Deron K. Jackson

A multirate digital controller for a 1.5-kW electric vehicle battery charger

This paper describes a power electronic system that, among other possibilities, can be used to charge electric vehicle batteries. A large-signal linear, multirate digital controller for the charging current permits the charger to track and deliver a desired current trajectory for a wide range of loads. This controller simultaneously ensures that the charger draws power from the electric utility with unity power factor. The analytical development of the controller and experimental results from a prototype charger are presented.

Fiat lux: a fluorescent lamp digital transceiver

The prevalence of electric discharge illumination has led the authors to consider ways to use discharge lamps for communication. This paper describes an optical transceiver system which transmits by modulating the lamp arc. The prototype power electronic lamp ballast uses a pulse-frequency modulation scheme which ensures no perceptible flicker.

Power electronic drives for magnetically triggered gels

Properly fabricated polymer gels exhibit an abrupt change in volume in response to a small change in an environmental parameter, such as temperature. The authors have developed gels that change in volume in response to an applied alternating magnetic field, and are working to apply these gels as actuators. This paper describes power electronic circuits suitable for electromagnetic activation of these polymer gels. Issues in the selection of circuit topologies for this application are discussed. Experimental results are presented, which demonstrate the magnetic activation of gels using prototype power electronic drives.

Closed-loop feedback control of magnetically-activated gels

Polymer gels that exhibit a change in volume in response to a small change in an environmental parameter such as temperature have been fabricated and studied for several decades. We have developed gels that change volume in response to an applied alternating magnetic field. These gels could serve as actuators in servomechanisms. This paper presents practical techniques for using closed-loop feedback to control the position of magnetically-triggered polymer gels. Experimental results are presented that demonstrate position control of two different types of magneticallytriggered gels using prototype power electronic drives.

A sensor for measuring gel phase-transition temperature, with potential as a metal ion detector

This paper describes a sensor employing a gel formed from an interpenetrating polymer network of poly(vinyl alcohol) and a copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide and acrylic acid. This gel exhibits a continuous volume-phase transition that is strongly dependent on the presence of polyvalent metal ions in the gel solvent. A sensor apparatus has been constructed that estimates, in real time, the transition temperature of a gel. When this sensor is loaded with a gel sensitive to metal ions, it could be used to detect the presence and identity of metal ions in a solution.

A power factor corrector with bidirectional power transfer capability

This paper describes a high-power-factor electric utility interface that is capable of bidirectional power transfer, i.e., to or from the electric utility. Bidirectional power transfer capability is essential in many servomechanical and power electronic drive applications. The circuit presented here is capable of serving as a rectifier, an inverter, or as a stand-alone power supply (when operated with a battery as a load). It performs these functions with significantly enhanced efficiency and construction simplicity in comparison to conventional boost-type high power factor rectifiers.

Computer-aided design and application of sinusoidal switching patterns

This paper discusses the design of discrete switching sequences for synthesizing sinewaves in power-electronic circuits and drives. The discrete-level sinewave approximations described in this paper can be implemented with reduced switching losses, in comparison to typical pulse-width modulation patterns, and with user-selectable harmonic content. We present two design algorithms, including an algorithm based on simulated annealing. The algorithms allow the engineer to select switching sequences that meet desired objectives or characteristics in almost any context. In addition, we demonstrate the use of these sequences experimentally in a practical application.

Fiat Lux: a fluorescent lamp transceiver

The prevalence of electric discharge illumination has led the authors to consider ways to use discharge lamps for communication. This paper describes an optical transceiver system which transmits by modulating the lamp arc. The prototype power electronic lamp ballast uses a pulse frequency modulation scheme which ensures no perceptible flicker.

Power electronic drives for magnetically triggered phase transition gels

Properly fabricated polymer gels exhibit an abrupt change in volume in response to a small change in an environmental parameter such as temperature. We have developed gels that change volume in response to an applied alternating magnetic field, and we are working to apply these gels as actuators. This paper describes power electronic circuits suitable for electromagnetic activation of these polymer gels. Issues in the selection of circuit topologies for this application are discussed. Experimental results are presented, which demonstrate magnetic activation of gels using prototype power electronic drives.

A comparison of multirate digital compensators for a battery charger

In a regulation application, a power supply is typically tasked with maintaining a fixed voltage or current in the face of possible disturbances. In a tracking application, on the other hand, a controller works to cause an average output voltage or current to follow a desired reference waveform as a function of time or some other variable. This paper describes a large-signal linear, multirate digital controller for, among other possible applications, charging electric vehicle batteries. This controller permits the charger to track and deliver a desired current trajectory for a wide range of loads while providing a unity-power factor interface to the electric utility.