Efficient Maximum Power Tracking of Energy Harvesting Using a μController for Power Savings

This letter describes an efficient technique for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of an energy harvesting device. It is based on controlling the device voltage at the point of maximum power. Using a microcontroller with a power saving technique, the MPPT algorithm maintains the maximum power with low power consumption. An experiment shows that the algorithm maximizes the energy transfer power using an energy management IC fabricated in a 0.18-μm process. Compared to direct energy transfer to a battery, the proposed technique is more efficient for low-energy harvesting under variable conditions.