P. Livreri

Wideband THz Time Domain Spectroscopy based on Optical Rectification and Electro-Optic Sampling

We present an analytical model describing the full electromagnetic propagation in a THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) system, from the THz pulses via Optical Rectification to the detection via Electro Optic-Sampling. While several investigations deal singularly with the many elements that constitute a THz-TDS, in our work we pay particular attention to the modelling of the time-frequency behaviour of all the stages which compose the experimental set-up. Therefore, our model considers the following main aspects: (i) pump beam focusing into the generation crystal; (ii) phase-matching inside both the generation and detection crystals; (iii) chromatic dispersion and absorption inside the crystals; (iv) Fabry-Perot effect; (v) diffraction outside, i.e. along the propagation, (vi) focalization and overlapping between THz and probe beams, (vii) electro-optic sampling. In order to validate our model, we report on the comparison between the simulations and the experimental data obtained from the same set-up, showing their good agreement.

Fabrication and Photoelectrochemical Behavior of Ordered CIGS Nanowire Arrays for Application in Solar Cells

In this work, we report some preliminary results concerning the fabrication of quaternary copper, indium, gallium, and selenium CIGS nanowires that were grown inside the channels of an anodic alumina membrane by one-step potentiostatic deposition at different applied potentials and room temperature. A tunable nanowire composition was achieved through a manipulation of the applied potential and electrolyte composition. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that nanowires, whose chemical composition was determined by energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis, were amorphous. A composition of Cu0.203In0.153Ga0.131Se0.513, very close to the stoichiometric value, was obtained. These nanostructures were also characterized by photoelectrochemical measurements: They showed a cathodic photocurrent and an optical gap of 1.55 eV.

Current-sensing technique for current-mode controlled voltage regulator modules

This paper introduces an innovative current-sense technique for voltage regulator modules (VRMs). The proposed method is applied to a multiphase buck converter although the converter topology does not affect the accuracy or effectiveness of the proposed technique. A RC network is parallel connected with the buck converter low-side MOSFET and the voltage signal across the sense capacitor reconstructs the inductor current waveform. The RC technique benefits from all the advantages of the most popular current-sensing technique, the inductor DC resistance current-sense method, cutting off its main disadvantage. The sense network design is oriented to obtain high immunity to noise and a great dynamic in current-mode control by properly selecting the sense signal slop during Ton and Toff time slots. A laboratory prototype of a multiphase buck converter with current-mode control implementing the proposed current-sense method is described and experimental results are shown.

Fuel cell modelling for power supply systems design

Today academic and industrial research is addressed on fuel cell based power supply to replace current lithium-ion and similar rechargeable battery systems. For system simulation, fuel cell models are developed. Even if power electronics designers demand for a black-box model to limit the knowledge of physical and chemical parameters, high performance in terms of model accuracy and portability is absolutely necessary. A steady state and dynamic fuel cell model oriented to power supply systems design is proposed and, as an example, the implementation on PSIM software is presented. Simulation and experimental results are compared and the model portability is discussed.

Measurement-based load modelling for power supply system design

Load modelling is essential to simulate system features as closely as possible to the effective behaviour. In spite of model complexity, the need for accuracy often leads to a component-based approach, i.e. the analysis of load internal subsystems. It is a common belief that measurement-based load models lead to low accuracy. This paper presents a new, high-accuracy measurement-based load modelling approach to define a power consumption profile load model for power systems design. The load modeling technique is described by an application. Simulation and experimental results are compared. The efficiency and portability of the proposed modelling approach is discussed.

Modeling and simulation of a digital control design approach for power supply systems

Electronic designers need to model and simulate system features as close as possible to its effective behaviour. Moreover, today, electronics systems are often composed of mixed analog and digital components. The increasing complexity has led to the use of different simulation softwares, each one specific for a particular level of abstraction: mathematical, circuital, behavioural, etc. In order to simulate the entire system these softwares should work together: co-simulation is necessary for digitally controlled power electronics systems. In this paper, the modeling of a digitally controlled switching power supply system using MATLAB/Simulink, ALDEC Active-HDL and Powersys PSIM is presented. The power converter is modelled in PSIM, the digital control is described in VHDL by using Active-HDL, and the complete system is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink environment. This design approach presents all the advantages of each used software and all its features will be discussed. The comparison between simulation and experimental results of the digitally controlled step-down converter prototype are reported

Exploiting state information to support QoS in Software-Defined WSNs

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is a promising paradigm initially proposed for the wired networks which has the potential to change the way in which networks are designed and managed. Recently, its use has been extended to wireless infrastructure-less networks such as ad-hoc and wireless sensor networks. In this paper, we take inspiration from our previous work where a scheme that extends the SDN paradigm to WSNs - called SDN-WISE - was proposed. Differently from OpenFlow, SDN-WISE is stateful; accordingly in this paper we investigate how state can be used to support different levels of QoS in WSNs. In fact, state can be used to represent the level of congestion of a node and rules can be given to the nodes that set different drop probabilities for different flows depending on the level of congestion. By reporting their state, the sensor nodes can inform the Controller about their level of congestion; thus, the Controller can select and set alternative routes for traffic flows in order to mitigate congestion. Numerical results assess the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

A fuel cell-supercapacitor power supply for portable applications

Due to the increasing number and complexity of the available functions, modern hand-held devices require higher and higher current slew rates. Customerspsila requirements lead to a growing interest in longer-lasting power, fast transient response power supply systems and minimization of system weight, volume and cost. Fuel cell based hybrid systems are designed to meet all requirements. In this paper, a fuel cell-supercapacitor hybrid power supply for portable applications is proposed. The power management subsystem is designed and simulation results are shown to test the efficiency of the control algorithm.

A fuel cell-based hybrid power supply for portable electronics devices

A fuel cell-supercapacitor hybrid power supply for portable applications is designed. To ensure system level simulation, each component is accurately modelled and simulation results are reported. A digital still camera is selected as specific load device, although the choice of a specific application does not influence the proposed control technique performances but only dictates the power supply specifications. The fuel cell and the power management system are modelled in PSIM.

A novel digital control for DC/DC converters to improve steady-state performances

This paper describes an innovative digital PWM control implementation for low voltage, high current DC-DC converters. The proposed technique, based on the use of a low resolution DAC, improves steady-state performances, minimizing limit cycle effects. The novel technique is tested on a FPGA-based single phase buck converter operating at 250 kHz. A detailed description of the proposed architecture is given and test results, simulation and experimental ones, are shown