Low-voltage Applications Research Articles

Feasibility of Ultra-low Radiation and Contrast Medium Dosage in Aortic CTA Using Deep Learning Reconstruction at 60 kVp: An Image Quality Assessment

ObjectiveTo assess the viability of using ultra-low radiation and contrast medium (CM) dosage in aortic computed tomography angiography (CTA) through the application of low tube voltage (60kVp) and a novel deep learning image reconstruction algorithm (ClearInfinity, DLIR-CI). MethodsIodine attenuation curves obtained from a phantom study informed the administration of CM protocols. Non-obese participants undergoing aortic CTA were prospectively allocated into two groups and then obtained three reconstruction group. The conventional group (100kVp-CVgroup) underwent imaging at 100kVp and received 210 mg iodine/kg in combination with a hybrid iterative reconstruction algorithm (ClearView, HIR-CV). The experimental group was imaged at 60kVp with 105 mg iodine/kg, while images were reconstructed with HIR-CV (60 kVp-CV group) and with DLIR-CI (60 kVp-CI group). Student's t-test was used to compare differences in CM protocol and radiation dose. One-way ANOVA compared CT attenuation, image noise, SNR, and CNR among the three reconstruction groups, while the Kruskal-Wallis H test assessed subjective image quality scores. Post hoc analysis was performed with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons, and consistency analysis conducted in subjective image quality assessment was measured using Cohen's kappa. ResultsThe radiation dose (1.12±0.23 mSv vs. 2.03±0.82 mSv) and CM dosage (19.04±3.03 mL vs. 38.11±6.47 mL) provided the reduction of 45% and 50% in the experimental group compared to the conventional group. The CT attenuation, SNR and CNR of 60kVp-CI were superior to or equal to those of 100kVp-CV. Compared to the 60 kVp-CV group, images in 60kVp-CI showed higher SNR and CNR (all P < 0.001). There was no difference between the 60kVp-CI and 100kVp-CVgroup in terms of the subjective image quality of the aorta in various locations (all P > 0.05), with 60kVp-CI images were deemed diagnostically sufficient across all vascular segments. ConclusionsFor non-obese patients, the combined use of 60kVp and DLIR-CI algorithm can preserving image quality while enabling radiation dose and contrast medium savings for aortic CTA compared with 100kVp using HIR-CV.

Research on temperature rise performance of DC universal disconnect switch at high altitude

Abstract Low Voltage appliances are used more and more widely in high altitude areas, but the research on their temperature rise performance is still insufficient. Aiming at this problem, a high altitude temperature rise simulation model is established and verified by experiment, and the temperature rise performance is studied. Firstly, a DC universal isolation switch with a rated current of 1600A was used as the carrier to build an electro-thermal coupling calculation model of high-altitude temperature rise. Secondly, the temperature rise experiment of the isolation switch in high altitude environment was carried out to verify the effectiveness of the simulation model. Finally, the temperature fields of the DC universal isolation switch at different altitudes are simulated, and the change of convective heat transfer coefficient is calculated, and the temperature rise performance of the isolation switch at high altitudes is analyzed. With the increase of altitude, the temperature rise of the conductor is significantly higher than that of the insulation shell, and the heat dissipation capacity of the aluminum radiator decreases significantly at high altitude. The model and conclusion can provide reference for the use of low voltage electrical apparatus in high altitude environment.

Ultra-High-k Ferroelectric BaTiO3 Perovskite in the Gate Stack for Two-Dimensional WSe2 p-Type High-Performance Transistors.

The experimental demonstration of a p-type 2D WSe2 transistor with a ferroelectric perovskite BaTiO3 gate oxide is presented. The 30 nm thick BaTiO3 gate stack shows a robust ferroelectric hysteresis with a remanent polarization of 20 μC/cm2 and further enables a capacitance equivalent thickness of 0.5 nm in the hybrid WSe2/BaTiO3 stack due to its high dielectric constant of 323. We demonstrate one of the best ON currents for perovskite gate 2D transistors in the literature. This is enabled by high-quality epitaxial growth of BaTiO3 and a single 2D layer transfer based fabrication method that is shown to be amenable to silicon platforms. This demonstration is an important milestone toward the integration of crystalline complex oxides with 2D channel materials for scaled CMOS and low-voltage ferroelectric logic applications.

Effect of application of low frequency square-wave positive voltage on identification of caries causative agent S. mutans

Effect of application of low frequency square-wave positive voltage on identification of caries causative agent S. mutans

Comprehensive Study of Mechanical, Electrical and Biological Properties of Conductive Polymer Composites for Medical Applications through Additive Manufacturing.

