title: Power Strategy in DC/DC Converters to Increase Efficiency of Electrical Stimulators.
abstract: Power efficiency is critical for electrical stimulators. Battery life of wearable stimulators and wireless power transmission in implanted systems are common limiting factors. Boost DC/DC converters are typically needed to increase the supply voltage of the output stage. Traditionally, boost DC/DC converters are used with fast control to regulate the supply voltage of the output. However, since stimulators are acting as current sources, such voltage regulation is not needed. Banking on this, this paper presents a DC/DC conversion strategy aiming to increase power efficiency. It compares, in terms of efficiency, the traditional use of boost converters to two alternatives that could be implemented in future hardware designs.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Concepción , Chile.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aqueveque
authors.affiliation: Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Acuña
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Concepción , Chile.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saavedra
authors.affiliation: Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Debelle
authors.affiliation: Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lonys
authors.affiliation: Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Julémont
authors.affiliation: Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huberland
authors.affiliation: Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Godfraind
authors.affiliation: Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nonclercq
keywords: high efficiency; implanted stimulator; power strategy; wearable stimulator