Ultra-wide-band transmitter for low-power wireless body area networks: design and evaluation

The successful realization of a wireless body area network (WBAN) requires innovative solutions to meet the energy consumption budget of the autonomous sensor nodes. The radio interface is a major challenge, since its power consumption must be reduced below 100 /spl mu/W (energy scavenging limit). The emerging ultra-wide-band (UWB) technology shows strong advantages in reaching this target. First, most of the complexity of an UWB system is in the receiver, which is a perfect scenario in the WBAN context. Second, the very little hardware complexity of a UWB transmitter offers the potential for low-cost and highly integrated solutions. Finally, in a pulse-based UWB scheme, the transmitter can be duty-cycled at the pulse rate, thereby reducing the baseline power consumption. We present a low-power UWB transmitter that can be fully integrated in standard CMOS technology. Measured performances of a fully integrated pulse generator are provided, showing the potential of UWB for low power and low cost implementations. Finally, using a WBAN channel model, we present a comparison between our UWB solution and state-of-the-art low-power narrow-band implementations. This paper shows that UWB performs better in the short range due to a reduced baseline power consumption.     

The location of a resistive shunt harmonic impedance along a distribution feeder and its influence on harmonic propagation

Although complete compensation is only possible using true active filters, resistive shunt harmonic impedances (SHI) have been shown to provide a considerable reduction of the harmonic propagation. In this paper, the harmonic mitigation potential of a resistive SHI is discussed concerning its influence on the voltage distortion profile along a typical distribution feeder, with the location of the SHI along the feeder as a parameter. Although the distortion values are dependent on the SHI location, it is shown that the end of the feeder is generally a good location to install the SHI, especially when the power system parameters can vary or are unknown. Calculations are performed on a typical radial distribution feeder. Both the power factor correction capacitors and the non-linear loads are concentrated in single nodes. The linear loads are disconnected to obtain the worst case for the voltage distortion. Also some measurements on a scale model of a typical distribution feeder are done and the experimental results confirm the results obtained from simulations.     

Digitally Controlled Boost PFC Converter with Improved Output Voltage Controller

A novel digital voltage controller for boost PFC converters is proposed in this paper. If a fast voltage compensator is applied to control the DC output voltage, the DC output voltage ripple, pulsating at twice the grid frequency, causes a third harmonic of considerable magnitude in the line current. The new controller samples the DC-bus voltage at all zeroes of its ripple, resulting in a fast voltage control algorithm that guarantees a low total harmonic distortion in the line current. The performance of the proposed voltage controller is compared to other voltage controllers, by using a prototype of a digitally controlled boost PFC convertor.     

Improving the voltage dip immunity of converter-connected distributed generation units

Voltage dip immunity of converter-connected distributed generation units will become increasingly important. This paper focusses on the relation between the voltage-dip ride-through capability of converters and their current-control strategy. A comparison is made between a recently proposed control strategy with programmable damping resistance and the classical sinewave control algorithm. The first-mentioned control structure will prove to yield an improved voltage dip immunity. Experimental tests on a single-phase full-bridge bidirectional converter are carried out and validate the aforementioned postulations.     

Influence of electric power distribution system design on harmonic propagation

The impact of the design parameters of electric power distribution systems on the propagation of harmonic distortion is investigated. This conceptual study is based on simulations on a generalized distribution system model, and leads to an increased insight in the mechanisms of the generation and propagation of voltage distortion. Moreover, analytical expressions are presented that predict the impact of changing design parameters on voltage distortion.     

Criteria for energy efficient lighting in buildings

In order to assess the energy efficiency of an indoor lighting installation, a criterion for the installed electrical power is proposed which is broadly applicable and easy to use. Introducing target values for lamps and gear and taking into account some basic lighting comfort requirements, the maximum electrical power to be installed can be predicted for any kind of application. Herewith, one or more task areas with appropriate target illuminance values may be defined. The key parameter of the criterion is the analytical expression for the target utilance as a function of common lighting design parameters.Two practical examples illustrate the validity of the criterion. In a first example, a general case where the task area is coincident with a reference plane parallel with the floor has been studied. The values obtained converge to actual target values in current practice. In a second example, the lighting design of a store with many vertical task areas is explained. These cases illustrate the advantages of the criterion as compared to energy evaluation criteria based on the normalized power density.From 2010 on, the proposed criterion will be used in Flanders to assign grants for a re- or newlighting.     

Channel model for wireless communication around human body

A channel model for a wireless body area network at 400 MHz, 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz is derived. The electromagnetic wave propagation around the body is simulated with a finite-difference time-domain simulator. Creeping waves were identified as the propagation path around the body. Its impact on the delay spread in an indoor environment is discussed.     

SOP integration and codesign of antennas

The successful deployment of wireless systems requires the integration of small, cost-effective antennas while preserving a reasonable electrical performance in the required bandwidth. This paper begins with a short overview of the most important antenna characteristics, and then uses these to describe the minimum requirements and fundamental performance-size limits for electrically small integrated antennas. The performance-size tradeoff is further illustrated by the design of a planar integrated antenna for WLAN. Codesign guidelines are given to avoid parasitic coupling between the integrated antenna and RF circuits. A concluding comparison is made between on-chip and on-package integration of a small antenna for microwave and millimeter wave systems.