Conductive polymer composites are commonly present in flexible electrodes for neural interfaces, implantable sensors, and aerospace applications. Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is a widely used additive manufacturing technology, where conductive filaments frequently contain carbon-based fillers. In this study, the static and dynamic mechanical properties and the electrical properties (resistance, signal transmission, resistance measurements during cyclic tensile, bending and temperature tests) were investigated for polylactic acid (PLA)-based, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)-based, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-based, and polyamide (PA)-based conductive filaments with carbon-based additives. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was implemented to evaluate the results. Cytotoxicity measurements were performed. The conductive ABS specimens have a high gauge factor between 0.2% and 1.0% strain. All tested materials, except the PA-based conductive composite, are suitable for low-voltage applications such as 3D-printed EEG and EMG sensors. ABS-based and TPU-based conductive composites are promising raw materials suitable for temperature measuring and medical applications.

A common-mode insensitive thyristor-based latch regenerative comparator for low supply voltage applications

Presented in this article is a new two-stage rail-to-rail regenerative comparator circuit designed for low supply voltage applications. This work introduces a thyristor-based latch for the first time, allowing the comparator to operate from rail-to-rail inputs. The proposed comparator has been post-layout simulated using a standard 65 nm CMOS technology. The worst-case simulation results demonstrate that the comparator exhibits a delay of less than 22ns and consumes only 132 nW of power at a supply voltage of 0.6V and a sample rate of 1 MHz across its full common-mode range. Furthermore, the total input-referred offset voltage (3std + mean) remains below 21 mV throughout the entire rail-to-rail common-mode voltage range. Compared to the conventional single-stage comparator, the proposed circuit showcases an improvement of over 87 % in terms of delay and energy efficiency. Given its dignified performance metrics, this comparator is well-suited for use in low supply voltage applications such as biomedical implants, successive approximation registers analog-to-digital converters (SAR ADCs), Internet of Things (IoT).

Low-voltage DC collection grids for marine current energy converters: Design and simulations

Marine current energy represents a globally abundant yet largely untapped renewable energy source, offering greater predictability than other sources such as wind. Consequently, it has the potential to play a vital role in the green transition. A critical consideration for harnessing marine current energy is the design of the electrical grid to accommodate multiple turbines. Therefore, this paper presents a study that explores three types of DC collection grids (series, parallel, and star) for a specific marine current energy converter. A simulation model developed for the marine current energy converter is introduced and utilized to assess these topologies for grids comprising ten identical turbines subjected to varying water speeds. The designed topologies are intended for low-voltage and nearshore applications. The simulation results demonstrate that the series collection grid requires a significantly higher DC grid voltage compared to the other topologies for the turbines to operate correctly. Additionally, the study reveals that all three grid topologies can effectively transmit power to the distribution grid with similar power losses.

A High-Efficiency IPT System With Series-Capacitor Full-Bridge Configuration and Inverse Coupled Current Doubler Rectifier for High-Input, Low-Voltage, and High Output Current Applications

A High-Efficiency IPT System With Series-Capacitor Full-Bridge Configuration and Inverse Coupled Current Doubler Rectifier for High-Input, Low-Voltage, and High Output Current Applications

Power-Constrained Design Optimization of PM Machines for Low-Power Low-Voltage and High-Torque Applications

Power-Constrained Design Optimization of PM Machines for Low-Power Low-Voltage and High-Torque Applications

An Accurate Modeling and Suppression Method for Current Imbalance in Dual-Receiver WPT Systems for Low-Voltage and High-Current Applications

An Accurate Modeling and Suppression Method for Current Imbalance in Dual-Receiver WPT Systems for Low-Voltage and High-Current Applications

The role of polymer gel electrolyte infiltration for enhancement of capacitance and cycle stability

With the increasing application of electronic materials in various fields such as flexible electronic textiles, wearable and portable gadgets, aerospace and aircraft systems etc., the demand for clean high-power energy storage devices is also increasing rapidly. To date, the application of market available supercapacitors has not met the energy expectations in the range of market leading Li-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their unreliable mechanical flexibility, electrolyte leakage, low voltage application, low capacity, low cycle stability and moderate rate-capability. Inappropriate utilization of the maximum porosity of the electrode material and inefficient activities of the electrode/electrolyte interface are major challenges for present supercapacitor development. In this work, for the first time, the role of polymer gel electrolyte infiltration to improve the electrochemical performance of a supercapacitor has been explicitly studied and investigated. It has been observed that 1-Ethyl-3- Methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [EMIM][TFSI] ionic liquid electrolyte embedded in Polypropylene Carbonate (PPC) and Polycarbonate (PC) polymer matrix polymer gel electrolyte (PGE) showed excellent supercapacitive performance at high voltage window 2.6 V by delivering maximum total capacitance of 5.81 F and maximum energy density 10.9 Wh kg-1 at 30 mA current (0.06 A g-1). Regular infiltration of the polymer gel electrolyte inside the electrode material is also observed during long cycle operation of 10,000 cycles. Infiltration of electrolyte ions into the pores of electrode materials plays a significant role in increasing capacitance and cycle Stability. These results highlight the potential of this novel high-voltage polymer gel electrolyte for future high-power energy storage device applications.

