Marina S. Perdigao

The publisher regrets that the acknowledgement was omitted from the paper. The correct acknowledgement is provided below.ACKNOWLEDGMENTThis study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES/PROEX) – Finance Code 001, and by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) under grant number 308653/2022-0.

This work presents an iterative design methodology based on the equivalent mathematical model of a resonant converter for in-Wheel dynamic IPT applications. This design methodology considers the magnetic coupling dimensions as well as the resonant circuit parameters that achieve resonant operation and meet dynamic requirements. The system uses the wheel as an intermediary stage to transfer energy into the vehicle, using two magnetic couplers (MC), maintaining a minimal air gap throughout the energy transfer process. The first MC transfers power from the off-board transmitters to the receiver in the wheel and the second MC transfers the power from the wheel to the EV. The design methodology ensures load independent transconductance gain from a double coupling LCC-S-S resonant converter. In this way, the proposed system offers a low cost solution using a open-loop control and without feedback requirements from the vehicle. The iterative design methodology combines the self and mutual inductance values and coupling factor profiles of both MCs, obtained from a finite element analysis (FEA) tool, taking into consideration the system specifications and constraints to find all possible solutions. A set of selection metrics are then proposed to identify the optimal solution. An experimental prototype was built to validate the safe operation under full range operating conditions in dynamic applications. An overall DC-DC efficiency of approximately 78% when transferring 2 kW to the load was achieved. In dynamic operation and, considering one transmitter pad, a maximum energy transfer of 27 Wh is achieved when moving at a speed of 30 m/h.

This paper investigates the efficiency improvements achieved by using a Variable Inductor (VI) in a Dual Active Bridge (DAB) converter for battery charging applications. The introduction of the VI adds a degree of freedom to conventional Phase-Shift Modulation (PSM), which extends the soft-switching range under light-load conditions and reduces reactive power under high load conditions. However, an optimal combination of power transfer inductance (LDAB) and phase-shift (PS) exists that yields maximum efficiency for each output power (Po), and conversion ratio d. To validate this, a 600 W DAB converter prototype was experimentally developed. The efficiency results obtained from a sweep of LDAB and PS were compared against those of a fixed-inductance DAB (FI-DAB). The experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed VI-DAB converter under both high and low load conditions.

Recent studies have highlighted the key role of lighting in regulating circadian rhythms and its impact on human health. Exposure to blue light, especially at specific times of day, is now quantified using the melanopic Equivalent Daylight Illuminance (m-EDI) parameter, defined in the CIE S 026 standard. This parameter is proportional to the integral, in the visible range, of the spectral power distribution and the melanopic sensitivity function, which peaks near 490 nm, and is similar to a Gaussian distribution. Low-cost spectrometric sensors using photodiode arrays and narrowband filters offer a cost-effective way to estimate m-EDI through a weighted sum of channel responses. However, due to inherent sensor variability, individual calibration is recommended. The standard approach involves multiple linear regression to fit the sensor’s output to reference values using a set of test light sources. This method is easy to implement but depends heavily on the selection of calibration illuminants, which must outnumber the channels. This paper analyzes the sensitivity of this method to the sensor’s spectral response and the choice of calibration sources. A revised calibration approach is proposed, selectively discarding channels to reduce deviations from the target response. Applied to several sensors, this method significantly improves calibration accuracy and robustness, reducing the RMS error for several test LEDs from 17.6 to 1.36 lux.

Shore power systems, also known as cold ironing or shore-to-ship (STS) connections, are increasingly recognized as a viable solution to reduce emissions and noise from ships during berthing operations. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of shore power technology, with a focus on typical onboard energy consumption profiles across different types of ship, the main electrical architectures used in shore-side systems, and the compatibility challenges related to frequency, voltage, and control integration. The paper reviews international standards, particularly the ISO/IEC/IEEE 80005 series, that define technical requirements for interoperability and safety. A detailed analysis of recent patents highlights technological innovations in mobility, conversion topologies, and high-voltage integration. In addition, commercially available shore power solutions from major manufacturers are surveyed, with comparative data on power ratings, voltage levels, and converter topologies. Finally, the study discusses current limitations and outlines development directions for Onshore Power Supply systems, including regulatory developments, digital integration, and grid support functionalities. The insights presented aim to support the design, standardization, and deployment of efficient and scalable STS systems in line with global maritime decarbonization goals.

