Power Converter for Use in Quasi-Wireless Capacitive Power Robotic Systems with Secondary Side Sensing and Switching

Presented is a novel approach to regulating voltage in a Quasi-Wireless Capacitive (QWiC) Power Transfer system for robotics. The method modifies traditional regulator topologies to isolate from the Quarter-Wave Resonator (QWR). Uniquely, this approach enables full secondary side sensing and regulation without needing feedback to the primary coil. A transistor-based circuit connects the smoothing capacitor to the input during charging and disconnects during discharging, ensuring output regulation. This design allows a micro-controller on the load side to control the transistor states. The use of a high value capacitance, typically in the range of a few farads allows the system to retain charge even during external loss of power much like a ”battery-bank”. Experimental results demonstrate stable voltage regulation with future work focusing on establishing design guidelines and optimizing control signal duty cycles for efficiency. Overall, this approach offers a promising solution for stable voltage regulation in QWiC-based robotic systems.