Mehta D, Aono K, Chakrabartty S. A self-powered analog sensor-data-logging device based on Fowler-Nordheim dynamical systems.
Nat Commun 2020;
11:5446. [PMID:
33116118 PMCID:
PMC7595237 DOI:
10.1038/s41467-020-19292-w]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Continuous, battery-free operation of sensor nodes requires ultra-low-power sensing and data-logging techniques. Here we report that by directly coupling a sensor/transducer signal into globally asymptotically stable monotonic dynamical systems based on Fowler-Nordheim quantum tunneling, one can achieve self-powered sensing at an energy budget that is currently unachievable using conventional energy harvesting methods. The proposed device uses a differential architecture to compensate for environmental variations and the device can retain sensed information for durations ranging from hours to days. With a theoretical operating energy budget less than 10 attojoules, we demonstrate that when integrated with a miniature piezoelectric transducer the proposed sensor-data-logger can measure cumulative "action" due to ambient mechanical acceleration without any additional external power.
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