This article introduces. the concept and design of a planar magnetic regulator (PMR) integrated into a 260-W LLC resonant light-emitting diode driver for tunable white string. Utilizing low-profile magnetic cores and printed circuit board windings, the PMR effectively modulates the converter's magnetizing inductance. The article outlines a systematic design methodology for the PMR and its integration into the LLC converter to regulate the magnetizing inductance and consequently the output current. The implemented prototype exhibited zero voltage switching behavior across the entire power range and demonstrated precise control over the correlated color temperature. The PMR offers significant advantages, including enhanced power density, reduced skin effects, decreased current requirements, and a reduced need for turns in windings

In the context of inductive power transfer (IPT) for electric vehicle (EV) charging, the precise determination of the mutual inductance between the magnetic pads is of critical importance. The value of this inductance varies depending on the EV positioning, affecting the power transfer capability. Therefore, the precise determination of its value yields various advantages, particularly by contributing to the optimization of the charging process of the EV batteries, since it offers the possibility of adjusting the position of the vehicle depending on the level of misalignment. Within this framework, algorithms grounded in artificial intelligence (AI) techniques emerge as promising solutions. This research work revolves around the estimation of the mutual inductance in a wireless inductive power transfer system using a resonant converter topology, implemented in MATLAB/Simulink^® R2021b. The system output was developed to emulate the behavior of a battery charger. To estimate this parameter, an artificial neural network (ANN) was developed. Given the characteristics of the system, the features were chosen in a way that they could provide a clear indication to the ANN if the vehicle position changed, independently of the charging power. In the pursuit of creating a robust AI model, the training dataset contained approximately 1% of the available data. Upon the analysis of the results, it was verified that the largest estimation error observed was around 3%, occurring at the lowest charging power considered. Hence, it can be inferred that the proposed ANN exhibits the capability to accurately estimate the value of mutual inductance in this type of system.

Electric vehicle (EV) technology has proven to be a propulsion technology of the future, but urgently needs to address challenges, such as lower-priced, reasonably sized EVs for higher market penetration, higher lifecycle efficiency, and increased power density. Range extension, in particular in urban scenarios, is critical. Inductive power transfer (IPT) technology simultaneously solves the electric hazard risks of conventional power cord battery chargers, but especially EV limited autonomy and related anxiety and even security. The current main focus of IPT research has shifted toward challenges imposed by the dynamic operation mode, with cost-effective analysis of the best dynamic configuration and optimization of the transmitter pads, leakage flux control techniques, or even the state-of-the-art solution with compact in-Wheel approaches. The presented analysis, from past to future trends in this field of expertise, reveals the amount of effort that has been put forward to guarantee a mature transition to a greener and more sustainable future in electric transportation.

Dynamic inductive power transfer (DIPT) systems as well as static inductive power transfer (SIPT) systems are typically implemented with H-bridge inverters with resonant compensation networks to control and limit the charging current. However, contrary to SIPT, DIPT implies inherent displacements, in the travel direction, as well as the already expected misalignments (vertical and lateral). The challenges imposed by this feature have an impact on the selected compensation network. Typical single-coupling resonant topologies SS, SP, PS, PP, LCL-S and LCL-P are considered. In this work, a double-coupling SSS topology is proposed for DIPT applications to overcome the limitations of classical topologies. A resonant converter topology with natural current and voltage limitation under misalignment conditions is preferable. This paper performs a finite element analysis (FEA) simulation of the magnetic coupler (MC) in order to extract the coupling factor and self and mutual inductances as a function of the electric vehicle (EV) movement. The MC parameters are used to build a model in MATLAB/Simulink with coupling variation in order to assess the converter behavior under misalignment conditions. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate the applicability of the double-coupling SSS topology for DIPT application by exhibiting safe converter operation under the full range of coupling and load operation (full to no-coupling and full to no-load).

The electric automotive industry revolutionizes the transportation sector with new disruptive technologies like wireless charging systems and the tire industry is no exception. New airless and sustainable tire designs offer new possibilities to embody wireless charging technologies. This paper presents a novel in-Wheel Inductive Power Transfer (inWIPT) batteries charger design for electric vehicles (EV). The proposed system uses two magnetic couplers (MC) to transfer the energy: one from the off-board side to the wheel and another from the wheel to the on-board side. The proposed configuration keeps the air gap between the off-board transmitter pad and the wheel receiver to a minimum and almost independent of the vehicle type (Sedan, Suv, Truck). The two MCs are connected by a new resonant tank which modifies the voltage transfer characteristics. A step by step methodology that identifies the operational range of the mutual inductances, based on certain design specifications and constraints, is also presented. Experimental results validate the proposed inWIPT in a quasi load independent voltage operation in different coupling charging scenarios and a maximum output power of 2.6 kW with an efficiency of 89.3 $\%$ .