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.

This thesis deals with the use of active components in nonlinear circuits. First the variants of the current and voltage conveyors are theoretically described. Then the thesis deals with the design of the new curcuit structures with nonlinear components, which comes out from the former known realizations. Several possible solutions of the examined circuit have been designed and the most convenient structure has been selected. The chosen solution has been thoroughly analysed in subsequent diploma thesis to enable comparison of the theoretically designed circuit with the practically realized one.

No description available.

Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC) are being widely considered for medium to high voltage DC generation systems. Integrated system design optimization of the generator-MMC system through multi-objective optimization is of interest, because such an approach allows the trade-off between competing objectives (for example, mass and loss) to be explicitly and quantitatively identified. In this work, such an optimization based design paradigm for MMC based generator rectifier systems is developed. To formulate the design problem as a multi-objective optimization problem, it is required that the system waveforms can be obtained to facilitate the imposition of constraints and the estimation of power losses. Similarly, it is also desired to include detailed electric machine magnetic and electrical analysis in design optimization, as well as aspects such as the inductor and heat sink design. Such development typically requires detailed component design and simulation models for the electric machine and converter which are computationally expensive. As an alternative, the proposed work utilizes an electric machine metamodel, heat sink metamodel, and high-speed steady-state simulation model for the MMC to facilitate multi-objective optimization minimizing system metrics of interest while satisfying system constraints. Using the developed component simulation and design models, a multi-objective optimization based design of an MMC based generator-rectifier system is conducted.

In industry, adjustable speed drives (ASDs) are widely employed in driving AC motors for variable speed applications due to the high performance and high energy efficiency obtained in such systems. However, ASDs have an impact on the power quality and utilisation of AC power feeds by injecting current harmonics and causing resonances, additional losses, and voltage distortion at the point of common coupling. Due to these problems, electric power utilities have established stringent rules and regulations to limit the effects of this distortion. As a result, efficient, reliable, and economical harmonic mitigation techniques must now be implemented in practical systems to achieve compliance at reasonable cost. A variety of techniques exist to control the harmonic current injected by ASDs, and allow three-phase AC-line-connected medium-power systems to meet stringent power quality standards. Of these, the broadband harmonic passive filter deserves special attention because of its good harmonic mitigation and reactive power compensation abilities, and low cost. It is also relatively free from harmonic resonance problems, has relatively simple structural complexity and involves considerably less engineering effort when compared to systems of single tuned shunt passive filters or active filters and active rectifier solutions. In this thesis, passive broadband harmonic filters are investigated. In particular, the improved broadband filter (IBF) which has superior overall performance and examples of its application are increasing rapidly. During this research project, the IBF operating principle is reviewed and its design principles are established. As the main disadvantage of most passive harmonic filters is the large-sized components, the first proposed design attempts to optimize the size of the filter components (L and C) utilized in the existing IBF topology. The second proposed design attempts to optimize the number and then the size of filter components resulting in an Advanced Broadband passive Filter (ABF) novel structure. The proposed design methods are based on frequency domain modelling of the system and then using a genetic algorithm optimization technique to search for optimal filter component values. The results obtained are compared with the results of a linear searching approach. The measured performance of the optimal filter designs (IBF and ABF) is evaluated under different loading conditions with typical levels of background voltage distortion. This involves assessing input current total harmonic distortion, input power factor, rectifier voltage regulation, efficiency, size and cost. The potential resonance problem is addressed and the influence of voltage imbalance on performance is investigated. The assessment is based on analysis, computer simulations and experimental results. The measured performance is compared to various typical passive harmonic filters for three-phase diode rectifier front-end type adjustable speed drives. Finally, the broadband filter design’s effectiveness and performance are evaluated by involving them in a standard IEEE distribution network operating under different penetration levels of connected nonlinear total loads (ASD system). The study is conducted via detailed modelling of the distribution network and the linked nonlinear loads using computer simulations.

