping an input voltage, a voltage pumping control unit for controlling the voltage pumping unit according to a comparison result between the input voltage and an input criterion voltage and a comparison result between an output voltage output from the voltage pumping unit and an output criterion voltage, and an optimum power point tracking unit for tracking an optimum power point in the case of detecting that the output voltage decreases lower than the output criterion voltage, and adjusting an input impedance to change the input criterion voltage to a voltage corresponding to the optimum power point, wherein the optimum power point is a power point where an input power according to the input voltage becomes a maximum. Since the optimum power point is tracked by measuring only a voltage without a current sensor, a power loss is small.