As a major highlight of the "2026 International Research Mini-Symposium" series, Prof. Toru Tanzawa, a distinguished chip design expert from Waseda University in Japan, was invited to deliver a lecture at National Taiwan University in May. The lecture, titled "Toward the Smallest and Lowest-Cost AC-DC Converters for Vibration Energy Harvesting," attracted a large audience of faculty, students, and researchers.
During the session, Prof. Tanzawa shared his latest breakthrough achievements in the field of micro-energy harvesting, particularly focusing on cutting-edge applications for miniature Internet of Things (IoT) sensors. He provided an in-depth analysis of utilizing CMOS technology to fully integrate AC-DC converters with switched-capacitor converters. This innovative approach not only significantly reduces the circuit area but also completely eliminates the reliance on large external inductor components, paving the way for a brand-new solution to realize "battery-less, low-cost" micro IoT devices.
As a co-organizer, the NTU Radiation Application and Hardness Technology Research Center (NTU RTRC) actively promoted this academic event. We hope that through Prof. Tanzawa's profound insights and international academic exchange, we can inject new innovative perspectives and R&D momentum into Taiwan's low-power IC design and green energy conversion technology sectors.