Fault tolerant drive module via electromechanical alteration of circuit topology

The current technology applied in power electronic converter designs is based on stationary placement of power switches. Most fault tolerant realizations require additional switches (redundancy approach). The motivation behind this paper is to engineer a solution which can allow for a dynamic circuit topology, thereby elevate the size, cost, and complexity issues associated with current technology. The dynamic relocation is attained through piezoelectric actuation. Along with introduction to such dynamic circuit topology, this paper also discusses the process of modeling, and practical aspects and limitations under different load conditions. The presented concept will generate new opportunities in effective thermal management and reduced part converter topologies which can in turn introduce substantial saving in developmental cost and the required footprint.

[1]  L. E. Cross,et al.  Electromechanical coupling and output efficiency of piezoelectric bending actuators , 1999, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[2]  Gabriel A. Rincón-Mora,et al.  A 2-$\mu$ m BiCMOS Rectifier-Free AC–DC Piezoelectric Energy Harvester-Charger IC , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems.

[3]  Yinyin Lin,et al.  Study on the tip-deflection of a piezoelectric bimorph cantilever in the static state , 2004 .

[4]  L. E. Cross,et al.  Nonlinear piezoelectric behavior of ceramic bending mode actuators under strong electric fields , 1999 .

[5]  J. G. Smits,et al.  The constituent equations of piezoelectric bimorphs , 1989, Proceedings., IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium,.

[6]  Shih-Ming Chen,et al.  Fabrication of high-power piezoelectric transformers using lead-free ceramics for application in electronic ballasts , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[7]  J.A. Cobos,et al.  Miniaturised battery charger using piezoelectric transformers , 2001, APEC 2001. Sixteenth Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (Cat. No.01CH37181).

[8]  T. Funakubo,et al.  Ultrasonic Linear Motor Using Multilayer Piezoelectric Actuators , 1995 .

[9]  Kenji Uchino,et al.  Ultrasonic linear motors using a multilayered piezoelectric actuator , 1988 .

[10]  J.G. Smits,et al.  The constituent equations of piezoelectric heterogeneous bimorphs , 1991, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[11]  Tamotsu Ninomiya,et al.  New piezoelectric transformer converter for AC-adapter , 1997, Proceedings of APEC 97 - Applied Power Electronics Conference.

[12]  R. Porath,et al.  Co-fired piezoelectric multilayer transformers , 1996, ISAF '96. Proceedings of the Tenth IEEE International Symposium on Applications of Ferroelectrics.

[13]  D. Vasic,et al.  A new MOSFET & IGBT gate drive insulated by a piezoelectric transformer , 2001, 2001 IEEE 32nd Annual Power Electronics Specialists Conference (IEEE Cat. No.01CH37230).

[14]  K. Uchino,et al.  Compact piezoelectric stacked actuators for high power applications , 2000, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[15]  S. Kawashima,et al.  Third order longitudinal mode piezoelectric ceramic transformer and its application to high-voltage power inverter , 1994, 1994 Proceedings of IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium.