Category: Mechanical Projects

Wireless Battery Charger | Inductively Coupled Universal Battery Charger | Charging Batteries Without Wires | Inductive Power Transfer | Inductive Charging

By magnaparthi on 01/07/202003/03/2021

Wireless Battery Charger based on Inductive Power Transfer

In the future all electronic devices will be wireless powered. Small, battery-powered gadgets make powerful computing portable. The foundation of wireless charging is the well-known law of Faraday on induced voltage, widely used in motors and transformers.

The wireless battery charger should be capable of charging the most common battery types found in portable devices today. In addition, the charging should be controlled from the base station and a bidirectional communication system between the pickups and base station should be developed.

Wireless charging reduces the need for wires to charge tablets, cordless gadgets, and other portable devices. Any battery-powered gadget can be charged with a wireless adapter by simply positioning it near a wireless power transmitter or a dedicated charging station. This makes the unit cabinet still waterproof and can be kept fully sealed. Wireless charging can also significantly improve durability, in addition to the intrinsic ease that it provides, since a charge socket on the side of an appliance can potentially experience technical failure or merely from accidentally plugging an incorrect connector.

Inductive Power Systems based Wireless Battery Charger:

Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) refers to the concept of transferring electrical power between two isolated circuits across an air gap. While based on the work and concepts developed by pioneers such as Faraday and Ampere, it is only recently that IPT has been developed into working systems.

Essentially, an IPT system can be divided into two parts;

Primary and
Secondary.

The primary side of the system is made up of a resonant power supply and a coil. This power supply produces a high frequency sinusoidal current in the coil. The secondary side (or ‘pickup’) has a smaller coil, and a converter to produce a DC voltage.

Working of Inductive Power Transfer based Wireless Battery Charger:

In this system communications signals are encoded onto the waveform that provides power to the air gap. Communication from the primary side to the secondary is implemented by switching the power signal at the output of the resonant converter between its normal level and a lower level which is detectable by the pickup but still provides enough power to control the pickup micro-controller. This process is called Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK). This is achieved by varying the output voltage of the buck converter which provides an input DC voltage to the resonant converter.

Communication from the secondary to the primary is achieved by a process called Load Shift Keying (LSK). This involves varying the loading on the pickup. Any load on the pickup will reflect a voltage on the primary circuit proportional to the load. Therefore a variation in the load on the pickup can be detected by the charging station.

The communications system must provide two discrete levels of voltage reflected onto the primary side, to represent the on and off states for digital communications. The difference must be easily detected on the primary side to provide a robust communications channel. Signals are decoded by simple filters and comparators which feed a digital signal to the micro-controllers.

Wireless Battery charging standards

Several wireless charging protocols are being developed and currently available on the market.

Qi – The Qi wireless charging standard was the first to launch and has since consolidated its dominance. It has been adopted by the big handset maker “Apple,” and it is used by nearly all wireless battery charger for domestic and many other applications. It is effectively an inductive device that transfers power at a comparatively low frequency (between 110 and 205 kHz for low power and 80 to 300 kHz for medium power).

A4WP – A4WP (Alliance for Wireless Power) is a wireless power standard that was established after the Qi standard. It makes use of resonance techniques as well as a higher power transmission frequency of 6.78 MHz for power and 2.4 GHz for control signals. It can also charge several devices at the same time.

Advantages of Wireless Battery Charger:

IPT has a number of advantages over other power transfer methods – it is unaffected by dirt, dust, water, or chemicals. In situations such as coal mining IPT prevents sparks and other hazards. As the coupling is magnetic, there is no risk of electrocution even when used in high power systems. This makes IPT very suitable for transport systems where vehicles follow a fixed track, such as in factory materials handling.

Applications of Wireless Battery Charger

Smart Phones, Tablets and other electronic gadgets – Consumers want simple-to-use solutions, greater positioning versatility, and quicker charging times. Typical power specifications for these applications vary from 2 to 15 watts. Interoperability across different specifications is favoured. NFC (Near Field Communication) and Bluetooth will coexist with wireless charging, making for some innovative solutions. When put back-to-back, paired phones, for example, will charge each other after negotiating the required host and customer.
Accessories of wireless battery charger – Wireless power transfer can benefit headphones, wireless speakers, mouse, keyboards, and a number of other applications. Connecting charging cables to the tiny ports of ever-shrinking computers is a hardware barrier. Bluetooth headsets, for example, must be sweat-proof to survive in a gym environment. This is only possible with wireless charging.
Electric Vehicles with wireless battery charger- Smart charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) are also on the way, but they’ll need much more energy. The development of norms is ongoing.
Miscellaneous – Wireless battery chargers are working their way through anything that has a battery. Remote controllers for video games and televisions, cordless power tools, cordless vacuum cleaners, soap dispensers, hearing aids, and even cardiac pacemakers fell under this category. Wireless battery chargers may also be used to charge super capacitors or some other system that uses a low-voltage power cord.

