A CMOS/SOI single-input PWM discriminator for low-voltage body-implanted applications

A CMOS/SOI circuit to decode Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) signals is presented as part of a body-implanted neurostimulator for visual prosthesis. Since encoded data is the sole input to the circuit, the decoding technique is based on a novel double-integration concept and does not require low-pass filtering. Non-overlapping control phases are internally derived from the incoming pulses and a fast-settling comparator ensures good discrimination accuracy in the megahertz range. The circuit was integrated on a 2 mum single-metal thin-film CMOS/SOI fabrication process and has an effective area of 2 mm(2). Measured resolution of encoding parameter a is better than 10% at 6 MHz and V-DD = 3.3 V. Idle-mode consumption is 340 LW. Pulses of frequencies up to 15 MHz and alpha = 10% can be discriminated for 2.3 V less than or equal to V-DD less than or equal to 3.3 V. Such an excellent immunity to V-DD deviations meets a design specification with respect to inherent coupling losses on transmitting data and power by means of a transcutaneous link.

A high speed 3.3V current mode CMOS comparators with 10-b resolution

This paper presents a high speed current mode CMOS comparator. The comparator was optimized for allows wide range input current 1mA, ±0.5uA resolution and has fast response. This circuit was implemented with 0.8μm CMOS n-well process with area of 120μm × 105μm and operates with 3.3V(±1.65V).

An active leakage-injection scheme applied to low-voltage SRAMs

An active leakage-injection scheme (ALIS) for low-voltage (LV) high-density (HD) SRAMs is presented. By means of a feedback loop comprising a servo-amplifier and a common-drain MOSFET, a current matching the respective bit-line leakage is injected onto the line during precharge and sensing, preventing the respective capacitances from erroneous discharges. The technique is able to handle leakages up to hundreds of μA at high operating temperatures. Since no additional timing is required, read-out operations are performed at no speed penalty. A simplified 256×1bit array was designed in accordance with a 0.35 CMOS process and 1.2V-supply. A range of PSPICE simulation attests the efficacy of ALIS. With an extra power consumption of 242 μW, a 200 μA-leakage @125°C, corresponding to 13.6 times the cell current, is compensated.

A low-voltage low-sensitivity sinusoidal VCO for DPLL realizations

A quasi-sinusoidal linearly tunable OTA-C VCO built with triode-region transconductors is presented. Oscillation upon power-on is ensured by RHP poles associated with gate-drain capacitances of OTA input devices. Since the OTA nonlinearity stabilizes the amplitude, the oscillation frequency f0 is first-order independent of VDD, making the VCO adequate to mixed-mode designs. A range of simulations attests the theoretical analysis. As part of a DPLL, the VCO was prototyped on a 0.8μm CMOS process, occupying an area of 0.15mm2. Nominal f0 is 1MHz, with K VCo=8.4KHz/mV. Measured sensitivity to VDD is below 2.17, while phase noise is -86dBc at 100-KHz offset. The feasibility of the VCO for higher frequencies is verified by a redesign based on a 0.35μm CMOS process and VDD=3.3V, with a linear frequency-span of l3.2MHz - 61.5MHz.

HPF boost interleaved operating in discontinuous conduction mode for trolleybus application

This paper deals with results of a research and development (R&D) project in cooperation with Electric Power Distribution Company in São Paulo (Brazil) regarding the development and experimental analysis of a new concept of power drive system suitable for application in traction systems of electrical vehicles pulled by electrical motors, which can be powered by urban DC or AC distribution networks. The proposed front-end structure is composed by five boost power cells in interleaving connection, operating in discontinuous conduction mode as AC-DC converter, or as DC-DC converter, in order to provide the proper DC output voltage range required by DC or AC adjustable speed drivers. Therefore, when supplied by single-phase AC distribution networks, and operating as AC-DC converter, it is capable to provide high power factor, reduced harmonic distortion in the input current, complying with the restrictions imposed by the IEC 61000-3-4 standards resulting in significant improvements for the trolleybuses systems efficiency and for the urban distribution network costs. Considering the compliance with input current restrictions imposed by IEC 61000-3-4 standards, two digital control strategies were evaluated. The digital controller has been implemented using a low cost FPGA (XC3S200) and developed totally using a hardware description language VHDL and fixed point arithmetic. Experimental results from a 15 kW low power scale prototype operating in DC and AC conditions are presented, in order to verify the feasibility and performance of the proposed system. © 2009 IEEE.

