Disclosed herein is a non-Inductive voltage boost-converter (NVBC) for micro-power energy harvesting systems for energy storage and delivery applications. Current devices deliver a wide-range of micro-power having only up to 0.8V peak-voltage, but nominally 0.45V in lab test conditions. This voltage is not adequate in charging storage cells such as rechargeable batteries and also driving electronic circuits. Technology is in demand where a boost-converter must operate at MOS sub-threshold voltage (Sub-V.sub.TH) limits. Disclosed herein is a novel NVBC device that has eliminated the need of an inductor coil and associated high-speed switching circuits; thus achieving higher efficiency. The disclosed invention applies a simple self-synchronizing technique to adapt the NVBC automatically to the low-frequency energy signal of a pyroelectric device. A novel NVBC is presented for stabilized output of NVBC (S-NVBC). In an embodiment, the S-NVBC achieves an efficiency of 86%.

Disclosed herein is a non-Inductive voltage boost-converter (NVBC) for micro-power energy harvesting systems for energy storage and delivery applications. Current devices deliver a wide-range of micro-power having only up to 0.8V peak-voltage, but nominally 0.45V in lab test conditions. This voltage is not adequate in charging storage cells such as rechargeable batteries and also driving electronic circuits. Technology is in demand where a boost-converter must operate at MOS sub-threshold voltage (Sub-V.sub.TH) limits. Disclosed herein is a novel NVBC device that has eliminated the need of an inductor coil and associated high-speed switching circuits; thus achieving higher efficiency. The disclosed invention applies a simple self-synchronizing technique to adapt the NVBC automatically to the low-frequency energy signal of a pyroelectric device. A novel NVBC is presented for stabilized output of NVBC (S-NVBC). In an embodiment, the S-NVBC achieves an efficiency of 86%.

A power converter for converting electrical power from a power source to a load, including: a boosting device including a boost rectifier configured to prevent a backflow of a current from the load to the power source, the boosting device being configured to change a voltage of electrical power from the power source to a predetermined voltage; and a commutation device including: a commutation operation device configured to perform a commutation operation of directing a current flowing through the boosting device to an other path; and a commutation rectifier including a plurality of rectifiers and connected in series on the other path, the commutation rectifier being configured to rectify a current relating to commutation, thereby reducing a capacitance component.

A power converter for converting electrical power from a power source to a load, including: a boosting device including a boost rectifier configured to prevent a backflow of a current from the load to the power source, the boosting device being configured to change a voltage of electrical power from the power source to a predetermined voltage; and a commutation device including: a commutation operation device configured to perform a commutation operation of directing a current flowing through the boosting device to an other path; and a commutation rectifier including a plurality of rectifiers and connected in series on the other path, the commutation rectifier being configured to rectify a current relating to commutation, thereby reducing a capacitance component.

A switched mode power supply (SMPS) receives an input voltage selectively connects and disconnects the input voltage from an inductor. The SMPS generates a charge in the inductor during a duty cycle portion while the input voltage is connected by generating control signals for selectively connecting to and disconnecting the input voltage from the inductor. Generating the control signals includes modulating a current source for a control capacitive element, selectively shorting the control capacitive element wherein a voltage V.sub.CT appears across the capacitive element when control capacitive element is not being shorted, and comparing voltage V.sub.CT to a threshold voltage generate an inverted DRIVE SIGNAL to selectively short the control capacitive element.

A switched mode power supply (SMPS) receives an input voltage selectively connects and disconnects the input voltage from an inductor. The SMPS generates a charge in the inductor during a duty cycle portion while the input voltage is connected by generating control signals for selectively connecting to and disconnecting the input voltage from the inductor. Generating the control signals includes modulating a current source for a control capacitive element, selectively shorting the control capacitive element wherein a voltage V.sub.CT appears across the capacitive element when control capacitive element is not being shorted, and comparing voltage V.sub.CT to a threshold voltage generate an inverted DRIVE SIGNAL to selectively short the control capacitive element.

A power conversion apparatus includes a first switching device at a high side and a second switching device at a low side. The first switching device and the second switching device are connected in series. The power conversion apparatus further includes a third switching device connected in series with the first switching device or the second switching device. Upon detection of an overcurrent flowing through one of the first switching device and the second switching device due to a short-circuit failure of another of the first switching device and the second switching device, the power conversion apparatus turns off the one of the first switching device and the second switching device, and turns off the third switching device.

A dielectric elastomer power generation system of the invention includes: a power generation unit including a dielectric elastomer power generation element having a dielectric elastomer layer flanked by two electrode layers; a step-down unit including capacitors; a power storage unit for input of an output power from the step-down unit; and a control unit that controls the connection between the step-down unit and the power generation unit or power storage unit. The step-down unit includes first diodes and second diodes, where the first diodes form a circuit that connects the capacitors in series when the power generation unit is connected to the step-down unit, and the second diodes form a circuit that connects the capacitors in parallel when the step-down unit is connected to the power storage unit. This configuration serves to store the generated power more efficiently in the power storage unit, e.g., a secondary battery.

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a contact hearing system comprising: an ear tip including a transmit coil, wherein the transmit coil is connected to an audio processor, including an H Bridge circuit; a first input to the H Bridge circuit comprising an AND circuit wherein a first input to the AND circuit comprises a carrier signal and a second input to the AND circuit comprises an output of a delta sigma modulation circuit, wherein the delta sigma modulation circuit is a component of the audio processor; and a second input to the H Bridge circuit comprising an NAND circuit wherein a first input to the NAND circuit comprises a carrier signal and a second input to the NAND circuit comprises an output of the delta sigma modulation circuit.

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a contact hearing system comprising: an ear tip including a transmit coil, wherein the transmit coil is connected to an audio processor, including an H Bridge circuit; a first input to the H Bridge circuit comprising an AND circuit wherein a first input to the AND circuit comprises a carrier signal and a second input to the AND circuit comprises an output of a delta sigma modulation circuit, wherein the delta sigma modulation circuit is a component of the audio processor; and a second input to the H Bridge circuit comprising an NAND circuit wherein a first input to the NAND circuit comprises a carrier signal and a second input to the NAND circuit comprises an output of the delta sigma modulation circuit.