Overview of Talkative Power Conversion Technologies

Abstract

Power Line Communication (PLC) and Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT) are popular examples of applications, where power and information are transmitted simultaneously. In most cases, different devices have been used to generate the power and communication signals independently. Usually, the information is superimposed onto the power signal using an external modulator. Recently, power converters have been used to generate pulses not just for power conversion but also for information transfer simultaneously. This approach represents a fundamental difference because it exploits the signal processing potential of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), where for power conversion only the average pulse width is used, while the information is represented by the harmonics instead of being filtered out, as typically done in power electronics. The concept of embedding information into the switching ripple generated by a switched-mode power converter has recently been dubbed Talkative Power (TP), in this paper referred as Talkative Power Conversion (TPC). TPC technologies are reviewed in non-isolated and isolated converters in this paper. Potential applications include visible light communications, battery management systems, switching reluctance generators/motors, microgrids, and wireless electric vehicle charging stations. Finally, trending topics are identified.INDEX TERMS Talkative power conversion, pulse width modulation converters, power line communication, switching ripple communication, simultaneous wireless information and power transfer.

STEM Learning Platform Exemplified by Talkative Power Conversion

“…The terms power talk and talkative power were coined independently of each other in [33] and [39], respectively. We adopt this terminology and refer to talkative power conversion [40]. The talkative power concept can be applied universally in many fields including wireless information and power transfer, not just in electrical grids.…”

Efficient Talkative Power Conversion With Quasi-Square-Wave Zero-Voltage Switching Hysteretic Current Control

“…Fig. 1a visualizes the TPC concept [1] using a switchedmode power converter. In addition to the (DC) power conversion, an additional (software-controlled) modulation of the switching signal superimposes a high-frequency signal on the output to transmit data through the power stage.…”

“…8 it is concluded that both modulation strategies enable talkative power, but the hysteretic current control which maintains ZVS conditions, has a wider range of current modulation amplitude before the efficiency decreases. For example, using PWM the efficiency dropped to 99 % already at 1 2 ∆I MOD ≈ 85 mA, while the hysteretic current control has almost a twice as wide range up to 1 2 ∆I MOD ≈ 160 mA. This wide current range enables low bit error rates and high power conversion efficiency for the analog hysteretic current control.…”

“…T ALKATIVE power conversion (TPC), the simultaneous transmission of power and information using a switchedmode power converter by embedding information into the switching ripple [1], [2], is possible without additional hardware effort (e.g. zero-additional-hardware power line communication [3]).…”