Stability control and analysis of hydrogen production using a multi-terminal DC EV charging system with PV

In the shift towards sustainable energy, DC microgrids have emerged as efficient and reliable alternatives to traditional AC systems, particularly suited for low-voltage applications. The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in multi-terminal DC (MTDC) systems introduces challenges in maintaining voltage stability, particularly during master station failures. Our research introduces a decentralized control strategy with multi-mode switching to ensure stability under such conditions. We conduct a comprehensive stability analysis of MTDC systems heavily integrated with EVs, identifying the instability risks and proposing mitigation strategies. The effectiveness of our control approach is validated through simulation studies and a detailed state-space model. Additionally, we explore the integration of renewable energy sources and hydrogen production into MTDC systems for EV charging, which minimizes the need for a new power infrastructure and enhances renewable energy use. This integration optimally reduces renewable energy discard rates, thereby improving energy efficiency without compromising system performance. Our study provides practical insights and theoretical support for renewable energy-driven hydrogen production within DC microgrids. The proposed scheme's performance is validated through simulation studies using a state-space model.

Investigations on heat-generation stability and PTC effects of self-heating cement composites under diverse temperature conditions

In this study, the novel aspect lies in investigating heat-generation stability expressed as positive temperature coefficient (PTC) effects of self-heating cement under diverse temperature conditions. Self-heating cement composites were fabricated, and subjected to various types of heating tests including monotonic, cyclic, and long-term tests at three distinct temperatures: 25°C, 0°C, and −20°C. The results revealed a novel finding that the heat-generation performance decreased due to the increased electrical resistivity during the heating test, attributed to the PTC effect when high input voltage was applied. Conversely, the absence of PTC effect with low input voltage application resulted in a consistent temperature increase and negligible changes in electrical resistivity, particularly at low temperatures. These experimental findings provide valuable insights into the investigations on stability of heat-generation performance of self-heating cement composites, offering implications for their practical applications.

Push-pull forward LLC resonant converter for low input voltage applications

A push-pull forward LLC resonant converter suitable for renewable energy power generation systems is proposed in this paper. The converter introduces the LLC resonant tank into the traditional push-pull forward converter and adopts pulse frequency modulation (PFM) control, which solves the problem of voltage spike of switches of the conventional push-pull converter, realizes the zero-voltage switching (ZVS) of the switches and has high conversion efficiency. In addition, the rectifier part of the structure adopts voltage doubling rectifier technology, which is beneficial to reduce the turn ratio and optimize the leakage inductance of the transformer. In this paper, the working principle of the converter is described in detail, and its gain characteristics and soft switching conditions are analyzed. Finally, an experimental prototype of 1 kW is built, and the output voltage of 380 V is achieved when the rated input voltage is 48–72 V, and its efficiency is up to 96.1 %.

Material performance analysis and structure design of the A.C. contactor driven by MSMA

Contactors are extensively utilized in the control field. Enhancing the response speed and reducing mechanical tremors during switching-in hold great significance in improving contactor’s reliability. A novel A.C. contactor suitable for low-voltage environments has been developed based on the unique properties of the magnetic shape memory alloy (MSMA). It exhibited remarkable characteristics such as large dependent variables, fast response speed, and strong controllability. First, the magnetron characteristics of the MSMA were introduced. Then, the overall structure of the new contactor was designed based on the MSMA output characteristics and the contactor’s design requirements. Next, switching-in characteristics of the contactor under the drive signal were analyzed through simulation. Finally, an experimental measurement was carried out to test the performance of the prototype contactor during separating brake and switching in. The A.C. contactor driven by the MSMA could achieve a response speed of 9.8 ms. The contact movement in the switching process is smooth, which effectively avoids the occurrence of contact bounce in the closing process, which provides theoretical support for the development of the MSMA in the field of low-voltage electrical control application research.

