Subthreshold voltage startup module for stepup DC–DC converter

Abstract

The design of a subthreshold voltage startup module for low input voltage applications, down to 0.55 V, is introduced. The proposed startup module can generate a relatively high voltage from input to assist a stepup DC–DC converter to start. It employs a dynamic substrate biasing technique to realise subthreshold operation. The design was verified by simulation and measurement in a commercial 0.35 µm CMOS process.