Showing papers on "Electromagnetic coil published in 2013"

Power source, charging system, and inductive receiver for mobile devices

Abstract: A power source, charging system, and inductive receiver for mobile devices. A pad or similar base unit comprises a primary, which creates a magnetic field by applying an alternating current to a winding, coil, or any type of current carrying wire. A receiver comprises a means for receiving the energy from the alternating magnetic field and transferring it to a mobile or other device. The receiver can also comprise electronic components or logic to set the voltage and current to the appropriate levels required by the mobile device, or to communicate information or data to and from the pad. The system may also incorporate efficiency measures that improve the efficiency of power transfer between the charger and receiver.

Meshworm: A Peristaltic Soft Robot With Antagonistic Nickel Titanium Coil Actuators

Abstract: This paper presents the complete development and analysis of a soft robotic platform that exhibits peristaltic locomotion. The design principle is based on the antagonistic arrangement of circular and longitudinal muscle groups of Oligochaetes. Sequential antagonistic motion is achieved in a flexible braided mesh-tube structure using a nickel titanium (NiTi) coil actuators wrapped in a spiral pattern around the circumference. An enhanced theoretical model of the NiTi coil spring describes the combination of martensite deformation and spring elasticity as a function of geometry. A numerical model of the mesh structures reveals how peristaltic actuation induces robust locomotion and details the deformation by the contraction of circumferential NiTi actuators. Several peristaltic locomotion modes are modeled, tested, and compared on the basis of speed. Utilizing additional NiTi coils placed longitudinally, steering capabilities are incorporated. Proprioceptive potentiometers sense segment contraction, which enables the development of closed-loop controllers. Several appropriate control algorithms are designed and experimentally compared based on locomotion speed and energy consumption. The entire mechanical structure is made of flexible mesh materials and can withstand significant external impact during operation. This approach allows a completely soft robotic platform by employing a flexible control unit and energy sources.

Coil Design and Shielding Methods for a Magnetic Resonant Wireless Power Transfer System

Abstract: In this paper, we introduce the basic principles of wireless power transfer using magnetic field resonance and describe techniques for the design of a resonant magnetic coil, the formation of a magnetic field distribution, and electromagnetic field (EMF) noise suppression methods. The experimental results of wireless power transfer systems in consumer electronics applications are discussed in terms of issues related to their efficiency and EMF noise. Furthermore, we present a passive shielding method and a magnetic field cancellation method using a reactive resonant current loop and the utilization of these methods in an online electric vehicle (OLEV) system, in which an OLEV green transportation bus system absorbs wireless power from power cables underneath the road surface with only a minimal battery capacity.

Maximizing DC-to-Load Efficiency for Inductive Power Transfer

Abstract: Inductive power transfer (IPT) systems for transmitting tens to hundreds of watts have been reported for almost a decade. Most of the work has concentrated on the optimization of the link efficiency and has not taken into account the efficiency of the driver. Class-E amplifiers have been identified as ideal drivers for IPT applications, but their power handling capability at tens of megahertz has been a crucial limiting factor, since the load and inductor characteristics are set by the requirements of the resonant inductive system. The frequency limitation of the driver restricts the unloaded Q-factor of the coils and thus the link efficiency. With a suitable driver, copper coil unloaded Q factors of over 1000 can be achieved in the low megahertz region, enabling a cost-effective high Q coil assembly. The system presented in this paper alleviates the use of heavy and expensive field-shaping techniques by presenting an efficient IPT system capable of transmitting energy with a dc-to-load efficiency above 77% at 6 MHz across a distance of 30 cm. To the authors knowledge, this is the highest dc-to-load efficiency achieved for an IPT system without introducing restrictive coupling factor enhancement techniques.

Turn-to-turn contact characteristics for an equivalent circuit model of no-insulation ReBCO pancake coil

Abstract: This paper presents experimental and analytical studies on the characteristic resistance of NI (no-insulation) ReBCO pancake coils, which are used in an equivalent circuit model to characterize 'radial as well as spiral' current paths within the NI coils. We identified turn-to-turn contact resistance as a major source of the characteristic resistance of an NI coil. In order to verify this, three single pancake NI HTS coils-60, 40, 20 turns-were fabricated with their winding tension carefully maintained constant. A sudden discharge test was performed on each coil to obtain its characteristic resistance, and the relation between the turn-to-turn contact and the characteristic resistance was investigated. Based on the characteristic resistance and the n-value model, an equivalent circuit model was proposed to characterize the time-varying response of the NI coils. Charging tests were performed on the three test coils and the experimental results were compared with the simulated ones to validate the proposed approach with the equivalent circuit model.

