The growing need and desire for the harvesting of energy from everyday mechanical interactions impose a challenge on the current design of such systems. Often their nature indicates slow response times and unsteady AC voltages. The objective of this work is to present a new method of designing and controlling an oscillating energy harvesting system using a cutting-edge algorithm for fast determination of the optimal operating condition. In this thesis, an energy harvesting backpack, which captures energy from the interaction between the user and the spring decoupled load, is being introduced. The new control strategy, Maximum Energy Harvesting Control (MEHC), is developed and applied to the aforementioned system to evaluate its improvement over the basic Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm. MEHC algorithm can also be used in many different applications, ranging from ocean wave to sports shoes energy harvesting.

The primary objective of this thesis is to develop a process for fabricating integrated circuits based on thin-film transistors (TFTs) using zinc tin oxide (ZTO) as the channel layer. ZTO, in contrast to indium- or gallium-based amorphous oxide semiconductors (AOS), is perceived to be a more commercially viable AOS choice due to its low cost and ability to be deposited via DC reactive sputtering. In the absence of an acceptable ZTO wet etch process, a plasma-etching process using Ar/CH₄ is developed for both 1:1 and 2:1 ZTO compositions. An Ar/CH₄ plasma etch process is also designed for indium gallium oxide (IGO), indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO), and indium tin oxide (ITO). Ar/CH₄ dry etches have excellent selectivity with respect to SiO₂, providing a route for obtaining patterned ZTO channels. A critical asset of ZTO process integration involves removing polymer deposits after ZTO etching without active layer damage. A ZTO process is developed for the fabrication of integrated circuits which use ZTO channel enhancement-mode TFTs. Such ZTO TFTs exhibit incremental and average mobilities of 23 and 18 cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹, respectively, turn-on voltages approximately 0 to 1.5 V and subthreshold swings below 0.5 V/dec when annealed in air at 400 °C for 1 hour. Several types of ZTO TFT circuits are realized for the first time. Despite large parasitic capacitances due to large gate-source and gate-drain overlaps, AC/DC rectifiers are fabricated and found to operate in the MHz range. Thus, they are usable for RFID and other equivalent-speed applications. Finally, a ZTO process for simultaneously fabricating both enhancement-mode and depletion-mode TFTs on a single substrate using a single target and anneal step is developed. This dual-channel process is used to build a high-gain two-transistor enhancement/depletion inverter. At a rail voltage of 10 V, this inverter has a gain of 10.6 V/V, the highest yet reported for an AOS-based inverter. This E/D inverter is an important new functional block which will enable the realization of more complex digital logic circuits. / Graduation date: 2009

Este trabalho aborda a detecção da condição de ilhamento e de seus impactos em redes de distribuição e em gerações distribuídas que empregam conversores CC-CA. Na literatura são encontradas dois grupos de técnicas para este tipo de aplicação. As técnicas passivas, que identificam a condição de ilhamento através do ajuste dos limites de variação dos relés de proteção, e as técnicas ativas, que inserem um sinal de realimentação positiva de forma a tornar o sistema instável no momento da desconexão. As técnicas ativas, por apresentarem um menor tempo de detecção e simples implementação em hardware, são preferencialmente utilizadas, apesar da injeção de distúrbios no sistema de controle da geração distribuída. O estado-da-arte em termos de detecção de ilhamento consiste em desenvolver uma técnica que possua alta capacidade de detecção, porém sem injeção de distúrbios no sistema de geração distribuída quando conectado à rede de distribuição. Neste trabalho, são abordadas duas formas para a redução da injeção de distúrbios e do tempo de detecção. Em uma primeira abordagem é proposto um projeto ótimo para o algoritmo de sincronização PLL (phase-locked loop), o qual permite a redução do ganho de realimentação positiva para técnicas em frequência e, consequentemente, a redução da injeção de distúrbios. Em uma segunda abordagem é utilizada a metodologia fuzzy de forma a garantir a detecção da condição de ilhamento sem nenhuma injeção de distúrbios no sistema de controle. Resultados de simulação e experimentais, obtidos por meio de uma bancada experimental controlada por DSP, são apresentados para validar as propostas presentes nesta dissertação / This thesis deals with the islanding detection and its impact on distribution networks when distributed generation systems are driven by DC-AC converters. Two groups of techniques are found in the literature. The passive techniques in which adjusting the variation limits of protective relays identify the islanding condition, and the active techniques that insert a positive feedback signal in order to make the system unstable when the contingency is on progress. The active techniques present a reduced detection time and simple hardware implementation. They are preferably used in despite of the injection of disturbances in the control system. In this thesis two ways to reduce injection of disturbances and detection time are proposed. In a first approach is shown an optimal design for the synchronization algorithm PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) which allows to reduce the positive feedback gain in frequency techniques in order to decrease the injection of disturbances. In a second approach a fuzzy methodology is used to ensure the islanding detection with the aforementioned requirements. Simulation analysis and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed approach

