Rethinking DC-DC converter design constraints for adaptable systems that target the minimum-energy point

Abstract

This paper explores a new DC-DC converter design constraint for adaptable systems that target the minimum-energy point (MEP). Traditionally, DC-DC converters have regulated to a fixed output voltage over a wide range of input voltages. For energy-constrained systems that target the MEP, regulating them to a fixed voltage is unnecessary since changes in the output voltage near the MEP have little impact on the energy per cycle. This paper applies a new and traditional design constraint to a 3:1 series-parallel switched-capacitor (SC) DC-DC converter in 28 nm CMOS. The new design constraint allows for decreased design time, less area, and less system-level energy per cycle compared to traditional constraints.