• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.443-448
• /
• 2009

For successful visual perception by visual prosthesis using electrical stimulation, it is essential to develop an effective stimulation strategy based on understanding of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) responses to electrical stimulation. We studied RGC responses to repetitive electrical stimulation pulses to develop a stimulation strategy using stimulation pulse frequency modulation. Retinal patches of photoreceptor-degenerated retinas from rd1 mice were attached to a planar multi-electrode array (MEA) and RGC spike trains responding to electrical stimulation pulse trains with various pulse frequencies were observed. RGC responses were strongly dependent on inter-pulse interval when it was varied from 500 to 10 ms. Although the evoked spikes were suppressed with increasing pulse rate, the number of evoked spikes were >60% of the maximal responses when the inter-pulse intervals exceeded 100 ms. Based on this, we investigated the modulation of evoked RGC firing rates while increasing the pulse frequency from 1 to 10 pulses per second (or Hz) to deduce the optimal pulse frequency range for modulation of RGC response strength. RGC response strength monotonically and linearly increased within the stimulation frequency of 1~9 Hz. The results suggest that the evoked neural activities of RGCs in degenerated retina can be reliably controlled by pulse frequency modulation, and may be used as a stimulation strategy for visual neural prosthesis.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.205-214
• /
• 2003

This paper proposes a simple control strategy based on the discontinuous PWM (DPWM) to balance the DC-link voltage of three-level neutral-point-clamped (NPC) inverter at low modulation index. It introduces new DPWM methods in multi-level inverter and one of them is used for balancing the DC-link voltage. The current flowing in the neutral point of the DC-link causes the fluctuation of the DC-link voltage of the NPC inverter. The proposed DPWM method changes the path and duration time of the neutral point current, which makes the overall fluctuation of the DC-link voltage zero during a sampling time of the reference voltage vector. Therefore, by using the proposed strategy, the voltage of the DC-link can be balanced fairly well and the voltage ripple of the DC-link is also reduced significantly. Moreover, comparing with conventional methods which have to perform the complicated calculation, the proposed strategy is very simple. The validity of the proposed DPWM method is verified by the experiment.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 1998.05a
• /
• pp.442-449
• /
• 1998

Since it is essential for traction motors to reduce size and weight to achieve given traction effort, they need high input voltage. But the lack of input voltage occurs periodically due to the characteristics of train system. Therefore traction inverters use over-modulation PWM to maximize inverter's voltage gain. On the other hand, IGBT inverters can use higher frequency twice than GTO ones, which resulted in the need for novel optimal synchronous PWM strategy. This paper suggests that linearly-compensated overmodulation/optimal synchronous PWM strategy and also the simulation results of the method for a real traction motor-intertia model are presented.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2006.04b
• /
• pp.226-228
• /
• 2006

This paper presents the two lossless auxiliary inducors-assisted voltage source type half bridge(single ended push pull:SEPP) series resonant high frequency inverter for induction heated fixing roller in copy and printing machines. The simple high-frequency inverter treated here can completely achieve stable zero current soft switching (ZCS) commutation forwide its output power regulation ranges and load variations under constant high frequency pulse density modulation (PDM) scheme. Its transient and steady state operatprinciple is originally described and discussed for a constant high-frequency PDM control strategy under a stable ZCS operation commutation, together with its output effective power regulation charactertics-based on the high frequency PDM strategy. The experimenoperating performances of this voltage source SEPP ZCS-PDM series resonant high frequency inverter using IGBTs are illustrated as compared with computer simulation results and experimenones. Its power losses analysis and actual efficiency are evaluated and discussed on the basis of simulation and experimental results. The feasible effectiveness of this high frequency inverter appliimplemented here is proved from the practical point of view.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.51 no.11
• /
• pp.545-546
• /
• 2018

With emerging evidence on the importance of non-cell autonomous toxicity in neurodegenerative diseases, therapeutic strategies targeting modulation of key immune cells. including microglia and Treg cells, have been designed for treatment of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. Strategy switching the patient's environment from a pro-inflammatory toxic to an anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective condition, could be potential therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) regulate innate and adaptive immune cells, through release of soluble factors such as $TGF-{\beta}$ and elevation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and T helper-2 cells (Th2 cells), would play important roles, in the neuroprotective effect on motor neuronal cell death mechanisms in ALS. Single cycle of repeated intrathecal injections of BM-MSCs demonstrated a clinical benefit lasting at least 6 months, with safety, in ALS patients. Cytokine profiles of CSF provided evidence that BM-MSCs, have a role in switching from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory conditions. Inverse correlation of $TGF-{\beta}1$ and MCP-1 levels, could be a potential biomarker to responsiveness. Thus, additional cycles of BM-MSC treatment are required, to confirm long-term efficacy and safety.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
• /
• 2003.07b
• /
• pp.499-502
• /
• 2003

