• ETRI Journal
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.254-261
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• 2019

Distinct from conventional energy-harvesting (EH) technologies, such as the use of photovoltaic, piezoelectric, and thermoelectric effects, betavoltaic energy conversion can consistently generate uniform electric power, independent of environmental variations, and provide a constant output of high DC voltage, even under conditions of ultra-low-power EH. It can also dramatically reduce the energy loss incurred in the processes of voltage boosting and regulation. This study realized betavoltaic cells comprised of p-i-n junctions based on silicon carbide, fabricated through a customized semiconductor recipe, and a Ni foil plated with a Ni-63 radioisotope. The betavoltaic energy converter (BEC) includes an array of 16 parallel-connected betavoltaic cells. Experimental results demonstrate that the series and parallel connections of two BECs result in an open-circuit voltage $V_{oc}$ of 3.06 V with a short-circuit current $I_{sc}$ of 48.5 nA, and a $V_{oc}$ of 1.50 V with an $I_{sc}$ of 92.6 nA, respectively. The capacitor charging efficiency in terms of the current generated from the two series-connected BECs was measured to be approximately 90.7%.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.660-669
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• 2015

This paper presents a control scheme with a focus on the combination of phase disposition pulse width modulation (PDPWM) and DC capacitor voltage control for a chopper-cell based modular multilevel converter (MMC) for the purpose of eliminating the time-consuming voltage sorting algorithm and complex voltage balancing regulators. In this paper, the convergence of the DC capacitor voltages within one arm is realized by charging the minimum voltage module and discharging the maximum voltage module during each switching cycle with the assistances of MAX/MIN capacitor voltage detection and PDPWM signals exchanging. The process of voltage balancing control introduces no extra switching commutation, which is helpful in reducing power loss and improving system efficiency. Additionally, the proposed control scheme also possess the merit of a simple executing procedure in application. Simulation and experimental results indicates that the MMC circuit together with the proposed method functions very well in balancing the DC capacitor voltage and improving system efficiency even under transient states.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.86-92
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• 2018

In recent times, motion capture technology using inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors has been actively used in sports. In this study, we developed a canoe paddle, installed with an IMU and a water level sensor, as a system tool for training and calibration purposes in water sports. The hardware was fabricated to control an attitude heading reference system (AHRS) module, a water level sensor, a communication module, and a wireless charging circuit. We also developed an application program for the mobile device that processes paddling motion data from the paddling operation and also visualizes it. An AHRS module with acceleration, gyro, and geomagnetic sensors each having three axes, and a resistive water level sensor that senses the immersion depth in the water of the paddle represented the paddle motion. The motion data transmitted from the paddle device is internally decoded and classified by the application program in the mobile device to perform visualization and to operate functions of the mobile training/correction system. To conclude, we tried to provide mobile knowledge service through paddle sport data using this technique. The developed system works reasonably well to be used as a basic training and posture correction tool for paddle sports; the transmission delay time of the sensor system is measured within 90 ms, and it shows that there is no complication in its practical usage.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2009.07a
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• pp.1925_1926
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• 2009

This paper describes a novel power management circuitry for reducing the sleeping mode power dissipation. Based on the proposed power management circuitry, the sensor module can be activated by RF wake-up signal, perform designated process and deactivate itself. There is absolutely no power dissipation at the sleeping mode which takes almost time of the operation. The temperature sensor module using solar cell as energy source has been fabricated and tested. Experimental results show that the sensor module with 3300 ${\mu}$F for storage capacitor can transmits RF temperature data to a receiver at a distance of 20 m every 15 second in a normal indoor light condition and keep the capacitor voltage over 9 V. And the sensor module can operate 100 times with a single charging, that means it is possible for the sensor module to transmit every 5 minute for 8 hours without light or any other power input during the night time.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.214-221
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• 2007

