Solar cell systems and integration with CMOS circuitry
AssigneeActLight SA
InventorSerguei Okhonin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated circuit-solar cell device comprising a well region of a first dopant type, a solar cell including: (i) a first region disposed in or on the well region, wherein the first region is of the first dopant type, and (ii) a second region disposed outside the well region, wherein the second region is of a second dopant type. The device further includes an integrated circuit including: (i) a first transistor of a first type disposed in or on the well region, and (ii) a second transistor of a second type disposed in or on the first major surface of the substrate and outside the well region. Power management circuitry selectively and electrically couples the solar cell to the battery when the integrated circuit is in an inactive mode.
Claims17
An integrated circuit-solar cell device disposed in or on a first major surface of a substrate, the device comprising:
- a well region disposed in or on the first major surface of the substrate, wherein the well region is of a first dopant type;
- a doped region disposed in or on a second major surface, opposing the first major surface, of the substrate, wherein the doped region enhances the efficiency or operation of the solar cell;
- a solar cell including:
- a first region disposed in or on the well region, wherein the first region is of the first dopant type;
- and
- a second region disposed in or on the first major surface of the substrate and outside the well region, wherein the second region is of a second dopant type;
- an integrated circuit, disposed in the substrate, including:
- a first transistor disposed in or on the well region, wherein the first transistor is of a first type;
- and
- a second transistor disposed in or on the first major surface of the substrate and outside the well region, wherein the first transistor is of a second type;
- and
- power management circuitry, coupled to a battery, to selectively and electrically couple the solar cell to the battery when the integrated circuit is in an inactive mode.
A device including a plurality of integrated circuits and a solar cell, each of which are disposed in or on a first major surface of a substrate, the device comprising:
- the plurality of integrated circuits, disposed in or on the first major surface of the substrate, including a plurality of NMOS transistors and a plurality of PMOS transistors;
- a doped region disposed in or on a second major surface, opposing the first major surface, of the substrate, wherein the doped region enhances the efficiency or operation of the solar cell;
- a solar cell disposed in or on the first major surface of the substrate, wherein the solar cell includes (i) an n-type region juxtaposed a PMOS transistor of the integrated circuits and (ii) a p-type region juxtaposed a NMOS transistor of the integrated circuits;
- and
- power management circuitry, coupled to a battery, to selectively and electrically couple the solar cell to the battery when at least a portion of the integrated circuits is in an inactive mode.
A device including a plurality of integrated circuits and a plurality of solar cells, each disposed in or on a first major surface of a substrate, the device comprising:
- the plurality of integrated circuits, disposed in or on the first major surface of the substrate, include:
- a plurality of PMOS transistors, each PMOS transistor disposed (i) in or on the first major surface of the substrate and (ii) in or on an n-well;
- a plurality of NMOS transistors, each NMOS transistor disposed (i) in or on the first major surface of the substrate and (i) outside of the n-well;
- a doped region disposed in or on a second major surface, opposing the first major surface, of the substrate, wherein the doped region enhances the efficiency or operation of the solar cell;
- the plurality of solar cells, disposed in or on the first major surface of the substrate, each include (i) an n-type region in or on an n-well and (ii) a p-type region disposed outside of the n-well;
- and
- power management circuitry, coupled to a battery, to selectively and electrically couple at least a subset of the plurality of solar cells to the battery when at least a portion of the integrated circuits is in an inactive mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.