Adaptive Impedance Matching Network for Contactless Power and Data Transfer in E-Textiles

Journal Article (2023)
Author(s)

Pim Lindeman (Student TU Delft)

Annemarijn Steijlen (TU Delft - Electronic Instrumentation)

J Bastemaijer (TU Delft - Electronic Instrumentation)

A Bossche (TU Delft - Electronic Instrumentation)

Research Group
Electronic Instrumentation
Copyright
© 2023 Pim Lindeman, A.S.M. Steijlen, J. Bastemeijer, A. Bossche
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.3390/s23062943
More Info
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Publication Year
2023
Language
English
Copyright
© 2023 Pim Lindeman, A.S.M. Steijlen, J. Bastemeijer, A. Bossche
Research Group
Electronic Instrumentation
Issue number
6
Volume number
23
Reuse Rights

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Abstract

One of the major challenges associated with e-textiles is the connection between flexible fabric-integrated wires and rigid electronics. This work aims to increase the user experience and mechanical reliability of these connections by foregoing conventional galvanic connections in favor of inductively coupled coils. The new design allows for some movement between the electronics and the wires, and it relieves the mechanical strain. Two pairs of coupled coils continuously transmit power and bidirectional data across two air gaps of a few millimeters. A detailed analysis of this double inductive link and associated compensation network is presented, and the sensitivity of the network to changing conditions is explored. A proof of principle is built that demonstrates the system’s ability to self-tune based on the current–voltage phase relation. A demonstration combining 8.5 kbit/s of data transfer with a power output of 62 mW DC is presented, and the hardware is shown to support data rates of up to 240 kbit/s. This is a significant improvement of the performance of previously presented designs.