ADP5090 Data Sheet
Rev. C | Page 12 of 21
THEORY OF OPERATION
The ADP5090 combines a nano powered boost regulator with a
storage elements management controller. It converts power
from low voltage, high impedance dc sources such as PV cells,
TEGs, and piezoelectric modules. The device stores power in
the rechargeable battery or capacitor with storage protection, and
provides power to the load. It can also control an additional
power path from a primary battery cell to the system.
The ADP5090 includes a cold start up circuit, a synchronous
boost controller with integrated MOSFETs, a charge controller
with an integrated switch, and switches for the backup power
path. The boost can be stopped temporarily by an external
signal to prevent interference with RF transmission.
COLD STARTUP (VSYS < VSYS_TH, VIN > VIN_COLD)
The cold startup circuit is required when the VIN pin is above
VIN_COLD, and the energy storage voltage at the SYS pin is below
VSYS_TH, above which the boost regulator and energy storage
controller start working. The charge-pump cold startup circuit
extracts the energy available at the VIN pin and charges the
capacitors at the SYS pin and the BAT pin up to VSYS_TH. The
energy harvester must supply sufficient power to complete cold
startup (see the Energy Harvester Selection section for more
information). The cold start circuit, with lower efficiency compared
to the boost regulator, can achieve a short startup time, creating
a low shutdown current system load enabled by the PGOOD
signal. To bypass the cold startup, place a primary battery at the
BACK_UP pin (see the Backup Storage Path section for more
information).
BOOST REGULATOR (VBAT_TERM > VSYS ≥ VSYS_TH)
The switching mode synchronous boost regulator, with an
external inductor connected between the VIN and SW pins,
operates in pulse frequency mode (PFM), transferring energy
stored in the input capacitor to the system load (SYS) and
energy storage connected to the BAT pin. The boost control
loop regulates the VIN voltage at the level sampled at the MPPT
pin and stored at the capacitor connected to the CBP pin. To
maintain the high efficiency of the regulator across a wide input
power range, the current sense circuitry employs the internal
dither peak current limit to control the inductor current.
The boost regulator operation turns off the SYS and BAT switches
as an asynchronous mode via the energy storage controller when
the BAT pin voltage is below the battery discharging protection
threshold programmed at the SETSD pin, or stops switching when
the BAT pin voltage is above the battery overcharging threshold
programmed at the TERM pin. The boost regulator is disabled
when the voltage of the CBP pin decreases to the threshold set
by the resistor at the MINOP pin. In addition, the boost is
periodically stopped by the open voltage sampling circuit, and
can be temporary disabled by driving the DIS_SW pin high.
VIN OPEN CIRCUIT AND MPPT
The boost regulation reference is the VIN pin open circuit
voltage scaled to a ratio programmed by the resistor divider at
the MPPT pin. This voltage is periodically sampled and stored
in the capacitor connected to the CBP pin. This storage keeps
the VIN voltage operating at the level of maximum power points
available from the energy harvester at the input of the ADP5090.
The reference voltage refreshes every 19 sec by periodically
disabling the boost regulator for 296 ms and sampling the open
circuit voltage. The reference voltage is set by the following
equation:
( )
+
=
OC2OC1
OC1
IN
MPPT
RR
R
CircuitOpenVV
(1)
The typical MPPT ratio depends on the type of harvester. For
example, it is around 0.8 for PV cells, and 0.5 for TEGs. The
MPPT can be disabled and left floating. Set the CBP pin to an
external voltage reference lower than the VIN voltage. If the input
source is an ideal voltage source, connect the MPPT and CBP pins
to ground.
ENERGY STORAGE CHARGE MANAGEMENT
Energy storage is connected to the BAT pin. The storage can be
a rechargeable battery, super capacitor, or 100 μF or larger
capacitor. The energy storage controller manages the charging
and discharging operations, monitors the SYS pin voltage, and
asserts the PGOOD signal high when it is above the threshold
programmed at the SETPG pin.
When the BAT pin voltage exceeds the charging protection
threshold programmed at the TERM pin, the boost operation
terminates to prevent battery overcharging. The overcharging
protection threshold is programmable from 2.2 V to 5.2 V.
When the BAT voltage drops below the discharging protection
threshold level programmed at SETSD pin, the switches between
the BAT pin and SYS pin are opened to prevent a deep, destructive
battery discharge, and the boost reaches asynchronous mode.
Although there is no current limit at the SYS and BAT pins, it is
recommended to limit the system load current to lower than
800 mA. The large system load current generates a droop between
the SYS pin and the rechargeable battery at the BAT pin, with
consideration given to the resistance of the SYS switch, the BAT
switch, and the rechargeable battery internal resistance.
When no input source is attached, discharge the SYS pin to ground
before attaching a storage element to the BAT pin. After hot
plugging a charged storage element, release the SYS pin because
the SYS voltage below VSYS_TH results in the BAT switch remaining
off to protect the storage element until the SYS voltage reaches
VSYS_TH. This can be described as store mode, a state with the
lowest leakage (0.5 nA, typical) that allows a long store period
without discharging the storage element on BAT.