Firstly, this thesis investigates the electrical power harmonics in an attempt to utilize harmonic current and its distortion power in a novel idea to reconvert the distortion power into useful power. This is done, in order to feed different DC or AC loads in single and three-phase power system by using passive or active filters and accordingly, develop a new topology of hybrid active power filter (HAPF). In addition, this circuit can be considered as a power factor corrector (PFC) because it reduces the total harmonic distortion (THD) and improves the power factor (PF). Secondly, this thesis works on a new design of active power factor correction (APFC) circuit presenting two circuits with the same design principle: the first design consists of two active switches without an external complex control circuit, while the second design contains a single active switch with an additional control circuit. The main contribution of this circuit is 98% reduction of the inductor's value used in the newly proposed PFC circuit in comparison with the conventional boost converter which may lead to a huge reduction in size, weight and the cost of the new PFC circuit. Also, the active switches depend on a carefully designed switching pattern that results in an elimination of the third order harmonic from the input source current which decreases the value of total current harmonic distortion (THDI) to (14%) and improves the input PF to (0.99). Consequently, the simplicity of the design without requiring a complex control circuit and without a snubber circuit plus the minimum size of inductor, gives the newly proposed circuit the superiority on other PFC circuits. Thirdly, this research aims to describe the distortion power through submitting two novel power terms called effective active power (Pef ) & reactive power (Qef ) terms with a new power diagram called Right-Angled Power Triangle (RAPT) Diagram. In addition, a novel de nition of total apparent power (St) has been submitted in order to illustrate the physical meaning of (St) in non-sinusoidal systems. The new RAPT Diagram is based on the orthogonality law and depends on geometrical summation to describe the relationship between different aspects (apparent-active-reactive) of power, and different components (total-fundamental distortion), drawing a bridge to connect the time domain with the frequency domain in a two-dimensional diagram.

Near-field wireless power transfer (WPT) technology facilitates the energy autonomy of heterogeneous systems, significantly augmenting complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (CMOS) technology. In low-power wearable devices, existing power conditioning integrated circuits do not maximize the power factor (PF) for rectification and power conversion efficiency (PCE) due to multiple conversion. Additionally, there is no core power management for the entire power flow. The majority of the research focuses on active rectifiers, which reduce the turn-on voltage for rectification. Certain studies target the output voltage regulation via feedback to the transmitter or direct battery charging without power maximization. Firstly, this study investigates a high-power factor WPT front-end circuit that is namely the mono-periodic switching rectifier (MPSR) and implemented in a 0.18µm 1.8V/5V CMOS process. Integrated phase synchronizers are used to align the waveshape of a wirelessly-coupled sinusoidal voltage source in a receiving coil to the corresponding conducting current. Using this approach, the PF can be increased from roughly 0.6 to unity without requiring any wireless or wired feedback to the transmitter. The proposed MPSR can also provide AC-DC rectification, and step up and down the sinusoidal voltage source's peak amplitude using a pulse-width modulator. Measured voltage conversion ratios range between 0.73X and 2X, and the PF can be boosted up to unity. Secondly, the wireless power system-on-chip (WPower-SoC) is proposed and implemented in a 0.18µm 1.8V/3.3V CMOS process. The WPower-SoC integrating power management can provide rectification, output voltage regulation, and battery charging. Additionally, the implementation of feedforward envelope detection (FED) can reduce the variation in a wireless power link and improve load transient responses. Simulated results demonstrate that 5% of the output voltage regulation is improved when an output load changes. Moreover, the FED reduces approximately 40% of the transient response time. Overshoot and undershoot voltages are decreased by 23% and 26.5%, respectively. The measured output voltage regulates at 3.42V and can supply output power up to 342mW. A temperature sensor as part of the power management core remains active when the WPT receivers enter sleep mode to prolong the battery usage time. In the final part of this study, a nano-watt high-accuracy temperature sensing core is implemented in a 0.18µm 1.8V/3.3V CMOS process that can self-compensate the temperature shift without the need for additional compensating techniques that consume extra power.

