A 2-μs Fast-Response Step-Up Converter With Efficiency-Enhancement Techniques Suitable for Cluster-Based Wireless Sensor Networks

A new step-up (boost) converter with fast-response and efficiency-enhancement techniques suitable for cluster-based wireless sensor networks is presented in this paper. First, the modified nonoverlapping clock generator can produce four proper switching clocks to prevent four power transistors to be turned on simultaneously. Second, the size of the power transistor is adaptively changed by the width controller according to the different load current. Third, the zero-current detector is used to prevent the reverse inductor current at light load. Fourth, the converter efficiency can be raised by efficiency enhancement techniques. On top of that, this converter retains fast transient response at any load variation. The proposed boost converter has been implemented with a TSMC 0.35-mu m 2P4M CMOS 3.3/5 V process. The experimental results show that the proposed boost converter's transient responses are 2 mu s/4 As for raising/falling time and the high efficiency is 93.8%.