Powering Electronics worn by Group-Housed Rodents: A Control Loop Design for a Rodent’s Headstage
From Exploration of a Potential Power Link to the Implementation of the Control Loop for a Power Converter
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Abstract
This study aims to systematically design and implement a voltage regulation control loop (VRCL) for an unspecified power management unit (PMU) to maintain the desired load voltage for electronics worn by group-housed rodents. This is crucial for analyzing the spontaneous behaviour of group-housed rodents, focusing on social interactions and environmental exploration in a simulated natural environment.
The study explores a potential high-level design of a power link, selecting resonant inductive coupling for wireless power transfer (WPT), enabling continuous power supply over larger areas (for instance, 5 by 5 meters). A literature review reveals a research gap in integrating encircling and underneath configurations for sufficient uniform power distribution. A block diagram of the WPT system is provided, outlining the transmitter and headstage receiver components. Subsequently, a hybrid layout is suggested and significant challenges like optimizing driving current and minimizing angular and vertical misalignments are addressed.
Next, a control loop is systematically designed and implemented. Potential loads and a PMU are
selected, followed by the development and verification of an ideal power converter and its derived
and proposed plant model. Control specifications derived from this model suggest the tuning of the
controller parameters using a tailored model-based control system approach. MATLAB simulations
confirm that the control specifications are met. A non-ideal power converter is then integrated with the control loop, including ideal gate drivers, a voltage-controlled oscillator, a bandgap reference, and a PI controller. Simulation results show that the control loop meets the specifications. Despite limitations in robustness, particularly regarding load and input voltage transient response, the study also highlights the need for verification of the power converter model for load capacitors in the pF-nF range, and identifies discrepancies in overshoot behaviour. Future work includes an analysis of the system’s robustness during controller tuning and the incorporation of a transient controller. The combination of the suggested plant model and model-based tuning approach offer an alternative option for the power converter’s control loop design.