On-Chip Single-Inductor Dual-Output DC-DC Boost Converter Having Off-Chip Power Transistor Drive and Micro-Computer Controlled MPPT Modes

An on-chip SIDO DC-DC boost converter core that can be used for both battery and solar cell operating applications is proposed. The converter is able to supply a current of up to around 30 mA with an on-chip driver and more than 100 mA by using an off-chip power MOS driver. The cross regulation problem was solved by inserting an extra cycle. Efficiencies of 85% and 84% were achieved for each driving mode. Complicated maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controls are available for a solar cell operation. An embedded micro-computer can be used to calculate a complicated algorithm. The converter exploits 99% of the expected maximum power of the solar cell. The converter protects the leak current that flows through the solar cell when there is no light. The proposed protection circuits reduce the leak current by three orders of magnitude without any performance loss.