This dissertation presents the rectifying antennas potential for harvesting solar power, along with a novel design for a solar rectenna. The suns general features and the characteristics of solar radiation as an electromagnetic wave are treated in depth in order to determine the deficiencies of traditional rectennas as a solar cell. A closed form equation for a MIM rectifiers efficiency as a function of its input power was developed and verified by a simulated behavioral model and measurements. A unique calculation method was also developed to determine the available solar power at the terminal of a [lambda]/2 dipole antenna as a function of its bandwidth. The available power for each diode at the antennas terminal was found to be insufficient for a MIM diode to operate in its high efficiency region. It was concluded that the MIM diode requires an array of high gain antennas to increase the solar power captured at its input in order to operate in its high efficiency region. A dielectric rod antenna is proposed as the high gain antenna element for the solar antenna. In order to minimize losses due to the skin effect in the feed system of the array, a non-radiative dielectric (NRD) wave guide is proposed as the feed structure for the solar array antenna. To increase the rectification efficiency of the solar rectenna, two improvements were introduced: 1) the solar antenna was modified to function as a dual polarized antenna; and 2) a novel technique was used to achieve full-wave rectification. Test results of prototypes of the proposed solar antennas and arrays, show them to be potentially far superior to traditional [lambda]/2 dipole antennas for collecting solar radiation. The interconnection method for rectennas in an array – as well as their associated dc losses – were also investigated. Based on the theoretical results, a novel interconnection method is proposed here, which has the potential to minimize the dc losses in the grid. A series of experiments were conducted to verify the proposed concepts, which yielded promising results.

<p>The purpose of this degree project was to build laboratory equipment for a new course in power electronics that starts this autumn 2010 at Uppsala University. The equipment is intended for student labs and it covers the most important areas of the course including rectifying, buck-/boost-converters and PWM-modulation. It is built as one sealed unit where all the electronics are built-in but visible and it has a connection board where students safely can connect the different circuits. The project has advanced from theoretical studies of circuit design, choosing of components and simulations to drawing the printed circuit board (PCB), soldering, case building, final testing and troubleshooting - basically most steps from an early idea to a final product. Measurements on the final product gave about the same results as the earlier simulations of the circuits and the result is overall satisfying.</p> / <p>Syftet med det här examensarbetet var att bygga laborationsutrustning till en ny kurs i kraftelektronik som börjar hösten 2010 på Uppsala Universitet. Utrustningen är avsedd för studentlaborationer och den täcker de viktigaste delarna av kursen inklusive likriktning, buck-/boost-omvandlare och pulsbreddsmodulering (PWM). Laborationsutrustningen är byggd som en sluten enhet där all elektronik är inbyggd men synlig och den har en kopplingsplatta där studenterna säkert kan koppla ihop olika kretsar. Projektet har sträckt sig från teoretiska studier inklusive kretsdesign, komponentval och simuleringar till ritande av kretskortet (PCB-kortet), lödning, byggande av höljet, sluttestning och felsökning - i huvudsak de flesta stegen från en tidig idé till en färdig produkt. Mätningar på den färdiga produkten är ganska lika de tidigare simuleringarna av kretsarna och resultatet är totalt sett tillfredställande.</p>

The purpose of this degree project was to build laboratory equipment for a new course in power electronics that starts this autumn 2010 at Uppsala University. The equipment is intended for student labs and it covers the most important areas of the course including rectifying, buck-/boost-converters and PWM-modulation. It is built as one sealed unit where all the electronics are built-in but visible and it has a connection board where students safely can connect the different circuits. The project has advanced from theoretical studies of circuit design, choosing of components and simulations to drawing the printed circuit board (PCB), soldering, case building, final testing and troubleshooting - basically most steps from an early idea to a final product. Measurements on the final product gave about the same results as the earlier simulations of the circuits and the result is overall satisfying. / Syftet med det här examensarbetet var att bygga laborationsutrustning till en ny kurs i kraftelektronik som börjar hösten 2010 på Uppsala Universitet. Utrustningen är avsedd för studentlaborationer och den täcker de viktigaste delarna av kursen inklusive likriktning, buck-/boost-omvandlare och pulsbreddsmodulering (PWM). Laborationsutrustningen är byggd som en sluten enhet där all elektronik är inbyggd men synlig och den har en kopplingsplatta där studenterna säkert kan koppla ihop olika kretsar. Projektet har sträckt sig från teoretiska studier inklusive kretsdesign, komponentval och simuleringar till ritande av kretskortet (PCB-kortet), lödning, byggande av höljet, sluttestning och felsökning - i huvudsak de flesta stegen från en tidig idé till en färdig produkt. Mätningar på den färdiga produkten är ganska lika de tidigare simuleringarna av kretsarna och resultatet är totalt sett tillfredställande.

