Rapid Maximum Power Point Tracking Using Pre-Charged Capacitor Reference

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-charging a capacitor to the open-circuit voltage of the piezoelectric device before the rectifier operates. This pre-charged capacitor then serves as a reference voltage for rapid maximum power point tracking, eliminating the need for slow conventional tracking methods. The capacitor is charged once to the open-circuit voltage and then used to quickly determine the maximum power point through voltage comparison, reducing tracking time from tens to hundreds of periods to just a few periods.

The patent eliminates power loss during tracking by performing the open-circuit voltage measurement in advance and storing it in a capacitor. This pre-stored voltage serves as a reference that can be quickly compared against the rectifier output voltage without requiring additional power-consuming measurement cycles. The system maintains accurate maximum power point tracking while minimizing energy loss by avoiding repeated slow tracking operations.

The patent enhances adaptability to power variability by continuously updating the capacitor charge to reflect changing open-circuit voltage conditions. When the piezoelectric device experiences variable power output due to changing environmental conditions, the system rapidly re-measures the open-circuit voltage and updates the capacitor reference, enabling quick adaptation to new maximum power points. This approach allows the system to handle high variability in harvested power while maintaining accurate tracking.

The patent applies self-service by using the piezoelectric device's own open-circuit voltage to charge the capacitor, eliminating the need for external voltage sources or additional measurement circuits. The system measures and stores the open-circuit voltage naturally generated by the piezoelectric device itself during its normal operation, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining measurement accuracy. This self-powered measurement approach reduces both device complexity and additional power consumption.