[2023] High-Efficiency Single-Input Multi-Output (SIMO) DC-DC Converters

DC-DC converters are used in most electronic devices and they play key roles to deliver power from supplies to loads. They act as the main power valves to control the energy delivery and energy usage efficiency of the systems. Every electronics system has at least one integrated power converter and some may have several converters for multiple loads.

Despite recent advances in various DC-DC conversion techniques, off-chip inductors and flying capacitors are usually indispensable, which largely increase the system size, counter to miniaturization when employed in autonomous sensors and IoT applications. Although some work achieves fully integrated designs with inductors and capacitors implemented on-chip, the large on-chip inductance and capacitance make the chip area extremely large, which significantly reduces the power density. Besides, the high-voltage on-chip devices limit the overall power conversion efficiency.

In this project, we are going to design a single-input multi-output, and energy-efficient DC-DC converter with high power density targeting powering next-generation wireless communication systems, personal electronic devices and sensors. The proposed converter employs only one inductor to provide multiple regulated outputs (e.g. 5V, 3.3V and 1.8V) from one single input (e.g. from 2.8V to 3.8V). This type of regulating converter is needed almost everywhere and has an enormous market in the industry. 

References:

[1] H. -P. Le, C. -S. Chae, K. -C. Lee, S. -W. Wang, G. -H. Cho and G. -H. Cho, "A Single-Inductor Switching DC–DC Converter With Five Outputs and Ordered Power-Distributive Control," in IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 42, no. 12, pp. 2706-2714, Dec. 2007, doi: 10.1109/JSSC.2007.908767.

[2] S. S. Amin and P. P. Mercier, "MISIMO: A Multi-Input Single-Inductor Multi-Output Energy Harvesting Platform in 28-nm FDSOI for Powering Net-Zero-Energy Systems," in IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 53, no. 12, pp. 3407-3419, Dec. 2018, doi: 10.1109/JSSC.2018.2865467.

[3] T. -H. Yang et al., "A 94.3% Peak Efficiency Adaptive Switchable CCM and DCM Single-Inductor Multiple-Output Converter With 0.03 mV/mA Low Crosstalk and 185 nA Ultralow Quiescent," in IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 57, no. 9, pp. 2731-2740, Sept. 2022, doi: 10.1109/JSSC.2022.3142207.

Assignment

1. Literature review of DC-DC converter topologies and associated power management circuits.
2. Design a highly efficient CMOS circuit for the proposed DC-DC converter. Tape-out is possible and encouraged.

Requirements

You should be familiar with analog IC design and Cadence environment. If you are interested, please send your CV, BSc transcripts and MSc grades (obtained to date) to Sijun Du at email: Sijun.Du@tudelft.nl

Contact

Last modified: 2023-01-31