Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation

Teppei Hayashi

Makoto Kobayashi

Shiro Taga

Masao Awatsu

Hirofumi Iwasaki

There is provided a control circuit which controls a DC-DC converter which boosts an output voltage of an input source and outputs the output voltage which has been boosted, in which the DC-DC converter has a boost coil, and a capacitor, and the control circuit includes: an input terminal into which the output voltage is input; a first transistor arranged between the input terminal, and the boost coil and the capacitor; and a switch activation unit which boosts the output voltage, and applies the output voltage, which has been boosted, to a control terminal of the first transistor.

Control circuit, DC-DC converter, and energy harvesting system

Provided is an electric power supply system comprising: an energy harvesting electric power source; and a switching electric power source apparatus which boosts an input voltage supplied from the energy harvesting electric power source for an output, where the switching electric power source apparatus has: an input terminal; an output terminal; a coil; a first switch; a diode; a capacitor; a voltage conversion unit which outputs a converted voltage that is based on the input voltage; and a switch control circuit which outputs a signal having a frequency corresponding to the converted voltage and driving the first switch, where the voltage conversion unit converts the input voltage such that an output impedance of the energy harvesting electric power source and an input impedance of the switching electric power source apparatus have closer values than in a case where the input voltage is inputted to the switch control circuit.

Electric power supply system and switching electric power source apparatus

There is provided a power supply device configured to boost an input voltage to output an output voltage, the power supply device including: an oscillator circuit configured to receive the input voltage and to output an oscillation signal; a step-up circuit configured to output a boost voltage based on the oscillation signal; a first hysteresis comparator and a second hysteresis comparator configured to compare boost voltages with threshold values; a first switch that is connected between the oscillator circuit and the step-up circuit and that is controlled based on a comparison result of the first hysteresis comparator; and a second switch that is connected to an output terminal configured to output the output voltage and that is controlled based on a comparison result of the second hysteresis comparator.

Power supply device for boosting an input voltage

To provide a sensor apparatus and sensor system using a low-power input source such as a microbial fuel cell, provided is a sensor apparatus including a microbial fuel cell; a boosting DC-DC circuit that operates based on an input voltage from the microbial fuel cell and boosts the input voltage; a power storage element that stores power output from the boosting DC-DC circuit; and a sensor element that operates based on power output from the power storage element, as well as a sensor system that includes this sensor apparatus and a wireless communication apparatus.

Sensor apparatus and sensor system

To provide a power supply apparatus that can boost input voltage from a low-power input source. A power supply apparatus is provided, including: an inductor connected to an input terminal to which input voltage is applied; a first switch connected between a point between the inductor and an output terminal, and a ground terminal; a drive unit operating the first switch using a signal having amplitude corresponding to the input voltage; and a control unit controlling operation of the first switch and/or outputting of output voltage from the output terminal, according to the output voltage output at the output terminal, wherein the control unit has a first hysteresis comparator, for controlling operation of the first switch, detecting the output voltage output at the output terminal, and/or a second hysteresis comparator, for controlling outputting of the output voltage, detecting the output voltage output at the output terminal.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Teppei Hayashi