March 06, 2004
WPI LED Driver Circuit Design
Students in WPI's Fall 2003 course EE2799 "Electrical and Computer Engineering Design" worked on two separate design projects for the Kinkajou, the first an improved LED and fan driver circuit, and the second a robust battery charging circuit. Here is a selection of their final reports, all of which are currently under review.
LED driver circuit designs:
LED Design Team 3 LED Design Team 4
LED Design Team 7 LED Design Team 8
Battery charger designs:
Battery Charger Team 1 Battery Charger Team 3
Battery Charger Team 6 Battery Charger Team 8
More pictures of the student teams.
Project 1—Universal 12V Battery Charger
Project Requirements
You are to design a universal 12 Volt battery charger that can take various forms of electrical energy and charge a typical 12 Volt lead-acid (automotive) battery. The charger must be able to handle the following inputs: a solar panel, a pedal generator, and standard AC power (both American and European standards). The charger must not overcharge the battery, and must indicate the state of charge. In addition, the circuit should not drain the battery. The charger must be affordable in the community it is used in, and should be suitable for applications such as the Kinkajou Projector. Prototype cost should not exceed $50.
Project 2—High Efficiency Kinkajou Power Supply
Project Requirements
You are to design the power supply for the Kinkajou Projector. The power supply must provide a constant current to the 5W white LED inside the projector, as well as run a small DC cooling fan. The input to the power supply will be a nominal 12 Volts from either a typical automotive battery or a 12 Volt battery pack. The circuit must be as efficient as possible to extend battery life. In addition, the circuit should indicate when battery voltage is low and shut itself down if the voltage drops below a certain level. The circuit must be integrated into the Kinkajou Projector and not add more than 10% to the production cost. Prototype cost should not exceed $50.
See pictures of the student teams.
Posted by Timothy Prestero at March 6, 2004 04:45 PM