O presente trabalho apresenta os estudos, especificaÃÃes, instalaÃÃo e operaÃÃo de um sistema fotovoltaico com a finalidade de fornecer energia elÃtrica a uma escola pÃblica, localizada em uma Ãrea isolada do sul do Estado do PiauÃ. O sistema foi proposto e seu protÃtipo constituÃdo por painel fotovoltaico, banco de baterias, carregador do banco de bateria e conversor CC/CC elevador, que alimenta as cargas em corrente contÃnua, projetado para uma autonomia de trÃs dias, mesmo em condiÃÃes mÃnimas de radiaÃÃo solar. A energia solar capturada pelo painel solar à armazenada em um banco de baterias estacionÃrias do tipo chumbo-Ãcido. O carregador de baterias trabalhando no ponto de mÃxima potÃncia (MPP) do painel à responsÃvel pelo carregamento deste banco. A carga à suprida pelo conversor CC/CC elevador de alto ganho (24 Vdc para 311 Vdc). O projeto completo do sistema à apresentado ao longo deste trabalho, bem como sÃo apresentados os principais resultados experimentais do protÃtipo mostrado e instalado em campo. / This work presents the studies, specifications, installation and operation of a photovoltaic system in order to provide electricity to a public school located in an isolated area of the southern state of PiauÃ. The system was proposed and its prototype constituted by photovoltaic panel, battery bank, charger from the battery bank and converter DC / DC elevator, that feed the chargers in direct current designed for a range of three days, even in minimum solar radiation. The solar energy captured by solar panel is stored in a stationary batteries, lead acid type. The battery charger working at maximum power point (MPP) of the panel is responsible for load bank. The load is supplied by the DC / DC converter lift high gain (24 Vdc to 311 Vdc). The complete design system and its control are presented throughout this work, as well as presented the main results of the experimental prototype shown and installed in the field.

Este trabalho propÃe o estudo de uma nova topologia, com dois estÃgios, de um conversor estÃtico, onde existe um fluxo de potÃncia auxiliar com o objetivo de aumentar o rendimento do sistema. O primeiro estÃgio à um conversor CA-CC com correÃÃo do fator de potÃncia (PFC) e o segundo estÃgio à um conversor CC-CC isolado em alta frequÃncia. Os dois estÃgios do conversor proposto sÃo modelados por equaÃÃes diferenciais e atravÃs desses modelos sÃo desenvolvidas tÃcnicas de controle nÃo linear para o funcionamento dos conversores em malha fechada. A correÃÃo do fator de potÃncia do primeiro estÃgio à realizada pela tÃcnica de controle PBC (passivity-based control), enquanto que a tensÃo de saÃda do primeiro estÃgio à realizada pelo controle I&I (immersion and invariance). O segundo estÃgio necessita controlar somente a tensÃo de saÃda atravÃs do controle backstepping, por se tratar de um conversor CC-CC. / This work proposes a study of a new static converter topology with two stages, where the first is an AC-DC converter with PFC and the second is a DC-DC converter isolated in high-frequency. In addition, the static converter has a secondary power flow to achieve a better efficiency from the system. The two converterâs stages are modeled as differential equations, and through those models nonlinear control techniques are developed for close loop operation. The power-factor correction in the first stage is performed by the PBC (passivity-based control) control technique, while the output voltage from the first stage is performed by the I&I (immersion and invariance) control. As the second stage is a DC-DC converter, it only needs to control the output voltage, which is achieved through the backstepping control.

Le travail présenté vise essentiellement à simplifier l'étude des transferts énergétiques qui prennent place au sein des convertisseurs statiques. Une étude mathématique préliminaire nous amène à introduire, dans les schémas, un nouvel élément de représentation que nous nommons "modulateur sans pertes". Ce modulateur peut être présenté comme un transformateur idéal dont le rapport varie au court*du temps sous l'effet d'une commande. .Une telle fonction s'obtient en associant un hacheur bien choisi à des filtres appropriés. Nous étudions ensuite l'association d'un modulateur sans pertes et d'un élément réactif standard que nous appelons udipôle réactif modulé". Nous montrons qu'il est* possible d'obtenir, non seulement, des éléments- réactifs* dont la valeur varie dans le temps, mais aussi un comportement inductif avec un stockage capacitif. Dès lors, nombre de convertisseurs apparaissent comme un assemblage d'~n petit nombre de modulateurs sans pertes et de dipôles réactifs modulés. Enfin et indépendamment, nous montrons que certaines conversions nécessitent le stockage d'une énergie minimum: il faut donc gérer l'énergie en minimisant le stock, c'est à dire en flux. tendu. Ce. concept, appliqué à un convertisseur AC~DC à absorption sinusoïdale, permet de réduire par un facteur supérieur à 10 l'énergie stockée et, par-là même, le temps d'établissement de la sortie. Ceci est étayé par une réalisation pratique.

