Keynote Speakers
Prof. Yoichi Hori (University of Tokyo, Japan)
Title:
Novel EV Society based on Motor/Capacitor/Wireless
- Application of Electric Motor, Supercapacitors, and Wireless Power Transfer to Enhance Operation of
Future Vehicles -
Abstract:
Why do we need to supply "big energy" to electric vehicles (EVs) "to stop" and "for a short time"?
The energy form of electricity is absolutely different from gasoline. We do not need to take the same
style of gasoline vehicle. Future EVs will be linked to the electric power system infrastructure;
the vehicles will operate through frequent electric charging, as is the case with electric trains.
Wireless power transfer based on magnetic resonance is an extremely important technique to receive
energy from the infrastructure. In a laboratory experiment, this technique enabled approximately 1kW
power transfer with more than 90% efficiency at a distance of 1 m. It opens a way to the novel EV world.
Supercapacitors, rather than batteries, will play an important role in the future for charging of EVs.
Supercapacitors have a long operating life (a few million times charge/discharge life), large current
density, and environmentally friendly composition. Further, their energy level can be estimated from
the terminal voltage. EVs powered by supercapacitors can operate for more than 20 min after being
charged for only 30 s.
Electric motors have three major advantages: motor torque generation is quick and accurate, a motor
can be attached to each wheel, and motor torque can be estimated precisely. These advantages enable
the realization of high performance antilock braking and traction control systems, control of
two-dimensional chassis motion, and estimation of road surface condition. This motion control technique
improves energy efficiency and safety of future EVs.
In summary, we can achieve a large-scale development of future vehicles that employ three techniques:
Electric Motors, Supercapacitors, and Wireless Power Transfer. This eliminates the requirement for
engines, high performance Li-ion batteries, and quick charging stations.
Dr. Kamil A. Grajski (Qualcomm, USA)
Title:
Loosely-Coupled Wireless Power Transfer: Physics, Circuits, Standards
Abstract:
Loosely-coupled wireless power transfer (WPT) technology offers unique, next-generation
improvements in user experience, and product design and innovation towards the vision of
ubiquitous power and infinite stand-by time for a wide range of consumer electronic devices.
This talk will outline the vision primarily as it relates to today's mobile, battery-powered,
hand-held, consumer electronics devices, and consider the advantages and disadvantages of
loosely-coupled WPT with respect to alternative approaches.
The talk will describe the physics of loosely-coupled WPT, discuss approaches and challenges
in implementing WPT electronic circuits, and consider how industry can move toward timely,
high-quality WPT technical standards.
Prof. Luca Roselli (University of Perugia)
Title:
EM- and piezo- scavengers: two useful solutions in highly humanized scenarios toward a "greener world"
Abstract:
This contribution focuses on two different energy scavenging possibilities very promising in
view of evolution of electronic ultra-low power systems in highly humanized scenarios.
First we describe an integrated design of RF/Microwave receivers and conversion systems for
energy harvesting to be adopted in ultra-low power density environments. Such systems can be very
useful in the presence of existing wireless systems with power densities as low as a few mW/cm2.
Despite of the scarce RF power available, energy usable to extend battery life or to self-power
low-duty cycle electronics may be scavenged by highly efficient receivers and power converter
circuits designed in a unique design process. A multi-band antenna can be used as the RF power
receiver. Its frequency-dependent equivalent circuit in the presence of incident fields,
simultaneously radiated in several bands, is used in the joint design of a rectifier stage and of
a boost converter that can dynamically track the maximum power point. This is obtained by a
simulation approach combining SPICE-like time-domain models of dispersive multiport components
with the transient analysis of the storage and control sub-systems. The system operation,
measured in a practical application for wearable autonomous sensors, is presented and predicted
and measured stored energy and system efficiency are discussed.
Second, a more conventional piezoelectric scavenger is introduced as a power source of a
nomadic RFID-reader as a part of a novel localization system approach. The latter is intended
as an example of multidisciplinary (RFID-NFC, ultra-low power systems, short range wireless
power transfer, organic technologies and so on), fully autonomous (energy scavenger on board,
battery-less), wirelessly empowered (multitude of passive tags is energized by autonomous reader),
evolutionary electronic system toward a "greener world".