Development of a DC-DC converter for DC bus voltage control of series connected device

The purpose of this work is to study voltage control and energy balance of a split DC bus topology within a power electronics equipment connected to the AC mains, such as UPS systems, wind power generators, active filters and FACTS devices. A typical configuration in such equipment has two mains connected converters sharing a common DC bus, one series connected and the other parallel connected. The DC bus is usually composed by a battery or a capacitor bank. In the proposed topology, the DC bus is divided in two sides, interconnected with a buck-boost converter, which controls power flow and DC voltage on both sides. © 2009 IEEE.

3-D Space Vector PWM implementation for Four-Leg Voltage Source Inverter

The Space Vector PWM implementation and operation for a Four-leg Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) is detailed and discussed in this paper. Although less common, four-leg VSIs are a viable solution for situations where neutral connection is necessary, including Active Power Filter applications. This topology presents advantages regarding the VSI DC link and capacitance, which make it useful for high power devices. Theory, implementation and simulations are also discussed in this paper. © 2011 IEEE.

Bridgeless interleaved boost PFC converter with variable duty cycle control

This paper proposes a bridgeless boost interleaved PFC (power factor correction) converter with variable duty cycle control. The application of bridgeless technique causes reduction of conduction losses, while the interleaving technique of converters cells allows division of efforts in semiconductor devices and reduction of weight and volume of the input EMI filter. The use of variable duty cycle control has the functions of regulating the output voltage and eliminating the low order harmonic components that appears in the input current of the common interleaved power factor converters working in Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM). The simulation results of the proposed converter presented high power factor and a good transient response in relation to the output voltage regulation in presence of high load variations and supply voltage variations. © 2011 IEEE.

A DC-DC converter based on the three-state switching cell for high current and voltage step-down applications

This paper presents a pulsewidth modulation dc-dc nonisolated buck converter using the three-state switching cell, constituted by two active switches, two diodes, and two coupled inductors. Only part of the load power is processed by the active switches, reducing the peak current through the switches to half of the load current, as higher power levels can then be achieved by the proposed topology. The volume of reactive elements, i.e., inductors and capacitors, is also decreased since the ripple frequency of the output voltage is twice the switching frequency. Due to the intrinsic characteristics of the topology, total losses are distributed among all semiconductors. Another advantage of this converter is the reduced region for discontinuous conduction mode when compared to the conventional buck converter or, in other words, the operation range in continuous conduction mode is increased, as demonstrated by the static gain plot. The theoretical approach is detailed through qualitative and quantitative analyses by the application of the three-state switching cell to the buck converter operating in nonoverlapping mode $(D < 0.5)$. Besides, the mathematical analysis and development of an experimental prototype rated at 1 kW are carried out. The main experimental results are presented and adequately discussed to clearly identify its claimed advantages. © 1986-2012 IEEE.

Sistema de geração fotovoltaico multifuncional

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEB

Estratégia de controle multifuncional para sistemas fotovoltaicos de geração de energia elétrica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A redescription of a common euryhaline cumacean from southern Brazil: Diastylis sympterygiae Bacescu & Queiroz, 1985 (Crustacea: Cumacea)

Diastylis sympterygiae Bacescu & Queiroz (1985) has been reported in many ecological studies conducted in the Patos Lagoon, southern Brazil. However, the original description of this species is based on damaged specimens from stomach contents of rays, and therefore insufficient for a confident identification. In the present contribution, based on a large number of well-preserved specimens now available from the type locality area, the description of this common euryhaline species is completed and its range of distribution as far north as Sao Paulo is extended.