Solar Based Multilevel Inverter f o r BLDC Motor Drive

The BLDC motor is widely utilized in high power and low voltage applications because to its simple construction, great efficiency, low maintenance requirements, and low cost .Furthermore, considering their size, they have a lot of torque and power output. The BLDC motor is powered by an alternating current source and is operated straight from the AC supply port, despite being a DC motor in this case. The main drawback is that any disruptions in the source will have an impact on the applications that use BLDC motors in the industrial context. So, to avoid this, there should be a converter and an inverter intermediary between the motor and the source. One of three methods can be used to drive the BLDC motor. 1. Two-level inverters based on pulse width modulation (PWM). 2. An multiple-level working inverter. 3. A multilevel inverter with neutral clamping. Using a multicarrier PWM technique, the suggested inverter may lower the output signal's harmonic content. It is capable of generating very good motor currents. In this instance, a three-level diode clamped multilevel inverter can be used to accurately control the speed of a BLDC. This study's primary goal is to demonstrate how to run a BLDC drive with an inverter to lower harmonics. A diode clamped multi-level inverter is a device that converts voltage to current. An improved version of this strategy is provided by this research. Using the MATLAB Simulink software tool, one can assess the system's overall effectiveness by simulating the neutral clamp multilevel inverter-based drive system's functioning. In the event of a power outage, the entire application will cease to function and generate output. Under order to increase the output and supply reliability of power, renewable energies must be used under these circumstances. There are many renewable energy sources available; however solar photovoltaic systems are the better option because of their benefits over traditional power sources. A diode clamped multi-level inverter was used. A diode clamped multi-level inverter was used to drive the BLDC.

Inkjet-printed heater on flexible substrates for low voltage applications

Flexible heaters (FHs) have applications ranging from defoggers to flexural warmers, food processors, and thermotherapy. Printed FHs are particularly of interest as they offer unique advantages like high resolution, customization, low cost, and ease of fabrication. Here, we report printed FHs on polyethylene terephthalate substrate. The heater design is optimized to operate on a low voltage of five volts and yield high temperatures with a uniform temperature distribution across the surface. The heater has a fast response time of 15 s to reach its maximum temperature and does not show any degradation in performance after three months of operation. The heater maintains its temperature after continuous use for two hours and exhibits a minimum change in temperature upon bending. We have also developed and tested designs for zone heaters and nano heaters, where zone heater is suited for applications requiring heating in specified locations on a surface only. Whereas nano heater has an area of 1 mm2 and can produce high temperatures in this small area. Finally, we developed similar printed heaters on paper and polyimide (PI) substrates as well. Paper-based heater can achieve a temperature of 210 °C and can be used in disposable applications due to its low cost, whereas PI heater can achieve a temperature of 380 °C and is suitable for attaining high temperatures. These results manifest the use of FHs for various practical applications.

A novel single-ended 9T SRAM cell with write assist and decoupled read path for efficient low-voltage applications

A novel single-ended 9T SRAM cell with write assist and decoupled read path for efficient low-voltage applications

1 V Tunable High-Quality Universal Filter Using Multiple-Input Operational Transconductance Amplifiers.

This paper presents a new multiple-input single-output voltage-mode universal filter employing four multiple-input operational transconductance amplifiers (MI-OTAs) and three grounded capacitors suitable for low-voltage low-frequency applications. The quality factor (Q) of the filter functions can be tuned by both the capacitance ratio and the transconductance ratio. The multiple inputs of the OTA are realized using the bulk-driven multiple-input MOS transistor technique. The MI-OTA-based filter can also offer many filtering functions without additional circuitry requirements, such as an inverting amplifier to generate an inverted input signal. The proposed filter can simultaneously realize low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, band-stop, and all-pass responses, covering both non-inverting and inverting transfer functions in a single topology. The natural frequency and the quality factors of all the filtering functions can be controlled independently. The natural frequency can also be electronically controlled by tuning the transconductances of the OTAs. The proposed filter uses a 1 V supply voltage, consumes 120 μW of power for a 5 μA setting current, offers 40 dB of dynamic range and has a third intermodulation distortion of -43.6 dB. The performances of the proposed circuit were simulated using a 0.18 μm TSMC CMOS process in the Cadence Virtuoso System Design Platform to confirm the performance of the topology.

Implementation of Digital Filter Using Verilog HDL

Abstract: In the context of Very Large Scale Integration technology, where addition is essential, digital filters are essential elements. The performance of the Finite Impulse Response Filter is highly dependent on the speed of its multiplier unit, making itstand out among the others. In order to improve the effectiveness of the FIR filter, we suggest using a Wallace tree multiplier. This novel method offers improvements over conventional multipliers, with a decrease in latency being one of the main advantages. Significant improvements in latency are obtained by using Xilinx tools and implementing this filter design in Verilog HDL. The Wallace tree multiplier is perfect for FIR filter construction in low-voltage and low-power VLSI applications since it has benefits like higher operating frequency and reduced power consumption. This development might improve the effectiveness and performance of digital filters, especially in settings with limited resources, opening the way for more robust VLSI systems