A wide variety of group III-Nitride-based photonic and electronic devices have opened a new era in the field of semiconductor research in the past ten years. The direct and large bandgap nature, intrinsic high carrier mobility, and the capability of forming heterostructures allow them to dominate photonic and electronic device market such as light emitters, photodiodes, or high-speed/high-power electronic devices. Avalanche photodiodes (APDs) based on group III-Nitrides materials are of interest due to potential capabilities for low dark current densities, high sensitivities and high optical gains in the ultraviolet (UV) spectral region. Wide-bandgap GaN-based APDs are excellent candidates for short-wavelength photodetectors because they have the capability for cut-off wavelengths in the UV spectral region (λ < 290 nm). These intrinsically solar-blind UV APDs will not require filters to operate in the solar-blind spectral regime of λ < 290 nm. For the growth of GaN-based heteroepitaxial layers on lattice-mismatched substrates, a high density of defects is usually introduced during the growth; thereby, causing a device failure by premature microplasma, which has been a major issue for GaN-based APDs. The extensive research on epitaxial growth and optimization of Al_x Ga _1-x N (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) grown on low dislocation density native bulk III-N substrates have brought UV APDs into realization. GaN and AlGaN UV <i> p-i-n </i> APDs demonstrated first and record-high true avalanche gain of > 10,000 and 50, respectively. The large stable optical gains are attributed to the improved crystalline quality of epitaxial layers grown on low dislocation density bulk substrates. GaN <i>p-i-n </i> rectifiers have brought much research interest due to its superior physical properties. The AIN-free full-vertical GaN<i> p-i-n </i> rectifiers on<i> n </i>- type 6H-SiC substrates by employing a conducting AIGaN:Si buffer layer provides the advantages of the reduction of sidewall damage from plasma etching and lower forward resistance due to the reduction of current crowding at the bottom<i> n </i> -type layer. The AlGaN:Si nucleation layer was proven to provide excellent electrical properties while also acting as a good buffer role for subsequent GaN growth. The reverse breakdown voltage for a relatively thin 2.5 μm-thick<i> i </i>-region was found to be over -400V.

A high efficiency driver is designed for light emitting diode (LED) street lamps in the thesis. The main power conversion circuit employs a phase-controlled rectifier to convert the power from the ac mains of 110/220 V, 60 Hz directly into a dc source, providing the required output current for the street lamps formed by arrayed high brightness white LEDs. The phase-controlled rectifier of the LED driver circuit can be a conventional semi-converter or a rectifier with symmetrical phase control, which makes use of thyristors and power transistors, respectively, to regulate the LED current by means of adjusting the conduction angles in a cycle of the ac line. The phase-controlled rectifiers may exclude the use the bulky electrolyte capacitor with acceptable variation in the chromaticity and the color temperature. Operating at the low frequency, the phase-controlled rectifiers can avoid the problems of electromagnetic interference caused by high-frequency switching and adopt low cost power switches. Furthermore, a relatively high power factor can be achieved when the line source voltage varies within a small allowable range. The research is targeted to a design of a 200 W LED street lamp. To facilitate the changes of the control functions and circuit parameters, the control circuit is realized with a microcontroller. In addition, over-voltage/current protections can be included easily. Experimental results demonstrate that the phase-controlled rectifiers with appropriately designated circuit parameters can approach a power factor of 0.92 and a circuit efficiency of 93% at the rated output.