Optimization of Piezoelectric Electrical Generators Powered by Random Vibrations

This paper compares the performances of a vibrationpowered electrical generators using PZT piezoelectric ceramic associated to two different power conditioning circuits. A new approach of the piezoelectric power conversion based on a nonlinear voltage processing is presented and implemented with a particular power conditioning circuit topology. Theoretical predictions and experimental results show that the nonlinear processing technique may increase the power harvested by a factor up to 4 compared to the Standard optimization technique. Properties of this new technique are analyzed in particular in the case of broadband, random vibrations, and compared to those of the Standard interface.Comment: Submitted on behalf of TIMA Editions (http://irevues.inist.fr/tima-editions

Vibration stabilization for a cantilever magnet prototype at the subnanometer scale

In the future linear colliders, the size of the beams is in the nanometer range, which requires stabilization of the final magnets before the interaction point. In order to guarantee the desired luminosity, an absolute displacement lower than 1/3 of the beam size, above a few hertz, has to be obtained. This paper describes an adapted instrumentation, the developed feedback loops dedicated to the active compensation and an adapted modelling able to simulate the behaviour of the structure. The obtained results at the subnanometer scale at the free end of a cantilever magnet prototype with a combination of the developed active compensation method and a commercial active isolation system are described

Extracting non-linear integrate-and-fire models from experimental data using dynamic I–V curves

The dynamic I–V curve method was recently introduced for the efficient experimental generation of reduced neuron models. The method extracts the response properties of a neuron while it is subject to a naturalistic stimulus that mimics in vivo-like fluctuating synaptic drive. The resulting history-dependent, transmembrane current is then projected onto a one-dimensional current–voltage relation that provides the basis for a tractable non-linear integrate-and-fire model. An attractive feature of the method is that it can be used in spike-triggered mode to quantify the distinct patterns of post-spike refractoriness seen in different classes of cortical neuron. The method is first illustrated using a conductance-based model and is then applied experimentally to generate reduced models of cortical layer-5 pyramidal cells and interneurons, in injected-current and injected- conductance protocols. The resulting low-dimensional neuron models—of the refractory exponential integrate-and-fire type—provide highly accurate predictions for spike-times. The method therefore provides a useful tool for the construction of tractable models and rapid experimental classification of cortical neurons

Stabilization study at the sub-nanometer level at the interaction point of the future Compact Linear Collider

International audienc

Stabilization study at the sub-nanometer level at the interaction point of the future Compact Linear Collider

International audienc

The \u3ci\u3ePseudomonas syringae\u3c/i\u3e Hrp pathogenicity island has a tripartite mosaic structure composed of a cluster of type III secretion genes bounded by exchangeable effector and conserved effector loci that contribute to parasitic fitness and pathogenicity in plants

The plant pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae is divided into pathovars differing in host specificity, with P. syringae pv. syringae (Psy) and P. syringae pv. tomato (Pto) representing particularly divergent pathovars. P. syringae hrp/hrc genes encode a type III protein secretion system that appears to translocate Avr and Hop effector proteins into plant cells. DNA sequence analysis of the hrp/hrc regions in Psy 61, Psy B728a, and Pto DC3000 has revealed a Hrp pathogenicity island (Pai) with a tripartite mosaic structure. The hrp/hrc gene cluster is conserved in all three strains and is flanked by a unique exchangeable effector locus (EEL) and a conserved effector locus (CEL). The EELs begin 3 nt downstream of the stop codon of hrpK and end, after 2.5–7.3 kb of dissimilar intervening DNA with tRNALeu–queA–tgt sequences that are also found in Pseudomonas aeruginosa but without linkage to any Hrp Pai sequences. The EELs encode diverse putative effectors, including HopPsyA (HrmA) in Psy 61 and proteins similar to AvrPphE and the AvrByAvrCyAvrPphC and AvrBsTyAvrRxvyYopJ protein families in Psy B728a. The EELs also contain mobile genetic element sequences and have a G 1 C content significantly lower than the rest of the Hrp Pai or the P. syringae genome. The CEL carries at least seven ORFs that are conserved between Psy B728a and Pto DC3000. Deletion of the Pto DC3000 EEL slightly reduces bacterial growth in tomato, whereas deletion of a large portion of the CEL strongly reduces growth and abolishes pathogenicity in tomato

Sub-nanometer active seismic isolator control

Ambitious projects such as the design of the future Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) require challenging parameters and technologies. Stabilization of the CLIC particle beam is one of these challenges. Ground motion (GM) is the main source of beam misalignment. Beam dynamics controls are however efficient only at low frequency (<4Hz), due to the sampling of the beam at 50 Hz. Hence, ground motion mitigation techniques such as active stabilization are required. This paper shows a dedicated prototype able to manage vibration at a sub-nanometer scale. The use of cutting edge sensor technology is however very challenging for control applications as they are usually used for measurement purposes. Limiting factors such as sensor dynamics and noise lead to a performance optimization problem. The current state of the art in GM measurement and GM mitigation techniques is pointed out and shows limits of the technologies. The proposed active device is then described and a realistic model of the process has been established. A dedicated controller design combining feedforward and feedback techniques is presented and theoretical results in terms of Power Spectral Density (PSD) of displacement are compared to real time experimental results obtained with a rapid control prototyping tool