This paper presents a myoelectric hand prosthesis(MHP) with two degree of freedom(2-DOF), which consists of a mechanical hand, a surface myoelectric sensor(SMES) for measuring myoelectric signal, a control system and a charging battery. The actuation for the 2-DOF hand functions such as grasping and wrist rotation was performed by two DC-motors, and controlled by myoelectric signal measured from the residual forearm muscle. The grip force of the MHP was automatically changed by a mechanical automatic speed reducer mounted on the hand. The skin interface of SMES was composed of the electrodes using the SUS440 metal in order to endure a wet condition due to the sweat. The sensor was embedded with a amplifier and a filter circuit for rejecting the offset voltage caused by power line noises. The control system was composed of the grip force sensor, the slip sensor, and the two controllers. The two controllers were made of a RISC-type microprocessor, and its software was executed on a real-time kernel. The control system used Force Sensing Resistors, FSR, as slip pick-ups at the fingertip of a thumb and the grip force information was obtained from a strain-gauge on the lever of the MHP. The experimental results were showed that the proposed control system is feasible for the MHP.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.63 no.8
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• pp.1055-1063
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• 2014

Power losses of a 1-stage DC-DC converter and 2-stage DC-DC converter are compared in this paper. A phase-shift full-bridge DC-DC converter is considered as 1-stage topology. This topology has disadvantages in the stress of rectifier diodes because of the resonance between the leakage inductor of the transformer and the junction capacitor of the rectifier diode. 2-stage topology is composed of an LLC resonant full-bridge DC-DC converter and buck converter. The LLC resonant full-bridge DC-DC converter does not need an RC snubber circuit of the rectifier diode. However, there is the drawback that the switching loss of the buck converter is large due to the hard switching operation. To reduce the switching loss of the buck converter, SiC MOSFET is used. This paper analyzes and compares power losses of two topologies considering temperature condition. The validity of the power loss analysis and calculation is verified by a PSIM simulation model.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.81-89
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• 2008

This paper is concerned with the development of the piezoelectric energy harvesting(PEH) device for ubiquitous sensor node(USN). The USN needs auxiliary power to lengthen its operational life. In this study, the piezoelectric energy harvesting system consisting of a cantilever with a tip mass and piezoelectric wafer was investigated in detail both theoretically and experimentally. The dynamic model for the addressed system was derived using the assumed mode method. The resulting equations of motion were expressed in matrix form, which had never been developed before. The power output characteristics of the PEH was then calculated and discussed. Various experiments were carried out to investigate the charging characteristics of electrical components. Theoretical and experimental results showed that the PEH was able to charge a battery with ambient vibrations but still needed an effective mechanism which can convert mechanical energy to electrical energy and an optimal electric circuit which dissipates small energy.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2018

In battery-operated systems, an isolated converter is used to interface the utility grid with the system to increase stability when charging and discharging batteries. Systems such as vehicle-to-grids (V2Gs), on-board chargers, and energy storage systems (ESSs) have recently become popular, and the roles of isolated converters have become important considerations in fabricating such devices. A fixed-frequency LLC converter, which is a type of isolated converter, presents the advantages of high efficiency and high power density by performing zero-voltage switching (ZVS) over wide frequency ranges. However, the magnetizing inductance of the LLC converter should be designed to enable ZVS in all switching devices. Therefore, in this study, the operating characteristics of the LLC circuit are analyzed, and an optimal design method for ZVS operation is established. Moreover, an 8 kW LLC high-efficiency and high-power-density resonant converter is designed and tested for ESS application. The LLC converter achieves 98% efficiency at rated power.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2001.07c
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• pp.1603-1605
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• 2001

Eight 300kJ modularized capacitor-banks have been constructed. These modules have been installed and assembled to make a 2.4MJ pulse power system (PPS). This 2.4MJ PPS was developed to be used as a driver of an electrothermal-chemical (ETC) gun. Each capacitor bank has six 22kV, 50kJ capacitors connected in parallel. A triggered vacuum switch (TVS-43) was adopted as a main pulse power-closing switch in each module. The module also contains a crowbar circuit made of three high-voltage diode-stacks, a multi-tap inductor and an energy-dumping resistor. Various current shapes have been formed by a sequential firing of multiple capacitor banks. Resistive dummy load has been used and various combinations of experimental parameters, such as charging voltage, trigger time and inductance, were tested to make flexible current shapes.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2001.07c
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• pp.1703-1705
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• 2001

The pulsed Nd:YAG laser is used widely for materials processing and medical instrument etc. It is important to control the laser energy in those fields using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. In this paper, constant-frequency current resonant half-bridge inverter and Cockcroft-Walton circuit are used to charge the energy storage capacitor variably. This laser power supply is designed and fabricated which has no high-voltage transformer, less switching losses, compact size and capability in varying the laser output power. Also, the output characteristics of this Nd:YAG laser system are investigated. The tested results are described.