Kilotesla Magnetic Field due to a Capacitor-Coil Target Driven by High Power Laser

Abstract: Laboratory generation of strong magnetic fields opens new frontiers in plasma and beam physics, astro- and solar-physics, materials science and atomic and molecular physics. Although kilotesla magnetic fields have already been produced by magnetic flux compression using an imploding metal tube or plasma shell, accessibility at multiple points and better controlled shapes of the field are desirable. Here we have generated kilotesla magnetic fields using a capacitor-coil target, in which two nickel disks are connected by a U-turn coil. A magnetic flux density of 1.5 kT was measured using the Faraday effect 650 μm away from the coil, when the capacitor was driven by two beams from the GEKKO-XII laser (at 1 kJ (total), 1.3 ns, 0.53 or 1 μm and 5 × 1016 W/cm2).

High-Efficiency Wireless Power Transfer for Biomedical Implants by Optimal Resonant Load Transformation

Abstract: Wireless power transfer provides a safe and robust way for powering biomedical implants, where high efficiency is of great importance A new wireless power transfer technique using optimal resonant load transformation is presented with significantly improved efficiency at the cost of only one additional chip inductor component The optimal resonant load condition for the maximized power transfer efficiency is explained The proposed technique is implemented using printed spiral coils with discrete surface mount components at 1356 MHz power carrier frequency With an implantable coil having an area of 25 mm × 10 mm and a thickness of 05 mm, the power transfer efficiency of 58% is achieved in the tissue environment at 10-mm distance from the external coil Compared to previous works, the power efficiency is much higher and the structure is compact with planar integration, easy to tune, and suitable for batch production, as well as biocompatible owing to no incorporation of ferromagnetic core

Coil compression for accelerated imaging with Cartesian sampling.

Abstract: MRI using receiver arrays with many coil elements can provide high signal-to-noise ratio and increase parallel imaging acceleration. At the same time, the growing number of elements results in larger datasets and more computation in the reconstruction. This is of particular concern in 3D acquisitions and in iterative reconstructions. Coil compression algorithms are effective in mitigating this problem by compressing data from many channels into fewer virtual coils. In Cartesian sampling there often are fully sampled k-space dimensions. In this work, a new coil compression technique for Cartesian sampling is presented that exploits the spatially varying coil sensitivities in these nonsubsampled dimensions for better compression and computation reduction. Instead of directly compressing in k-space, coil compression is performed separately for each spatial location along the fully sampled directions, followed by an additional alignment process that guarantees the smoothness of the virtual coil sensitivities. This important step provides compatibility with autocalibrating parallel imaging techniques. Its performance is not susceptible to artifacts caused by a tight imaging field-of-view. High quality compression of in vivo 3D data from a 32 channel pediatric coil into six virtual coils is demonstrated.

Wireless charging systems and methods

Abstract: An embodiment of a system for wirelessly charging a wrist-worn device may include a radio frequency (RF) charging energy generating element, and an antenna configured to radiate the RF charging energy, the antenna comprising a first coil and a second coil, the first coil and the second coil each comprising a plurality of windings, the windings of the first coil being wound in a direction opposite the direction of the windings of the second coil. An embodiment of a wrist-worn charge-receiving device may include an antenna coil adapted to receive radio frequency (RF) charging energy, the antenna coil comprising non-uniform windings; and a rechargeable power source coupled to the antenna coil, the antenna coil adapted to provide the RF charging energy to the rechargeable power source.

Estimation of Equivalent Thermal Parameters of Impregnated Electrical Windings

Abstract: It is common practice to represent a composite electrical winding as an equivalent lumped anisotropic material as this greatly simplifies a thermal model and reduces computation times. Existing techniques for estimating the bulk thermal properties of such composite materials use either analytical, numerical, or experimental approaches; however, these methods exhibit a number of drawbacks and limitations regarding their applicability. In this paper, a numerical thermal conductivity and analytical specific heat capacity estimation technique is proposed. The method is validated experimentally against three winding samples with differing configuration. A procedure is presented which enables bulk thermal properties to be estimated with a minimal need for experimental measurement, thereby accelerating the thermal modeling process. The proposed procedure is illustrated by the modeling of three coil exemplars with differing windings. Experimental thermal transients obtained by dc test of the coils show close agreement with a lumped-parameter thermal model utilizing estimated material data.

