Multimodule parallel series-loaded resonant converters

The design and implementation of a multimodule parallel series-loaded resonant (SLR) converter system is presented. The SLR converter to be paralleled is operated in the n=2 discontinuous mode (DCM). Its dc analysis and dynamic modeling are made. In parallel operation, an average control technique is proposed to compensate the mismatch in current control characteristics of each parallel converter. Good dynamic and static current sharing characteristics are obtained. In addition, to obtain good output voltage regulating control performance, a design procedure is presented to find the parameters of feedback voltage controller according to the prescribed specifications     

Development and verification of an innovative photomultiplier calibration system with a 10-fold increase in photometer resolution

In this study, we construct a photomultiplier calibration system. This calibration system can help scientists measuring and establishing the characteristic curve of the photon count versus light intensity. The system uses an innovative 10-fold optical attenuator to enable an optical power meter to calibrate photomultiplier tubes which have the resolution being much greater than that of the optical power meter. A simulation is firstly conducted to validate the feasibility of the system, and then the system construction, including optical design, circuit design, and software algorithm, is realized. The simulation generally agrees with measurement data of the constructed system, which are further used to establish the characteristic curve of the photon count versus light intensity.     

Novel AC line conditioner for power factor correction

A new ac line conditioner is presented for high input power factor and clean ac output voltages for isolating the linear or nonlinear loads. A three-phase two-leg switching mode rectifier with neutral-point-clamped topology is proposed to draw the sinusoidal line currents from the ac mains. The carrier-based current controller is used in the inner control loop to track the line current commands with unity power factor. The dc bus voltage controller is adopted in the outer control loop to regulate the dc-link voltage. A voltage compensator is used to balance the neutral point voltage on the dc tank. A three-phase two-leg inverter with neutral-point-clamped topology is adopted in the system to provide the clean ac output voltages to the critical or sensitive loads. The carrier-based current control scheme is adopted to improve the instantaneous output voltages. Experimental results show the validity and effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.     

Tracking multitarget in cluttered environment

A method for multitarget tracking and initiating tracking in a cluttered environment is proposed. The algorithm uses a sliding window of length uT (T is the sampling time) to keep the measurement sequence at time k. Instead of solving a large problem, the entire set of targets and measurements is divided into several clusters so that a number of smaller problems are solved independently. When a set of measurements is received, a new set of data-association hypotheses is formed for all the measurements lying in the validation gates within each cluster from time K-u+1 to K. The probability of each track history is computed, and, choosing the largest of these histories, the target measurement is updated with an adaptive state estimator. A covariance-matching technique is used to improve the accuracy of the adaptive state estimator. In several examples, the algorithm successfully tracks targets over a wide range of conditions     

Constructive neural-networks-based MEMS/GPS integration scheme

This article exploits the idea of developing an alternative data fusion scheme that integrates the outputs of low-cost micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial measurements units (IMUs) and receivers of the global positioning system (GPS). The proposed scheme is implemented using a constructive neural network (cascade-correlation network (CCNs)) to overcome the limitations of conventional techniques that are predominantly based on the Kalman filter (KF). The CNN applied in this research has the advantage of having a flexible topology if compared with the recently utilized multi-layer feed-forward neural networks (MFNNs) for inertial navigation system (INS)/GPS integration. The preliminary results presented in this article illustrate the effectiveness of proposed CCNs over both MFNN-based and Kalman filtering techniques for INS/GPS integration.     

Soldier Identification System utilizing low probability ofintercept (LPI) techniques

This paper documents the design of a laser/radio frequency (RF) Soldier Identification (ID) System developed by Dynetics, Inc., Harris, Corp., and the US Army Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM). The Soldier ID system includes an Interrogation Unit with a programmable activation code. The Interrogation Unit consists of a directive, eye-safe laser and a spread-spectrum RF transceiver. This allows for a low probability of intercept (LPI) interrogation, which is of interest during covert operations. A Responder Unit is worn, for example, by a soldier and transmits an LPI spread-spectrum RF response, only after receiving the proper interrogation codes. The basic subsystems for the identification system are a Laser Interrogation Unit, an RF Responder Unit, and an electronic Programming Unit. The operating principles for the subsystem are reviewed, and the design issues are discussed. In addition to the preliminary design performed under Phase I of the program, a breadboard system was developed to validate the proof-of-principle concept. Hardware implementation is reviewed and test results are presented. The brassboard development and engineering plans are also presented     

Parallel operation of shunt active power filters with capacitylimitation control

This paper presents a capacity-limitation technique to enlarge the power capacity that can be handled by the shunt active power filters (APFs). The capacity limited includes the reactive power as well as the amplitude of the distortion current supplied by the APFs. Under capacity-limitation control m+1 APFs supply the load reactive power with m APFs supplying their rated power and one APF supplying a fraction of its rated value. Similarly, n+1 APFs supply the load current harmonic with n APFs supplying the distortion current limited in amplitude and one APF supplying a fraction of its limited amplitude. Advantages of the proposed approach include high flexibility for extending system capacity, high reliability due to no control interconnection, reducing power capacity demand of APF, high modularity due to identical APFs, stable reactive power and harmonic current sharing and its performance is insensitive to parameters mismatch of APFs, cost-effective due to modularization, and so on. Three single-phase 1 KVA APFs are designed and implemented. The effectiveness is demonstrated by some experimental results