Mapping of angular leaf spot resistance QTL in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under different environments

Background: Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important grain legume for human diet worldwide and the angular leaf spot (ALS) is one of the most devastating diseases of this crop, leading to yield losses as high as 80%. In an attempt to breed resistant cultivars, it is important to first understand the inheritance mode of resistance and to develop tools that could be used in assisted breeding. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling resistance to ALS under natural infection conditions in the field and under inoculated conditions in the greenhouse. Results: QTL analyses were made using phenotypic data from 346 recombinant inbreed lines from the IAC-UNA x CAL 143 cross, gathered in three experiments, two of which were conducted in the field in different seasons and one in the greenhouse. Joint composite interval mapping analysis of QTL x environment interaction was performed. In all, seven QTLs were mapped on five linkage groups. Most of them, with the exception of two, were significant in all experiments. Among these, ALS10.1(DG,UC) presented major effects (R-2 between 16% - 22%). This QTL was found linked to the GATS11b marker of linkage group B10, which was consistently amplified across a set of common bean lines and was associated with the resistance. Four new QTLs were identified. Between them the ALS5.2 showed an important effect (9.4%) under inoculated conditions in the greenhouse. ALS4.2 was another major QTL, under natural infection in the field, explaining 10.8% of the variability for resistance reaction. The other QTLs showed minor effects on resistance. Conclusions: The results indicated a quantitative inheritance pattern of ALS resistance in the common bean line CAL 143. QTL x environment interactions were observed. Moreover, the major QTL identified on linkage group B10 could be important for bean breeding, as it was stable in all the environments. Thereby, the GATS11b marker is a potential tool for marker assisted selection for ALS resistance.

Analytical tools to assess the voltage stability of induction-based distributed generators

The installation of induction distributed generators should be preceded by a careful study in order to determine if the point of common coupling is suitable for transmission of the generated power, keeping acceptable power quality and system stability. In this sense, this paper presents a simple analytical formulation that allows a fast and comprehensive evaluation of the maximum power delivered by the induction generator, without losing voltage stability. Moreover, this formulation can be used to identify voltage stability issues that limit the generator output power. All the formulation is developed by using the equivalent circuit of squirrel-cage induction machine. Simulation results are used to validate the method, which enables the approach to be used as a guide to reduce the simulation efforts necessary to assess the maximum output power and voltage stability of induction generators. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sublethal effects of a common neonicotinoid pesticide, thiamethoxam, on honey bees: impact on locomotion and thermoregulation

Neonicotinoids have been pointed to as a factor responsible for the increased honey bee colony losses in the last decades. Many studies have investigated the effects of the first marketed neonicotinoid, imidacloprid, while fewer have focused on thiamethoxam. One recent study showed that sublethal doses of thiamethoxam lead to colony failure by decreasing forager homing flight success. We thus decided to investigate the mechanism which caused this phenomenon. Our hypothesis was that this effect was caused by impairment of forager locomotion abilities. Therefore we tested the effects of sublethal acute and chronic exposures to thiamethoxam on forager walking (Chapter 2) and flight (Chapter 3) performances. The acute treatment (1.34 ng/bee) affected walking locomotion firstly triggering hyperactivity (30 min post-treatment) and then impairing motor functioning (60 min post-treatment). 2-day continuous exposures to thiamethoxam (32.5, 45 ppb) elicited fewer effects on walking locomotion, however both exposure modes elicited an increased positive phototaxis. Similarly, in flight experiments, the single dose (1.34 ng/bee) elicited hyperactivity shortly after intoxication (increased flight duration and distance), while longer and continuous exposures (32.5, 45 ppb) impaired forager motor functions (decreased flight duration, distance, velocity). It is known that flight muscles temperature needs to be precisely regulated by bees during flight. Therefore, we further hypothesized that the impaired flight performances of neonicotinoid intoxicated bees were caused also by thermoregulation anomalies. We tested the effects that acute thiamethoxam exposures (0.2, 1, 2 ng/bee) elicit on forager thorax temperature (Chapter 4). Foragers treated with high doses exhibited hyperthermia or hypothermia when respectively exposed to high or low environmental temperatures. In summary, we show that sublethal doses of thiamethoxam affected forager walking and flight locomotion, phototaxis and thermoregulation. We also display the intricate mode of action of thiamethoxam which triggered, at different extents, inverse sublethal effects in relation to time and dose.