This paper presents the voltage source type half bridge lossless auxiliary inductor snubber assisted series capacitor compensated resonant high frequency inverter for induction heated fixing roller in copy machines. This high-frequency inverter treated here can completely achieve zero current soft switching (ZCS) commutation for wide power regulation range under its constant frequency pulse density modulation (PDM) scheme. Its transient and steady-state operating principle is originally presented fur a constant frequency PDM control strategy under a ZCS operation commutation, together with its output effective power regulation characteristics-based on the PDM strategy. The experimental operating performances of this ZCS-PDM high frequency inverter using IGBTs are illustrated as compared with computer simulation ones. Its power losses and actual efficiency are evaluated and discussed on the basis of simulation and experimental results.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.1986-1995
• /
• 2018

In this paper, a novel neutral-point voltage balancing scheme for NPC three-level inverters using carrier-based sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) method is developed. The new modulation approach, based on the obtained expressions of zero sequence voltage in all six sectors, can significantly suppress the low-frequency voltage oscillation in the neutral point at high modulation index and achieve a fast voltage-balancing dynamic performance. The implementation of the proposed method is very simple. Another attractive feature is that the scheme can stably control any voltage difference between the two dc-link capacitors within a certain range without using any extra hardware. Furthermore, the presented scheme is also applicable to the single-phase NPC three-level inverter. It can maintain the neutral-point voltage balance at full modulation index and improve the voltage-balancing dynamic performance of the single-phase NPC three-level inverter. The performance of the proposed strategy and its benefits over other previous techniques are verified experimentally.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.146-157
• /
• 2019

The inverter is an essential part of permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive systems. The performance of an inverter is greatly influenced by its modulation strategy. Using a proper management of modulation strategies can guarantee high performance from a PMSM under various speed conditions. Switching between modulations is a pivotal technique that determines the performance of a PMSM. Most works on hybrid methods focus on two-level induction motors drive systems. In this paper, in order to improve the performance of PMSMs under various speed conditions, a hybrid method of a pulse width modulation (PWM) control scheme based on a neutral-point-clamped (NPC) three level topology was proposed. This hybrid PWM modulation comprised space vector PWM (SVPWM) and selective harmonic elimination PWM (SHEPWM). Under low speed conditions, the SVPWM is employed to cause the PMSM to start smoothly, and to obtain a rapid response from the control system. Under high speed conditions, the SHEPWM is employed to reduce the switching frequency and to eliminate particular current harmonics. Moreover, the harmonic characteristics of different modulations are analyzed to obtain a smooth transition between the SHEPWM and the SVPWM. Experimental and simulation results indicated the effectiveness of the proposed control method.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.24-32
• /
• 2012

Direct duty-ratio PWM schemes for continuous fault tolerant operation of matrix converter-fed motor drives are presented. The proposed method features simple modular modulation structure based on per output phase concept, which requires no additional modification on the normal modulation schemes for fault-tolerant applications. Realizations of fault-tolerant strategy applied to different system configurations are also treated to enhance the system flexibility. The proposed method can be effectively applied to treat the motor open phase fault and converter switching device failure. Simulation and experimental results show the feasibility and validation of the proposed strategies.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.1336-1345
• /
• 2016

A modified space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) strategy based on vector space decomposition and its equivalent carrier-based PWM realization are proposed in this paper, which is suitable for six-phase asymmetrical dual stator induction machines (DSIMs). A DSIM is composed of two sets of symmetrical three-phase stator windings spatially shifted by 30 electrical degrees and a squirrel-cage type rotor. The proposed SVPWM technique can reduce torque ripples and suppress the harmonic currents flowing in the stator windings. Above all, the equivalent relationship between the proposed SVPWM technique and the carrier-based PWM technique has been demonstrated, which allows for easy implementation by a digital signal processor (DSP). Simulation and experimental results, carried out separately on a simulation system and a 3.0 kW DSIM prototype test bench, are presented and discussed.