Design of a DC-DC converter network for an electromagnetic actuator array

Abstract

This paper deals with the converter design dedicated to an electromagnetic actuator array (EAA). An adaptive converter network based on full-bridge is proposed. Actuators in the same column or row are connected in series and are driven by the same full-bridge. In order to control each actuator independently, four-quadrant switches are inserted in series and in parallel to activate or deactivate the corresponding actuator. Integration constraints with this EAA imply a 3D design. The global control is investigated to realize the coordinated control of EAA. Dynamic interleaved phase strategy is proposed to minimize the input current ripple. A prototype of converter network dedicated to a 2 × 2 EAA has been fabricated. This prototype validates the compact 3D-integration of converter network and EAA. Experimental results with the fabricated prototype show that the dynamic interleaved phase reduces the current ripple as expected and validate the coordinated control of EAA. More generally, this paper presents a scalable converter design for the EAA and studies the global control of the converter network.

Keywords

• Electromagnetic actuator array (EAA)
• Full-bridge converter network
• Interleaved control
• 3D integration