Ultrahigh-Voltage Switch for Bidirectional DC–DC Converter Driving Dielectric Elastomer Actuator

Abstract

Specific applications, such as dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) or electroactive polymers, require to switch voltage levels exceeding the ratings of existing semiconductor devices. In low power application, reversible flyback are widely used to supply DEAs. Lowering the parallel parasitic capacitance of the high-voltage switch is important to improve the energy transfer, while it becomes mandatory to increase the output voltage of flyback above 2.5 kV. In this paper, a Pulsed Transformer Gate Driver (PTGD) is used to drive seriesconnected MOSFET and therefore push the limits from 4.5 kV up to 16 kV. At these high voltage levels, the structure reveals a drastic voltage unbalance related to the transformer interwinding parasitic capacitance. The compensation method proposed to achieve voltage balance only adds few passive components and reduces significantly the additional parallel capacitance of the switch compared to common load side voltage balancing methods. Finally and as proof of concept, a halfbridge bidirectional converter was designed from this switch technology and drove an actual dielectric elastomer actuator at 16 kV.

Adaptation of a Solid-State Marx Modulator for Electroactive Polymer

“…DEA supplies hitherto have been designed based on the half-bridge, the flyback and the multilevel converter. Halfbridge bidirectional converters [6] and bidirectional flyback [7], both based on a 4.5 kV stacked MOSFETs, have been demonstrated up to 16 kV and 7.5 kV respectively. However, in case of low-power devices, the inductance, and switches parasitic capacitance losses are drastically reducing the overall efficiency, down to about 15% [8], [9], [6].…”

“…Halfbridge bidirectional converters [6] and bidirectional flyback [7], both based on a 4.5 kV stacked MOSFETs, have been demonstrated up to 16 kV and 7.5 kV respectively. However, in case of low-power devices, the inductance, and switches parasitic capacitance losses are drastically reducing the overall efficiency, down to about 15% [8], [9], [6]. Besides, the design of the inductors [8], [7], [6] mostly lead to a bulky element with a volume up to 20 times the one of the DEA.…”

“…However, in case of low-power devices, the inductance, and switches parasitic capacitance losses are drastically reducing the overall efficiency, down to about 15% [8], [9], [6]. Besides, the design of the inductors [8], [7], [6] mostly lead to a bulky element with a volume up to 20 times the one of the DEA. Moreover, overcoming the limit of the switch with stacked MOSFETs in order to fit the low parasitic capacitance and low current leakage entails a pretty relevant volume increase [6], [7].…”

“…Besides, the design of the inductors [8], [7], [6] mostly lead to a bulky element with a volume up to 20 times the one of the DEA. Moreover, overcoming the limit of the switch with stacked MOSFETs in order to fit the low parasitic capacitance and low current leakage entails a pretty relevant volume increase [6], [7].…”

Design of Efficient Power Supply for the Proper Operation of Bio-Mimetic Soft Lens

“…In the previous studies the high voltage power supply has been designed by using different power electronic techniques [24], [25]. The design of efficient high voltage power supply requires enough time and money.…”