IEM Seminar Series: Untethering the Microworld by Harvesting Energy from Vibrations
Abstract
As we move towards a world with trillions of connected sensors, the "battery bottleneck" has become the primary obstacle to true autonomy. Vibrational energy harvesting offers a promising solution by converting ambient vibrations into electricity. However, the raw output from transducers is often erratic and high-impedance, posing significant challenges for efficient power conversion. This talk explores the design of state-of-the-art integrated circuits (ICs) that bridge this gap. We will discuss advanced techniques such as synchronized switching to enable maximum power extraction in a millimeter-scale footprint. By integrating intelligence directly into the power management unit, we are paving the way for "fit-and-forget" silicon systems that operate indefinitely on nothing but the pulse of their environment.
Biography
Dr. Xinling Yue is a Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zürich, Switzerland, specializing in high-performance Power Management ICs and ultrasonic SoC solutions. She received her Ph.D. from Delft University of Technology in 2025. Her research pioneers the development of "Autonomous Silicon" - battery-less systems that harvest energy and communicate in complex environments. A leading voice in the solid-state circuits community, Dr. Yue has authored over 30 technical publications, including 9 flagship contributions to ISSCC and JSSC. Her excellence has been recognized by the IEEE SSCS Predoctoral Achievement Award. Her vision is to enable the next generation of untethered, intelligent micro-systems for biomedical and industrial applications.
As we move towards a world with trillions of connected sensors, the "battery bottleneck" has become the primary obstacle to true autonomy. Vibrational energy harvesting offers a promising solution by converting ambient vibrations into electricity. However, the raw output from transducers is often erratic and high-impedance, posing significant challenges for efficient power conversion. This talk explores the design of state-of-the-art integrated circuits (ICs) that bridge this gap. We will discuss advanced techniques such as synchronized switching to enable maximum power extraction in a millimeter-scale footprint. By integrating intelligence directly into the power management unit, we are paving the way for "fit-and-forget" silicon systems that operate indefinitely on nothing but the pulse of their environment.
Biography
Dr. Xinling Yue is a Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zürich, Switzerland, specializing in high-performance Power Management ICs and ultrasonic SoC solutions. She received her Ph.D. from Delft University of Technology in 2025. Her research pioneers the development of "Autonomous Silicon" - battery-less systems that harvest energy and communicate in complex environments. A leading voice in the solid-state circuits community, Dr. Yue has authored over 30 technical publications, including 9 flagship contributions to ISSCC and JSSC. Her excellence has been recognized by the IEEE SSCS Predoctoral Achievement Award. Her vision is to enable the next generation of untethered, intelligent micro-systems for biomedical and industrial applications.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Contact
- Suzanne Manné