Mobile wireless power system

Abstract: A mobile wireless power system capable of transmitting power through the skin to energize an implanted medical device without percutaneous wires and without precise positioning includes an external mobile wireless power source and an implantable receiving assembly. The mobile wireless power source is wearable by the patient and includes an excitation coil and transmitting resonant coil which are inductively coupled to each other and are housed in a durable housing. The implantable receiving assembly includes a receiving resonant coil and a power pick-up coil which are also inductively coupled to each other. The transmitting and receiving resonant coils are constructed as to have closely matched or identical resonant frequencies so that the magnetic field produced by the transmitting resonant coil is able to cause the receiving resonant coil to resonate strongly.

A 64-channel 3T array coil for accelerated brain MRI.

Abstract: A 64-channel brain array coil was developed and compared to a 32-channel array constructed with the same coil former geometry to precisely isolate the benefit of the 2-fold increase in array coil elements. The constructed coils were developed for a standard clinical 3T MRI scanner and used a contoured head-shaped curved former around the occipital pole and tapered in at the neck to both improve sensitivity and patient comfort. Additionally, the design is a compact, split-former design intended for robust daily use. Signal-to-noise ratio and noise amplification (G-factor) for parallel imaging were quantitatively evaluated in human imaging and compared to a size and shape-matched 32-channel array coil. For unaccelerated imaging, the 64-channel array provided similar signal-to-noise ratio in the brain center to the 32-channel array and 1.3-fold more signal-to-noise ratio in the brain cortex. Reduced noise amplification during highly parallel imaging of the 64-channel array provided the ability to accelerate at approximately one unit higher at a given noise amplification compared to the sized-matched 32-channel array. For example, with a 4-fold acceleration rate, the central brain and cortical signal-to-noise ratio of the 64-channel array was 1.2- and 1.4-fold higher, respectively, compared to the 32-channel array. The characteristics of the coil are demonstrated in accelerated brain imaging.

Evaluation of Wireless Resonant Power Transfer Systems With Human Electromagnetic Exposure Limits

Abstract: This study provides recommendations for scientifically sound methods of evaluating compliance of wireless power transfer systems with respect to human electromagnetic exposure limits. Methods for both numerical analysis and measurements are discussed. An exposure assessment of a representative wireless power transfer system, under a limited set of operating conditions, is provided in order to estimate the maximum SAR levels. The system operates at low MHz frequencies and it achieves power transfer via near field coupling between two resonant coils located within a few meters of each other. Numerical modeling of the system next to each of four high-resolution anatomical models shows that the local and whole-body SAR limits are generally reached when the transmit coil currents are 0.5 ARMS - 1.2 ARMS at 8 MHz for the maximal-exposure orientation of the coil and 10-mm distance to the body. For the same coil configurations, the exposure can vary by more than 3 dB for different human models. A simplified experimental setup for the exposure evaluation of wireless power transfer systems is also described.

Accurate Motion Control of Linear Motors With Adaptive Robust Compensation of Nonlinear Electromagnetic Field Effect

Abstract: Many control methodologies have been applied to the motion control of linear motor drive systems. Compensations of nonlinearities such as frictions and cogging forces have also been carried out to obtain better tracking performance. However, the relationship between the driving current and the resulting motor force has been assumed to be linear, which is invalid for high driving coil currents due to the saturating electromagnetic field effect. This paper focuses on the effective compensation of nonlinear electromagnetic field effect so that the system can be operated at even higher acceleration or heavier load without losing achievable control performance. Specifically, cubic polynomials with unknown weights are used for an effective approximation of the unknown nonlinearity between the electromagnetic force and the driving current. The effectiveness of such an approximation is verified by offline identification experiments. An adaptive robust control (ARC) algorithm with online tuning of the unknown weights and other system parameters is then developed to account for various uncertainties. Theoretically, the proposed ARC algorithm achieves a guaranteed transient and steady-state performance for position tracking, as well as zero steady-state tracking error when subjected to parametric uncertainties only. Comparative experiments of ARC with and without compensation of electromagnetic nonlinearity done on both axes of a linear-motor-driven industrial gantry are shown. The results show that the proposed ARC algorithm achieves better tracking performance than existing ones, validating the effectiveness of the proposed approach in practical applications.

Wireless charging optimization

Abstract: Described herein are techniques related to near field coupling and wireless charging or wireless power transfer (WPT). More particularly, an induced current at a receiving coil antenna is measured and utilized as a basis for re-alignment with a transmitting coil antenna is described.

