Power switching regulator with configurable storage voltage output
Implementations are disclosed for a power switching regulator defined to be used for power harvesting but is instead configured to include an additional power rail. A switching regulator includes a first contact defined as a first power input to the switching regulator (with the first contact coupled to a first power source), a second contact defined as a second power input to the switching regulator (with the second contact defined to be coupled to a harvester), and a third contact whose output is defined as a storage voltage for harvesting. Instead of the third contact being used for outputting a storage voltage for harvesting, the third contact is coupled to a voltage (VSTORE) power rail for providing power (that may be configurable) to one or more electronic components of the electronic device (such as a CPU to perform dynamic voltage scaling or by a power amplifier sensitive to power efficiency).
1 . An electronic device, comprising:
a first input to receive a power from a power source;
a switching regulator, wherein the switching regulator includes:
a first contact defined as a first power input to the switching regulator, wherein the first contact is coupled to the first input;
a second contact defined as a second power input to the switching regulator, wherein the second contact is defined to be coupled to a harvester; and
a third contact whose output is defined as a storage voltage for harvesting, wherein:
the third contact is defined to be coupled to an energy storage means that stores energy harvested from the harvester; and
the third contact is coupled to a voltage (VSTORE) power rail for one or more electronic components and the output at the third contact is a VSTORE power on the VSTORE power rail, wherein energy from the first input is delivered to the VSTORE power rail; and
the one or more components is coupled to the VSTORE power rail,
wherein the switching regulator further includes a comparator, wherein the comparator includes:
a first comparator input coupled to a line leading to the third contact of the switching regulator;
a second comparator input configured to receive a reference voltage (VREF); and
a comparator output that is a control signal, wherein the comparator is configured to trigger a switching event at the switching regulator for the third contact based on a comparison between a voltage of the VSTORE power at the third contact and the VREF, wherein the switching event is associated with the VSTORE power rail maintaining a desired voltage level.
2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the desired voltage level on the VSTORE power rail is programmable.
3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the VSTORE power rail is coupled to a central processing unit (CPU) that employs dynamic voltage scaling.
4 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the VSTORE power rail is coupled to a power amplifier, wherein the power amplifier's power efficiency is based on a voltage level of an input power to the power amplifier and a power level of the output power from the power amplifier.
5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the switching regulator is a discontinuous mode, single inductor, multi-input, multi-output switching regulator, wherein the switching regulator is coupled to an inductor and the switching regulator further includes:
a fourth contact defined as a digital VDD (DVDD) power rail;
a fifth contact defined as an auxiliary VDD (VDDAUX) power rail;
a sixth contact defined as an input/output VDD (VDDIO) power rail; and
a seventh contact defined as an analog VDD (AVDD) power rail.
6 . A method of operation by an electronic device, comprising:
obtaining, from a power source, a power to a first contact of a switching regulator of an electronic device, wherein the switching regulator includes a second contact defined to be coupled to a harvester;
outputting, at a third contact of the switching regulator coupled to a storage voltage (VSTORE) power rail, a VSTORE power, wherein the third contact of the switching regulator is defined to be coupled to an energy storage means for harvesting; and
providing, to one or more electronic components of the electronic device, the VSTORE power from the VSTORE power rail
wherein the switching regulator further includes a comparator, wherein the comparator includes:
a first comparator input coupled to a line leading to the third contact of the switching regulator;
a second comparator input configured to receive a reference voltage (VREF); and
a comparator output that is a control signal, wherein the comparator is configured to trigger a switching event at the switching regulator for the third contact based on the comparison between a voltage of the VSTORE power at the third contact and the VREF, wherein the switching event is associated with the VSTORE power rail maintaining a desired voltage level.
7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising comparing, by a comparator of the switching regulator, a voltage of the VSTORE power and a reference voltage (VREF), wherein an output of the comparator is a control signal to trigger a switching event at the switching regulator to maintain a desired voltage level of the VSTORE power on the VSTORE power rail.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising outputting one or more of:
a digital VDD (DVDD) power at a fourth contact of the switching regulator defined as a DVDD power rail;
an auxiliary VDD (VDDAUX) power at a fifth contact of the switching regulator defined as a VDDAUX power rail;
an input-output VDD (VDDIO) power at a sixth contact of the switching regulator defined as a VDDIO power rail; or
an analog VDD (AVDD) power at a seventh contact of the switching regulator defined as an AVDD power rail, wherein the switching regulator is a discontinuous mode, single inductor, multi-input, multi-output switching regulator and the switching regulator.
9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the desired voltage level on the VSTORE power rail is programmable.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing power on the VSTORE power rail to a central processing unit (CPU) that employs dynamic voltage scaling.
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing power on the VSTORE power rail to a power amplifier, wherein the power amplifier's power efficiency is based on a voltage level of an input power to the power amplifier and a power level of the output power from the power amplifier.
12 . A switching regulator of an electronic device, comprising:
a first contact defined as a first power input to the switching regulator, wherein the first contact is defined to be coupled to a first power source;
a second contact defined as a second power input to the switching regulator, wherein the second contact is defined to be coupled to a harvester;
a third contact whose output is defined as a storage voltage for harvesting, wherein: the third contact is defined to be coupled to an energy storage means that stores energy harvested from the harvester; and
the third contact is coupled to a voltage (VSTORE) power rail for one or more electronic components and the output at the third contact is a VSTORE power on the VSTORE power rail, wherein energy from the first input is delivered to the VSTORE power rail;
wherein the switching regulator further includes a comparator, wherein the comparator includes:
a first comparator input coupled to a line leading to the third contact of the switching regulator;
a second comparator input configured to receive a reference voltage (VREF); and
a comparator output that is a control signal, wherein the comparator is configured to trigger a switching event at the switching regulator for the third contact based on the comparison between a voltage of the VSTORE power at the third contact and the VREF, wherein the switching event is associated with the VSTORE power rail maintaining a desired voltage level.
13 . The switching regulator of claim 12 , wherein the desired voltage level on the VSTORE power rail is programmable.
14 . The switching regulator of claim 13 , wherein the VSTORE power rail is coupled to a central processing unit (CPU) that employs dynamic voltage scaling.
15 . The switching regulator of claim 13 , wherein the VSTORE power rail is coupled to a power amplifier, wherein the power amplifier's power efficiency is based on a voltage level of an input power to the power amplifier and a power level of the output power from the power amplifier.
16 . The switching regulator of claim 12 , wherein the switching regulator is a discontinuous mode, single inductor, multi-input, multi-output switching regulator, wherein the switching regulator is coupled to an inductor and the switching regulator further includes:
a fourth contact defined as a digital VDD (DVDD) power rail;
a fifth contact defined as an auxiliary VDD (VDDAUX) power rail;
a sixth contact defined as an input/output VDD (VDDIO) power rail; and
a seventh contact defined as an analog VDD (AVDD) power rail.