Design and Implementation of a Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting Interface Circuit with Maximum Power Point Tracking and Self-Startup Capability for Wireless Sensor Nodes

Abstract

This paper highlights the design and implementation of a thermoelectric energy harvesting interface circuit that generates a regulated 1 V voltage level at the output and delivers the maximum possible energy to a wireless sensor node. The system is able to self-start from a 270 mV input produced by a thermoelectric module that utilizes the varying temperature conditions from the environment. A maximum power point tracking mechanism is included so that the system would always operate at the maximum power point. The whole system is implemented in 65 nm CMOS Process Technology covering an area of 475 um by 360 um.