Le développement des véhicules hybrides et électriques s'est intensifié ces dernières années, face aux problématiques environnementales et économiques. Afin que les performances de ces derniers soient comparables à celle d'un véhicule à moteur thermique, de nombreuses avancées technologiques sont indispensables. Le déploiement de véhicule entièrement à traction électrique, ne serait être réalisable, sans des infrastructures de recharge adaptées. Cette thèse constitue une contribution à l'étude d'un chargeur de batteries intégré au véhicule électrique, dans le cadre du projet SOFRACI.L'architecture de ce chargeur entièrement réversible sert également pour la traction du véhicule. L'utilisation de tous les éléments y compris le moteur de traction pour les deux fonctions, réduit l'encombrement et le coût de la structure. L'objectif principal consiste à modéliser le système de conversion alternatif-continu du chargeur et à établir les lois de commandes.Lors de la première phase de l'étude, une attention particulière a été portée à l'utilisation des enroulements de la machine en tant qu'inductance de filtrage du convertisseur. Un modèle correspondant à ce fonctionnement a été obtenu et a permis de mettre en évidence un couplage magnétique existant entre les diverses phases.En s'appuyant sur les modèles obtenues, la seconde étape a consisté à définir les stratégies de commande. Deux méthodes ont été employées. La première, par le biais d'une transformation a permis de se ramener dans un repère, où la majorité des termes de couplage ont été éliminés. Pour l'autre méthode, tous les éléments du couplage ont été considérés. Pour chacune de ces stratégies, des correcteurs PI et RST fondés sur le placement de pôles robustes ont été dimensionnés pour garantir la stabilité du système.Une part importante du travail a été consacrée à la réalisation d'un banc d'essai expérimental reconstituant la conversion alternative-continue. Compte tenu des différences de dynamiques des grandeurs asservies, une carte FPGA et un processeur ont été utilisés. L'exploitation de ce moyen d'essai a permis de comparer et de valider les lois de commande développées.

For many years batteries have been used as the main power sources for portable electronic devices. However, the rate of scaling in integrated circuits and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) has been much higher than that of the batteries technology. Therefore, a need to replace these temporary energy reservoirs with small sized continuously charged energy supply units has emerged. These units, named as energy harvesters, use several types of ambient energy sources such as heat, light, and vibration to provide energy to intelligent systems such as sensor nodes. Among the available types, vibration based electromagnetic (EM) energy harvesters are particularly interesting because of their simple structure and suitability for operation at low frequency values (&lt / 10 Hz), where most vibrations exits. However, since the generated EM power and voltage is relatively low at low frequencies, high performance interface electronics is required for efficiently transferring the generated power from the harvester to the load to be supplied. The aim of this study is to design low power and efficient interface electronics to convert the low voltage and low power generated signals of the EM energy harvesters to DC to be usable by a real application. The most critical part of such interface electronics is the AC/DC converter, since all the other blocks such as DC/DC converters, power managements units, etc. rely on the rectified voltage generated by this block. Due to this, several state-of-the-art rectifier structures suitable for energy harvesting applications have been studied. Most of the previously proposed rectifiers have low conversion efficiency due to the high voltage drop across the utilized diodes. In this study, two rectifier structures are proposed: one is a new passive rectifier using the Boot Strapping technique for reducing the diode turn-on voltage values / the other structure is a comparator-based ultra low power active rectifier. The proposed structures and some of the previously reported designs have been implemented in X-FAB 0.35 &micro / m standard CMOS process. The autonomous energy harvesting systems are then realized by integrating the developed ASICs and the previously proposed EM energy harvester modules developed in our research group, and these systems have been characterized under different electromechanical excitation conditions. In this thesis, five different systems utilizing different circuits and energy harvesting modules have been presented. Among these, the system utilizing the novel Boot Strap Rectifier is implemented within a volume of 21 cm3, and delivers 1.6 V, 80 &micro / A (128 &micro / W) DC power to a load at a vibration frequency of only 2 Hz and 72 mg peak acceleration. The maximum overall power density of the system operating at 2 Hz is 6.1 &micro / W/cm3, which is the highest reported value in the literature at this operation frequency. Also, the operation of a commercially available temperature sensor using the provided power of the energy harvester has been shown. Another system utilizing the comparator-based active rectifier implemented with a volume of 16 cm3, has a dual rail output and is able to drive a 1.46 V, 37 &micro / A load with a maximum power density of 6.03 &micro / W/cm3, operating at 8 Hz. Furthermore, a signal conditioning system for EM energy harvesting has also been designed and simulated in TSMC 90 nm CMOS process. The proposed ASIC includes a highly efficient AC-DC converter as well as a power processing unit which steps up and regulates the converted DC voltages using an on-chip DC/DC converter and a sub-threshold voltage regulator with an ultra low power management unit. The total power consumption on the totally passive IC is less than 5 &micro / W, which makes it suitable for next generation MEMS-based EM energy harvesters. In the frame of this study, high efficiency CMOS rectifier ICs have been designed and tested together with several vibration based EM energy harvester modules. The results show that the best efficiency and power density values have been achieved with the proposed energy harvesting systems, within the low frequency range, to the best of our knowledge. It is also shown that further improvement of the results is possible with the utilization of a more advanced CMOS technology.