Recently, a research team from the School of Electronic Science and Engineering at Nanjing University, led by Professor Shi Yi and Associate Professor Qiu Hao, has made a remarkable breakthrough in wireless power transfer technology. Invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) face challenges when implanted in the human body for extended periods, relying on wireless power supplies and dealing with limited heat dissipation capabilities. To address these issues, the team has introduced an innovative high-efficiency single-stage dual-output regulated rectifier topology. This unique design allows for the simultaneous charging of dual outputs within a single half-cycle, surpassing the constraints of traditional time-multiplexing methods. As a result, it significantly enhances load power, improves the quality of the supply voltage, and boosts energy conversion efficiency.

Moreover, the team has developed an innovative charge distribution mode that effectively mitigates the issue of load imbalance between the dual outputs. By adaptively optimizing the charge distribution, this approach expands the range of rated output currents and enhances both circuit stability and adaptability. The chip was fabricated and tested using a 0.18μm CMOS process. Measurement results indicate that under steady-state conditions, it achieves a peak efficiency of 92.2% and a peak load power of 131mW. The dual output voltages are stabilized at 3.3V and 1.6V, respectively, with maximum ripple voltages controlled at 50mV and 75mV. In scenarios involving significant load switching (×15), the chip demonstrates a rapid response and avoids coupling interference between the dual outputs. Several key performance indicators have set new international benchmarks.

The related research was published online on April 16 in the IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits (JSSC), a leading journal in the field of integrated circuits. The first author of the paper is Zhuang Quanrong, a doctoral student from the School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Class of 2024. The co-corresponding authors are Associate Professor Qiu Hao and Professor Shi Yi, with guidance provided by Researcher Zhang Xin from the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center. This research received support from various sources, including the Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the first batch of the Overseas Excellent Young Scholars Program, the General Program, and the Science Fund for Creative Research Groups. Additional support came from the Engineering Research Center of Optoelectronic Materials and Chip Technology, Ministry of Education, and the Cross-Research Center for Future Intelligent Chips.