ENERGY HARVESTING CIRCUIT
A power converter includes an inductor configured to be coupled with a direct current voltage source. The power converter includes a first switching device coupled with the inductor and a second switching device coupled with the inductor. The first switching device and the second switching device are arranged in parallel. The first switching device and the second switching device have a similar drain resistance.
1 . A power converter, comprising:
an inductor configured to be coupled with a direct current voltage source;
a first switching device coupled with the inductor; and
a second switching device coupled with the inductor;
wherein the first switching device and the second switching device are arranged in parallel; and
wherein the first switching device and the second switching device have a similar drain resistance.
2 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the power converter is a low-voltage, self-starting oscillator.
3 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the drain resistance of the first switching device and the second switching device is less than 30 Ohms.
4 . The power converter of claim 1 , further comprising a third switching device.
5 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the first switching device is a field effect transistor.
6 . The power converter of claim 5 , wherein the first switching device is a junction field effect transistor.
7 . The power converter of claim 6 , wherein the junction field effect transistor is an n-channel junction field effect transistor.
8 . The power converter of claim 5 , wherein the first switching device is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor.
9 . A system, comprising:
a voltage source;
a power converter,
wherein the power converter comprises:
an inductor configured to be coupled with a voltage source;
a first switching device coupled with the inductor; and
a second switching device coupled with the inductor;
wherein the first switching device and the second switching device are arranged in parallel;
a charge storage circuit coupled with the power converter; and
a controller coupled with the power converter and the charge storage circuit.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the power converter is a low-voltage, self-starting oscillator.
11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein a drain resistance of the first switching device and the second switching device is less than 30 Ohms.
12 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a third switching device.
13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the first switching device is a field effect transistor.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the first switching device is a junction field effect transistor.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the junction field effect transistor is an n-channel junction field effect transistor.
16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the first switching device is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor.
17 . A gas-powered appliance comprising:
a voltage source;
a power converter,
wherein the power converter comprises:
an inductor configured to be coupled with a voltage source;
a first switching device coupled with the inductor; and
a second switching device coupled with the inductor;
wherein the first switching device and the second switching device are arranged in parallel;
a charge storage circuit coupled with the power converter; and
a controller coupled with the power converter and the charge storage circuit.
18 . The gas-powered appliance of claim 17 , wherein the gas-powered appliance is a boiler.
19 . The gas-powered appliance of claim 17 , wherein the gas-powered appliance is a water heater.
20 . The gas-powered appliance of claim 17 , wherein the voltage source comprises a thermopile.
21 . A power converter, comprising:
an inductor configured to be coupled with a direct current voltage source;
a first switching device coupled with the inductor; and
a second switching device coupled with the inductor;
wherein the first switching device and the second switching device are arranged in parallel; and
wherein the first switching device and the second switching device have the same drain resistance.
22 . The power converter of claim 21 , wherein the first switching device and the second switching device have the same cutoff voltage.