Engineering Commons^™

Cascaded Linear Regulator With Positive Voltage Tracking Switching Regulator, Brandon K. Nghe

Master's Theses

This thesis presents the design, simulation, and hardware implementation of a proposed method for improving efficiency of voltage regulator. Typically, voltage regulator used for noise-sensitive and low-power applications involves the use of a linear regulator due to its high power-supply rejection ratio properties. However, the efficiency of a linear regulator depends heavily on the difference between its input voltage and output voltage. A larger voltage difference across the linear regulator results in higher losses. Therefore, reducing the voltage difference is the key in increasing regulator’s efficiency. In this thesis, a pre switching regulator stage with positive voltage tracking cascaded to …

Multiple Input Single Output Converter With Uneven Load Sharing Control For Improved System Efficiency, Kristen Y. Chan

Master's Theses

This paper presents the development and study of multiple-input single-output converter (MISO) for the DC House project that utilizes a controller to maximize the overall converter’s efficiency. The premise of this thesis is to create uneven load current sharing between the converters at different loading conditions in order to maximize the efficiency of the overall MISO converter. The goal is to find a proper ratio of current from each converter to the total load current of the MISO system to achieve the greatest efficiency. The Arduino microcontroller is implemented to achieve this goal. The design and operation of the MISO …

Design And Analysis Of A Wind Energy Harvesting Circuit Using Piezoelectric Polymers, Jameson J. Thornton

Master's Theses

This thesis investigates a relatively new method for harvesting wind energy by using flexible piezoelectric polymers with additional sails to increase their ability to harvest wind energy. This paper also introduces a new topology deemed the “stacked buck” that allows for multiple inputs to a system with a single output. Derivations and analysis detail the workings of the “stacked buck” with a laboratory test to show a working model. This paper also reports another experiment done in a wind tunnel to analyze the capability of the piezoelectric polymers as sources to the “stacked buck” topology with measurements of the power …

Analysis And Design Of Continuous Input Current Multiphase Interleaved Buck Converter, Sean Michael Zich

Master's Theses

The power requirements for microprocessors have been increasing per Moore's Law. According to International Technology Roadmap (ITRS), Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) for microprocessors will be about 200 W at 1 V output in 2010. With the VRM’s topology of synchronous buck, serious technical challenges such as small duty cycle, high switching frequencies, and higher current demands, contribute to decreased power density and increased cost.

This thesis proposes a Continuous Input Current Multiphase Interleaved Buck topology to solve the technical challenges of powering future microprocessors. This new topology is aimed to improve past topologies by providing continuous input current and improved …