20mV step up converter announced for energy harvesting applications

The LTC3108 is an integrated step up dc/dc converter designed to start up and run from low input voltage sources such as thermoelectric generators, thermopiles and small solar cells. According to Linear, its self resonant topology steps up from input voltages as low as 20mV. Small temperature differences can be harvested and used to generate system power instead of traditional battery power. The device uses a small standard step up transformer and, according to Linear, its 2.2V ldo can power an external microcontroller while its main output is pin selectable to one of four fixed voltages to power a wireless transmitter or sensors. A second switched output can be enabled to power devices that do not have a micropower shutdown capability, while a storage capacitor is said to provide continuous power even when the input energy source is unavailable. The LTC3108 incorporates a low quiescent current (<6µA) and is available in a 3 x 4mm DFN - with the LTC3108EGN available in a SSOP-16 package.