Enhancing output power of rotational electret energy harvester by synchronized switch harvesting on inductor

A nonlinear interface circuit, known as synchronized switch harvesting on inductor (SSHI), for in-plane rotational electret kinetic energy harvesters (EHs) was developed. An explicit generator model is derived to verify the applicability of SSHI, which was originally proposed for the piezoelectric EH, on an in-plane electret EH. Experimentally, 505 μW was harvested with SSHI at a rectified voltage of 142 V for an in-plane rotational electret EH rotating at 1 rps, which is 2.47 times of that with a full-bridge rectifier, and which is in good agreement with the simulation result. The circuit efficiency and criteria for the inductor selection were clarified through circuit analysis based on spice simulation. It is found that the power dissipation of voltage-divider and rectification diodes becomes pronounced as the load voltage increases, constraining the efficiency. The inductor, which usually dominates the circuit volume, can be miniaturized for electret EHs, because the voltage inversion ratio, a benchmark of the SSHI performance, turns out to be insensitive to the series resistance of the inductor. The self-powering ability of the proposed circuit is also presented.