MOSFET Bridge Research Articles

Converter Topology for Megawatt Scale Applications With Reduced Filtering Requirements, Formed of IGBT Bridge Operating in the 1000 Hz Region With Parallel Part-Rated High-Frequency SiC MOSFET Bridge

Converter Topology for Megawatt Scale Applications With Reduced Filtering Requirements, Formed of IGBT Bridge Operating in the 1000 Hz Region With Parallel Part-Rated High-Frequency SiC MOSFET Bridge

Optimization of the Power Flow Generated by an AC Energy Harvester for Variable Operating Conditions

Many energy harvesters (EH) deliver an ac voltage and require a rectifier as a consequence. This paper describes how the rectifier affects the power flow transmitted from the EH to the load and how to tackle the different voltage amplitudes. This study has been performed using analytical calculations, numerical modeling and experiments. To reach the maximum power transfer, conventional methods apply a fraction of the open-circuit voltage delivered by the EH. In contrast, this study points out that the optimum operating point must be shifted by a quantity depending on the rectifier characteristics. This difference is particularly important when the EH provides relatively small ac voltages. Two classic rectifiers are covered: a diode bridge (DB) and a MOSFET bridge (MB). An approximated solution of the analytical model is proposed and allows to optimize the EH without cumbersome numerical computations. Experiments are conducted first with a function generator and then with an electromagnetic EH prototype. The outcomes from the analytical model and the numerical model are in good agreement with the experimental results. A new regulation method is proposed for maximizing the power transferred from the ac EH to the load.

Filter Component Impact on EGS002-based Inverter Circuit Performances

This paper examines filter component impact on inverter output. The inverter prototype was designed by using pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generated by EGS002 module, combined with DC voltage source, voltage regulator, MOSFET bridge and low pass filter. As component assembled, the output voltage quality is determined by the choice of filter components. Experiment shows that the calculated values may not suitable as soldering and connection imperfection may change component values. As adjustments were performed, filter components of 12.63 H and 6.5uf generated the finest sinusoidal output of 30.8 Vpp with frequency of 50,05 Hz.

Filter impact based on inverter circuit performances

This paper examines filter component impact on inverter output. The inverter prototype was designed by using pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generated by EGS002 module, combined with DC voltage source, voltage regulator, MOSFET Bridge and low pass filter. As component assembled, the output voltage quality is determined by the choice of filter components. Experiment shows that the calculated values may not suitable as soldering and connection imperfection may change component values. As adjustments were performed, filter components of 12.63 H and 6.5uf generated the finest sinusoidal output of 30.8 Vpp with frequency of 50.05 Hz.

Assist Gate Driver Circuit on Crosstalk Suppression for SiC MOSFET Bridge Configuration

Crosstalk in a phase-leg configuration significantly limits the high switching speed performance of silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET due to their lower threshold voltage and higher allowable negative gate voltage as compared with the traditional silicon (Si). To fulfill the potential fast switching speed quality of SiC MOSFET, an assist gate driver (AGD) circuit for crosstalk suppression based on the negative-biased turn-off voltage was proposed, which contains an auxiliary capacitor and two passive transistors without additional control signals. First, a recommended gate driver by several SiC device manufacturers was introduced to analyze the mechanism of crosstalk. Then, the operating principle of the proposed AGD circuit was elaborated, and the parameter design criteria of the main elements were given. Finally, a simulation using LTspice and an experiment based on Wolfspeed 1200-V SiC MOSFET tests were used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed gate driver. Simulation and experimental results show that the AGD circuit has a superior characteristic of crosstalk suppression under varying operating conditions. Thus, the proposed circuit could meet the fastidious requirement of fast-speed SiC MOSFET under high dc voltage condition with less complexity.

High-efficiency MOSFET bridge rectifier for AlN MEMS cantilever vibration energy harvester

We developed a high-efficiency MOSFET bridge rectifier for use in an aluminum nitride (AlN) piezoelectric MEMS cantilever vibration energy harvester (VEH). The bridge rectifier consists of four MOSFETs with a circuit configuration similar to that of a typical diode bridge rectifier. The output voltage of the full-wave rectification via the MOSFET bridge was simulated with an equivalent circuit model of the AlN VEH, which is extracted from an experimental result. The channel width of the MOSFET was designed to be adopted for use with a high-voltage and low-current AlN VEH. The designed rectifier was fabricated using the 0.18 µm high voltage technology of a commercially available CMOS foundry. The AlN VEH with our bridge rectifier generated a DC power of 0.514 µW at 2.49 V under an applied vibration with an acceleration amplitude of 0.5 m/s2 at a frequency of 46.6 Hz. The DC power is 1.4 times higher than that generated by the same AlN VEH with a MOSFET bridge consisting of commercially available discrete MOSFETs.