Wireless power transfer system coil arrangements and method of operation

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and particularly wireless power transfer to remote systems such as electric vehicles. In one aspect the disclosure provides for an apparatus for wirelessly transmitting power. The apparatus includes a first conductive structure configured to generate a first magnetic field in response to receiving a first time-varying signal from a power source. The apparatus includes a second conductive structure configured to generate a second magnetic field in response to receiving a second time-varying signal from the power source. The first and second structures are positioned to maintain a substantial absence of mutual coupling between the first and second magnetic fields.

Distribution Line Clamp Force Using DC Bias on Coil

Abstract: A power distribution monitoring system is provided that can include a number of features. The system can include a plurality of monitoring devices configured to attach to individual conductors on a power grid distribution network. In some embodiments, a monitoring device is disposed on each conductor of a three-phase network and utilizes a split-core transformer to harvest energy from the conductors. The monitoring devices can be configured to harvest energy from the AC power grid and apply a DC bias to core halves of the split-core transformer to maintain a positive magnetic force between the core halves. Methods of installing and using the monitoring devices are also provided.

Metal detection method, metal detection device, metal detection method for wireless power supply device, and wireless power supply device

Abstract: Provided are a metal detection method, a metal detection device, a metal detection method for a wireless power supply device, and a wireless power supply device which are capable of accurately detecting whether an object is a metal or a nonmetal. An oscillation circuit (10) oscillates and produces a sine wave having a single fundamental frequency, and excites a metal detection coil (Ls) by the oscillation current (It) of the sine wave. An electromagnetic wave of the sine wave having the single fundamental frequency is radiated from the metal detection coil (Ls). A high-pass filter circuit (11a) receives the oscillation current (It), removes the fundamental frequency component from the oscillation current (It), and extracts a high-harmonic component of the fundamental frequency. A comparison circuit (12) determines the presence or absence of a metal.

Antenna device and communication terminal device

Abstract: An antenna device includes a first conductor plane and a second conductor plane that face each other. The first conductor plane and the second conductor plane are electrically continuous through a first connection conductor, a second connection conductor, and a chip capacitor. A power feed coil is disposed between the first conductor plane and the second conductor plane. The power feed coil includes a magnetic core and a coil conductor. The coil conductor defines a pattern such that the coil conductor winds around the magnetic core. The power feed coil is disposed at a position closer to the first connection conductor and magnetically couples with the first connection conductor.

A Unified Fault-Tolerant Current Control Approach for Five-Phase PM Motors With Trapezoidal Back EMF Under Different Stator Winding Connections

Abstract: A unified approach for fault-tolerant current control of five-phase permanent-magnet (PM) motors with trapezoidal back EMF is proposed for open-circuit phase and line faults. In addition to conventional star connection, five-phase PM motors can be connected in two penta-type connections, pentagon and pentacle. In the proposed unified approach, a general solution for fault-tolerant currents is presented which uses only the fundamental and third-harmonic current components for the excitation of the healthy stator phases. The proposed approach is based on mirror symmetry of healthy phase current with respect to the fault location and it is optimized to increase output average torque while reducing torque pulsations and minimizing ohmic losses. A general parametric solution is presented which can be applied to five-phase motor drives with any fault condition and winding connection by selecting proper optimization constraints. It is shown that penta-type connection results in improved fault-tolerant capability in terms of maximum ripple-free torque due to the absence of zero-neutral current constraint. Experimental results are presented to verify the proposed solutions for fault-tolerant current control.

Analysis of the Mutual Inductance of Planar-Lumped Inductive Power Transfer Systems

Abstract: Mutual inductance is a key parameter of the inductively coupled circuits such as transformers and contactless energy transfer systems. This parameter is particularly required to design the power electronics associated with each application. However, its value is usually extracted from measurements performed in a previously built prototype, which is an expensive and time-consuming task. In this paper, an analysis of the mutual inductance between two planar circular windings is developed. The analysis takes into account the effect of the media that can be part of the complete system. As a result, an analytical calculation of the mutual inductance with respect to the main parameters of the system such as the number of turns of the coils, geometry, frequency of the currents, and the properties of the media can be carried out. The analysis can also be used to explore the tendencies of the mutual inductance for design purposes and, thus, it allows speeding up the design process. The analysis has been verified by means of experimental results.

Method and system for providing enhanced thermal expansion for hard disk drives

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic read and/or write transducer for use in disk drive. A read transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) and includes a read sensor, a nonmagnetic gap, a heater, and an expander. The nonmagnetic gap is adjacent to a portion of the read sensor and has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). The heater heats a portion of the magnetic read transducer. The expander is adjacent to a portion of the nonmagnetic gap and has a second CTE greater than the first CTE. The write transducer includes a pole, a coil, an insulator adjacent to and for insulating the coil, a heater and an expander. The expander has a CTE greater than the insulator's CTE.

