MAX20361 Tiny Single-/Multi-Cell Solar Harvester works from 225mV

Maxim Integrated’s solar harvester increases runtime and reduces the size of solar-powered designs

Maxim Integrated’s MAX20361 is a fully-integrated solution for harvesting energy from single-/multi-cell solar sources. It has an ultra-low quiescent current (360 nA) boost converter that can start from input voltages as low as 225 mV (typical). To maximize the power extracted from the source, the MAX20361 implements a proprietary maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique that allows efficient harvesting from 15 μW to over 300 mW of available input power. The MAX20361 also features an integrated charging and a protection circuit that is optimized for Li-ion batteries but can also be used to charge supercapacitors, thin-film batteries, or traditional capacitors. The charger features a programmable charging cut-off voltage with thresholds programmable through I²C interface as well as temperature shutoff. The MAX20361 is available in a 12-bump, 0.4 mm pitch, 1.63 mm x 1.23 mm wafer-level package (WLP).

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