Paolo Germano

Design of a Contactless Energy-Transfer System for Desktop Peripherals

This paper presents an approach to design a contactless energy-transfer system to supply desktop computer peripherals. Energy is transferred using coreless transformers from an array of primary coils (placed on a table) to one or several secondary coils (placed under the peripheral). Knowing the geometrical structure of the coils of a coreless transformer, accurate calculations allow predicting the power that can be transferred to a load. By applying these calculations to one basic energy-transfer cell, it is then possible to design a whole table that is able to supply many consumers at any location. The main problem with such systems is that the energy transfer is not constant along the surface and may not be even enough to supply an electronic device. This paper proposes several solutions to solve this problem.

Affordable SLAM through the co-design of hardware and methodology

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is a prominent feature for autonomous robots operating in undefined environments. Applications areas such as consumer robotics appliances would clearly benefit from low-cost and compact SLAM implementations. The SLAM research community has developed several robust algorithms in the course of the last two decades. However, until now most SLAM demonstrators have relied on expensive sensors or large processing power, limiting their realms of application. Several works have explored optimizations into various directions; however none has presented a global optimization from the mechatronic to the algorithmic level.

Design of a contactless energy transfer system for desktop peripherals

This paper presents an approach to design a contactless energy-transfer system to supply desktop computer peripherals. Energy is transferred using coreless transformers from an array of primary coils (placed on a table) to one or several secondary coils (placed under the peripheral). Knowing the geometrical structure of the coils of a coreless transformer, accurate calculations allow predicting the power that can be transferred to a load. By applying these calculations to one basic energy-transfer cell, it is then possible to design a whole table that is able to supply many consumers at any location. The main problem with such systems is that the energy transfer is not constant along the surface and may not be even enough to supply an electronic device. This paper proposes several solutions to solve this problem.

Brushless DC Motor for a Solar Airplane Application: Comparison between Simulations and Measurements

The paper presents a comparison between analytical model, the finite elements method (FEM) simulations and measurements for a brushless DC motor used in a solar airplane project. In the preliminary conception phase, an optimization using an analytical model is performed. The motor efficiency and its weight are the key parameters. According to the obtained theoretical optimal configuration, a prototype is built. Airgap flux density, back-emf, iron losses and cogging torque are measured to validate the analytical model. Using a customized test bench, a special emphasis is made on the iron losses in the whole motor (stator and rotor).

About tuning capacitors in inductive coupled power transfer systems

Inductive Coupled Power Transfer (ICPT) is a widely used technique to transfer electrical power from a power supply to one or more load(s) without any physical link. Even with large airgaps between primary and secondary coils, a very high power transfer efficiency can be reached if the reactive energy stored in the coils is compensated. Several compensation strategies could be used depending on the application. In this paper, the classical compensation is compared to new control-oriented one. A 200W prototype has been realised in order to validate the models developed.

Contactless system dedicated to colic stimulation

Motility troubles may lead to severe injuries. The use of classical electric stimulators often causes problems due to the presence of wires. A new contactless device is proposed. It is based on a high frequency transformer, which primary winding is worn around the patients torso and which multiple secondary windings are implanted along the colon in order to create a peristaltic wave. A specific software for air transformers design has been developed. A transformer, meeting specifications, and a specific power stage have been made. In vivo tests have been carried out, demonstrating the feasibility of the concept.

Modelling and design of a contactless energy transfer system for a notebook battery charger

Some applications require an energy transfer without contacts and wires. The mutual inductive effects between two coils allow to transfer energy to an electronic consumer through an air gap. This paper presents an analytical model of a coreless transformer used to design a contactless energy transfer from a platform to a notebook battery charger. By defining the geometric parameters of the transformer, the model is able to compute its magnetic parameters. It is then possible to get the electric quantities with a circuit simplification process. In the scope of an industrial project, this study has been successfully applied to a notebook battery charging platform.

Design considerations for a contactless battery charger

Contactless power transfer using inductive coupling is a well-known way to transfer energy from a transmitter to a receiver without any physical link. The applications are multiple. In this paper, the design and control of such a system for a contactless battery charger is investigated. The behaviour of the battery turns the system into a non-linear one. A solution dealing with the compensation topologies which aims to simplify the control of the transformer without any additional power electronics is proposed.

Thermal modeling of a BLDC motor for a kick scooter

A permanent magnet brushless dc motor utilized in an electrically assisted kick scooter is studied in this paper, by analyzing its whole static thermal field with particular focus on the motor stator. Methods for building a static FEM thermal model and an analytical thermal model which is based on the equivalent thermal network method are presented. Analysis results using the models are verified with test results. The foregoing methods can also be employed for future thermal analysis and computing of other electric machines.

Battery Charger for Electric Vehicle Based on a Wireless Power Transmission

In this paper, the case of a battery charger for electric vehicles based on a wireless power transmission is addressed. The specificity of every stage of the overall system is presented. Based on calculated and measured results, relevant capacitive compensations of the transformer and models are suggested and discussed in order to best match the operating mode and aiming at simplifying as much as possible the control and the electronics of the charger.