Performance analysis of piezoelectric drum transducers as shoe-based energy harvesters

ABSTRACTPiezoelectric materials have been at the centre of energy harvesting research for a few decades now. This article explores the performance of piezoelectric drum transducers made using piezoelectric buzzer elements as shoe-based energy harvesters. Two sizes of drum transducers were fabricated, viz. 27 and 35 mm. Two different arrangements of these drums in stack as well as individual form were designed, embedded in shoes and tested with walk profile. Peak powers of 3.86 and 3.21 mW were obtained using a standard interface circuit whereas 1.23 and 0.38 mW using a MOSFET bridge with model 1 and 2, respectively. NiMH batteries of different capacities were charged using the shoe-based energy harvesters. An energy harvesting circuit using LTC 3588-1 energy harvesting IC was fabricated to obtain a regulated output voltage of 3.6 V using the shoe harvesters. Results show that these drum harvesters can be easily embedded in shoes and have the potential to act as excellent energy scavengers and generate enough power to drive low power sensors that can be used to design a smart body monitoring system.

Efficiency Evaluation of a MOSFET bridge rectifier for Powering LEDs using Piezo-electric Energy Harvesting Systems

Harvesting energy from the renewable energy sources plays a very important role in recent days. Researchers are using various methods to capture the energy for different sources. One of the most prominent methods of energy harvesting from vibrations is by using piezo-electric material. Piezo-electric vibration harvesting is smart mainly due to the simplicity of piezoelectric transduction and the piezoelectric systems can be easily implemented into a wide variety of applications. Due to wide range of AC output voltage and low power, the piezo-electric generator cannot directly prop up the AC or DC electrical appliances. Hence in the majority applications the AC signal created by this generator needs to be rectified. In this paper a new highly efficient MOSFET full bridge AC to DC converter for piezoelectric energy harvesting is planned, which enhances the power extracted from the piezo-electric crystal. The proposed AC to DC converter reduces the voltage drop along the conduction path and thereby increases the power extraction and conversion capability. The proposed circuit is replicated in PSpice software package and then in the experimental setup. The performance is evaluated and compared.

Efficiency Evaluation of a MOSFET bridge rectifier for Powering LEDs using Piezo-electric Energy Harvesting Systems

Harvesting energy from the renewable energy sources plays a very important role in recent days. Researchers are using various methods to capture the energy for different sources. One of the most prominent methods of energy harvesting from vibrations is by using piezo-electric material. Piezo-electric vibration harvesting is smart mainly due to the simplicity of piezoelectric transduction and the piezoelectric systems can be easily implemented into a wide variety of applications. Due to wide range of AC output voltage and low power, the piezo-electric generator cannot directly prop up the AC or DC electrical appliances. Hence in the majority applications the AC signal created by this generator needs to be rectified. In this paper a new highly efficient MOSFET full bridge AC to DC converter for piezoelectric energy harvesting is planned, which enhances the power extracted from the piezo-electric crystal. The proposed AC to DC converter reduces the voltage drop along the conduction path and thereby increases the power extraction and conversion capability. The proposed circuit is replicated in PSpice software package and then in the experimental setup. The performance is evaluated and compared.

Simulation and Optimization Research of the Actuator for Soft-Close Automatic Car Doors

Based on the current design of actuator for soft-close automatic car doors, function and composition of the mechanical assembly and the electronic control module of the actuator are elaborated firstly. Then the push travel section of cam profile is optimized from previous circular arcs to a spline curve to reduce impact and fatigue wear between the switch and the cam in the mechanical assembly through multi-body dynamics simulation with the Adams solving tool in NX7.5. Besides, an improvement of the MOSFET bridge drive circuit and corresponding program design through dead-time control method with half-bridge chopper are applied to solve the heating problem in the electronic control module, in the light of equivalent electronic circuit simulation in Multisim. The results demonstrate that the optimization works well, and valuable conclusions can be drawn from system simulation during the prototype stage of the actuator product is practicable.

Designing a Battery-Less Piezoelectric based Energy Harvesting Interface Circuit with 300 mV Startup Voltage

This paper presents a designing a battery-less piezoelectric based energy harvesting interface circuits with 300mV step-up voltage. A technique (i.e., DC-DC Step-Up converter) has chosen for designing the startup voltage with low voltage energy (i.e., 300mV). The proposed method consumes very little power, and is especially suitable for the ambient environmental source, where energy harvested power is very low. The energy harvesting interface circuit consists of MOSFET bridge ac-dc rectifier, voltage regulator, dc-dc step-up converter and an energy storage device with capacitor at the output terminal, replacing this by external battery. This paper will study results these important issues regarding the efficiencies of the energy harvesting power conversion interface circuits considering the storage device low voltage. The achievement of our development circuit is able to boost up minimum 1.67 V for input DC voltage of 300mV. The overall circuit efficiency is greater than 80% following the simulation results. This research has focused on the application of Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) and bio-medical device can be operated without battery.