Microbatteries for self-sustained hybrid micropower supplies

This paper describes the characteristics of microbatteries suitable for use in a hybrid micropower supply for powering autonomous MEMS and other microsystems. The hybrid power supply includes an energy conversion device, microscopic batteries for energy storage, and control/interface circuitry. Comparison of the hybrid approach with single power sources (either a battery or energy conversion device alone) shows that it offers several potential advantages including reduced size, increased flexibility, long lifetime and increased reliability. Such an approach is well suited to the expected duty cycles of remote microsensors. Realization of the advantages of a hybrid system depends on the availability of a battery with the required characteristics. Initial experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating microbatteries with the proper characteristics and the use of these batteries as part of a hybrid micropower supply. It is anticipated that hybrid micropower supplies with suitable microbatteries will play a critical role in the successful implementation of a wide variety of autonomous microsystems. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.