Innovative Power Converter Breakthrough at UC San Diego and CEA-Leti

Researchers at UC San Diego and CEA-Leti have made a groundbreaking advancement in power conversion technology with the development of a piezoelectric-based DC-DC converter. This converter consolidates all power switches onto a single chip, thereby significantly increasing power density and efficiency.

By combining the strengths of piezoelectric converters with capacitive-based DC-DC converters, this new technology has achieved an impressive 310% reduction in power loss compared to previous methods. Notably, these power converters are notably smaller in size than the traditional inductors commonly used for similar purposes.

This innovative approach enhances performance, especially at low voltage conversion ratios—an area where prior works struggled to sustain both high efficiency and optimal utilization of piezoelectric materials," remarked Patrick Mercier, a distinguished professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UC San Diego.

The development of this groundbreaking power converter opens doors to a wide range of applications for DC-DC conversion, promising more efficient and compact solutions for various power electronics needs. The potential impact of this innovation extends beyond current constraints, offering a glimpse of a more energy-efficient future.