Analysis of the Double-Layer Printed Spiral Coil for Wireless Power Transfer

Abstract: As a critical part of the wireless power transfer system via strongly coupled magnetic resonances, the resonant coils must be cautiously designed for the specific resonant frequency and high quality factor. There are some issues needed to be considered and studied in the coil design, such as the coil structure, parasitic parameter extraction, and optimizing. In this paper, the double-layer printed spiral coil is used, which could fully take advantage of the limited space and make larger parasitic capacitance for lower resonant frequency. Using the simplified partial element equivalent circuit method and finite element method, the circuit model with consideration of parasitic parameters and high-frequency losses is built, and the impedance characteristic of coil is simulated, which coincides well with the measurement result. In addition, several elements affecting the high-frequency loss, including the skin effect, proximity effect, and dielectric loss, are discussed for reaching higher quality factor, which is critical for the power transfer system.

Design Methodology for High Efficient Inductive Power Transfer Systems With High Coil Positioning Flexibility

Abstract: With contactless inductive power transfer (IPT), it is possible to transfer electrical energy to stationary or movable consumers without contacts, cables, or slip rings. To reduce the very high development effort of new contactless inductive energy supplies, a new systematic and modular design methodology is presented in the paper. This methodology includes new methods to increase the transfer efficiency and the positioning flexibility of the consumer device and is particularly implemented into a simulation software tool. The positioning tolerance is improved by the optimization of the coil and ferrite geometry. Thereby, the influence of physical and geometrical parameters on the magnetic coupling and on the electrical transfer characteristics is investigated. As a result of the design methodology, a new IPT system for household appliances in the output power range of 1 kW at an overall efficiency of more than 90% and with a high positioning tolerance is presented.

Medium frequency transformers for solid-state-transformer applications — Design and experimental verification

Abstract: Solid-state-transformer technology pushes the specifications of electric transformers in the high-power medium-frequency range. This combination results in larger-sized transformers operating at higher frequencies whereby parasitic phenomenon should be carefully accounted for. This paper presents an analytical description of the limiting factors and the connection between frequency/power rating and the available core and copper conductor technology on the power density and efficiency of medium-frequency transformers. Furthermore, two designed transformers for 166kW/20kHz based on two different core materials and cooling systems are presented. Extensive copper, core and cooling system loss measurements on one of these transformers are discussed in order to analyze the transformers' behavior from a practical point of view.

Harvesting Energy From Magnetic Fields to Power Condition Monitoring Sensors

Abstract: Condition monitoring is playing an increasingly important role within electrical power networks, where its use can help to reduce maintenance costs, improve supply reliability, and permit increased utilization of equipment capacity by providing a measure of actual operating conditions as an alternative to relying on more stringent “worst case scenario” assumptions. In this context, energy harvesting may have a role to play in that it offers the possibility of realizing autonomous, self-powering sensors that communicate their data wirelessly. In the vicinity of electrical transmission and distribution equipment, alternating magnetic fields at the power frequency offer a potential source of energy that does not require hard-wiring or batteries. There are many potentially useful locations for sensors where the level of magnetic flux density may be sufficient to provide enough power for a low-power wireless sensor node. This paper describes a free-standing inductive harvester for use in positions where there is an ambient magnetic field due to conductors that are remote and/or inaccessible. Using data from surveys of magnetic flux density levels at two substations, optimum core and coil designs for the harvester are obtained through theoretical analyses and experiments. A demonstrator is then constructed in which a wireless sensor becomes self-powering when immersed in a 50-Hz magnetic field. Laboratory results show that this system can deliver a useful average power of 300 $\mu{\rm W}$ when placed in a magnetic flux density of 18 $\mu T_{rms}$ .

System and method for inductively transferring ac power and self alignment between a vehicle and a recharging station

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hands free inductive charging of batteries for an electric vehicle is characterized by the use of a transformer having a primary coil connected with a charging station and a secondary coil connected with a vehicle. More particularly, the when the vehicle is parked adjacent to the charging station, the primary coil is displaced via a self alignment mechanism to position the primary coil adjacent to the secondary coil to maximize the inductive transfer of charging current to the secondary coil. The self alignment mechanism preferably utilizes feedback signals from the secondary coil to automatically displace the primary coil in three directions to position the primary coil for maximum efficiency of the transformer.