Posted in: Charging Batteries Without Wires, ecoupled wireless charging technology, Inductive Charging, inductive coupling, Inductive Power Transfer, Inductively Coupled Universal Battery Charger, ipad wireless charging, Wireless Battery Charger, Wireless Battery charging technology, wireless charging of electric vehicles, wireless charging pad, wireless charging station, wireless electricity, Wireless energy transfer, wireless power, wireless power charging

Composites Latest Mechanical Seminar Topics Mechanical Projects New Product Design Concepts and Product Development

Quantum Tunnelling Composite (QTC) | A Pressure Switching And Sensing Material Technology | Electro Mechanics Components

By magnaparthi on 01/07/202004/03/2021

Quantum Tunnelling Composite for Pressure Switching and Sensing in Smart Touch Phones

Quantum Tunnelling Composite (QTC) is a composite made from micron-sized metallic filler particles (Silicone Rubber) mixed into an elastomeric matrix. Quantum tunnelling composite is a flexible polymer that exhibits extraordinary electrical properties. In its normal state it is a perfect insulator, but when compressed it becomes a more or less perfect conductor and able to pass very high currents.

David Lussey invented QTC (Quantum Tunnelling Composite) in 1997. It had to be a “accidental” find when he tried to create an adhesive, with an electrical conductivity properties. QTC is made up of small nickel ions sealed in a rubbery polymer. As QTC is deformed in some manner, such as by pressing, bending, or twisting, the nickel particles get closer together, and the substance becomes a conductor. The more deformed it is, the closer the ions get and the better it conducts electricity.

Peratech’s Quantum Tunneling Composite (QTC) technology is a type of novel material, with its ability to improve the conductivity of the composite under all mechanical deformations, this modern composite technology offers a significant advantage in the development of sensing systems.

When compressed, the resistance changes drastically. When uncompressed, It acts as a natural electrical insulator. When a force is exerted it conducts electricity like a metal.

History of Quantum Tunnelling Composite based Smart Touch Phones:

First produced in 1996, QTC is a composite material made from conductive filler particles combined with an elastomeric binder, typically silicone rubber. The unique method of combining these raw materials results in a composite which exhibits significantly different electrical properties when compared with any other electrically conductive material.

QTC-Graph-resistance-vs-force-quantum-tunnelling-composite — QTC-quantum-tunnelling-composite

QTC is usually available in pill or sheet form. QTC pills are nothing more than small slabs of the stuff. One layer of QTC, another layer of conductive fibre, and a third layer of plastic insulator make up the panels. QTC pills are pressure sensitive variable resistors, whereas QTC sheets, which transform easily between high and low resistance.

Types of Quantum Tunnelling Composite (QTC):

1. Elastomeric (Material: Silicone Rubber) (The particle move close together)

2. Ink / Coating Solvent or Aqueous Polymer

3. Granular Sensors

Working of Quantum tunnelling composite:

01-quantum tunnelling composite-QTC-smart flexible polymer-silicone rubber-pressure switching-sensing-metal like conductor-variable inductance principle-QTC working-QTC operation — Smart flexible polymer-silicone rubber-pressure switching-sensing-metal like conductor

QTC usually comes in the form of pills or sheet. QTC pills are just tiny little pieces of the material. The sheets are composed of one layer of QTC, one layer of a conductive material, and a third layer of a plastic insulator. While QTC sheets switch quickly between high and low resistances, QTC pills are pressure sensitive variable resistors.

Application of Quantum Tunnelling Composite:

– Touch switches (sheet)
– Force/pressure sensors (pills)
– Motor speed control using force (pills)

Benefits of Quantum Tunneling Composite:

QTC is a pressure/force sensing material. It can be easily integrated into existing products to enable force sensing opportunities and solutions.
Product surfaces can be incorporated, coated or impregnated with QTC to impart the properties of force sensing into or onto the host surface.
QTC material can be formed or moulded into virtually any size, thickness or shape, permitting redesign of product interfaces and providing improved ergonomics, aesthetics and user comfort.
QTC is an enabling technology which is simple and reliable to use.
QTC material is durable – it has no moving parts to wear out.
QTC material is mechanically strong.
QTC material can be made to withstand extreme temperatures limits.
QTC material is versatile, both electrically and physically e.g. Its range and sensitivity can be altered. QTC material is also intrinsically safe – the material is a contactless switch, ideal for sparkless operation.
QTC material can be directly interfaced to standard electronic and electrical devices.
QTC material and/or technology can be customized for customer requirements, applications and products.

Posted in: A Pressure Switching And Sensing Material Technology, Electro Mechanics Components, Force sensitive touch screens, Next generation robotic skin development technology, pressure sensitive mobile devices, pressure sensitive variable resistors, QTC pills, QTC sheets, Quantum Tunnelling Composite (QTC), Quantum tunnelling composite applications, Quantum Tunnelling composite technology, Quantum tunnelling composite uses, Types of QTC