diff --git a/paper/paper.tex b/paper/paper.tex index 5689f14..f20e686 100644 --- a/paper/paper.tex +++ b/paper/paper.tex @@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ \newcolumntype{P}[1]{>{\centering\arraybackslash}p{#1}} \newcommand{\partnum}[1]{\texttt{#1}} +\newcommand{todo}{1}{\textbf{TODO}\footnote{#1}} + \begin{document} \date{} @@ -42,6 +44,51 @@ Achieving Rotation-Invariant Coupling using Multi-Layer PCB Inductors} \section{Introduction} +Inertial Hardware Security Modules (IHSMs) are a novel security technology that aims at creating tamper-proof enclosures +for servers and other information technology using readily available off-the-shelf components. At their core, IHSMs +provide tamper detection by creating a simple tamper sensing \emph{security mesh} cage from commodity Printed Circuit +Board (PCB) material, then spinning this cage at a high speed such that tampering with it becomes impossible. + +A core challenge in IHSM engineering is exchanging both power and data between the stationary protected payload of the +IHSM and the rotating security mesh. Slip rings, which are widely used in rotating machines, are not feasible in IHSMs +because of their limited speed capabilities and wear life. Various contactless methods have been explored in the past, +and a previous IHSM prototype used an optical data link for its ease of implementation and high speed along with a +photovoltaic link to supply power. In this paper, we explore an inductive wireless power transfer link as an alternative +providing better efficiency, higher power output capability, and a more compact implementation. While WPT has been +employed before to provide power across a continuously rotating joint, due to their high speed of rotation, IHSMs have +unique balancing constraints that prohibit the use of large or heavy components such as large filter capacitors or +inductors on the secondary side, making secondary voltage ripple reduction difficult. In this paper, we solve this +problem through an optimized PCB WPT coil geometry that provides a more uniform magnetic field and lower parasitic +capacitance, and that results in an improvement of rotation invariance of the coupling factor of a pair of coils. +\todo{Give concrete numbers on achievements such as better parasitics and rotational invariance.} +We provide a theoretical analysis, simulation resuls and practical measurements for our coil geometry, as well as a set +of Open Source, parametric scripts for the generation of arbitrary coil configurations. + +Wirless Power Transfer (WPT) is used in a variety of applications, and implementations exist in several orders of +magnitude in power capability. Excluding specialty systems used for galvanic isolation, usually WPT is employed to +transfer power from a stationary transmitter to a moveable receiver. Applications deployed in the field include phone +charging, RFID and powering of medical implants. \todo{provide citations.} WPT systems based on capacitive coupling +exist, but the vast majority of systems employ inductive coupling for its more compact size and higher power handling +capability. In inductive WPT, the contactless interface between the transmitter and receiver sides of the system is a +pair of coupled inductors. Usually, these inductors are used in resonant circuits that are tuned to have similar +resonant frequencies. + +\subsection{WPT inductor coupling} + +In inductive WPT systems the coupling between the coils is highly dependent on the specific geometry of the coils, their +relative positioning, as well as any nearby magnetically permeable materials. In particular the distance between +transmitter and receiver coil is critical, and the coupling factor of a pair of coils falls off sharply as their +distance exceeds some fraction of their physical size. Offset and cross-axis rotation both influence coupling to a +lesser degree. + +\todo{Analytical expressions, and explanation how the factors mentioned above derive from those.} + +In most WPT systems, distance and alignment are the factors of primary concern. In IHSM applications, where power is +transferred through a continuously rotating joint, both take only a subordinate role, as both can easily be controlled. +Instead, we observed a surprising third factor: If the magnetostatic field generated by the coils is not axially +symmetric, their continous rotation periodically modulates their coupling, introducing low-frequency ripple into the +secondary-side power output. + \section{Related Work} \subsection{Twisted Inductors in RFIC Design} \subsection{Basket-Woven Air Coils}