80

The ESD Laboratory. Embedded System Design

Domain of activity, Research objectives Keywords

• Electronic technology • Embedded applications for environmental protection • Applications embedded in Smart Grids • Bio-medical monitoring • Measurement systems for magnetic materials and composites • Power electronics: switching circuits, power supplies • Rechargeable batteries and super-capacitors • Hybrid electrical energy storage with stationary and mobile applications

Embedded circuits,

Electronic measurement,

Electronic technology, eHealth HIS (Hospital Information

Systems), Super-capacitors

Profile of the research group

Research activites of the ESD team members are conducted in the Research Center C13: Embedded Electronic Systems and Advanced Communications of from the Institute for Research and Development of the Transilvania University of Brasov. The ESD team performs activities of research, development and services in a multidisciplinary approach, including the domains of Electronics, Computers and Telecommunications. The purpose of the projects developed concerns embedded computer systems applications, including cooperation with other Research Centers in the university.

Research & development products, inventions, use cases

1. Electronic protection at over- voltage, over-current or electric shock in electrical distribution lines. Replacing classical protection devices of the electricity distribution network overvoltage – at short circuit and electric shock – with electronic devices, aiming to increase the network stability and to avoid accidents with these causes. Automatic recovery after an incident in the network, high speed of operation and the possibility of data transmission are arguments for using electronic devices in protection applications. OSIM patent request no. A_00880_09.09.11 / 2011 - P. Ogruţan , L. Aciu , D. Lozneanu , I. Rosca, R. Munteanu, "Electronic interruptor and method for the protection in case of surge to grounding "

2. Electronic embedded system for monitoring the quality of the environment/ measurement of Radon concentration. Radon is a radioactive noble gas tasteless, odorless and colorless that appears through decomposition of the Uranium existing in Earth's crust. In some locations there may be an increased concentration of Radon and inhalation of this gas has mutagenic effects. There are offered solutions for measurement and data centralization with the original proposed equipment. OSIM Patent no. A_00259_09.04.2008 - L. Purghel, Gh. Morariu, P. Ogrutan, M. Alexandru, Cs. Kertesz, L. Suciu – “Method and apparatus for measurement of Radon concentration in the air and data tele-transmission”, as result of the research project CEEX nr. 747/2006 – “Research for national mapping of Radon for the protection of population according to international regulations – “RADROM”, 2006-2008.

3. System for the measurement of shielding effectiveness. Although carcinogenic effects of electromagnetic radiation are not proven yet, it is recommended a minimization of exposure. Individuals concerned about the proximity of antennas are interested in measuring the field and in shielding solutions. Construction companies have an increasing demand for electromagnetic insulation and wish to promote materials with electromagnetic shielding properties. They are offered solutions for the measurement of attenuation in TEM (Transverse Electro Magnetic) enclosure, with the LABVOLT waveguide or electromagnetic field measurement in different locations, with a set of SPECTRAN spectrum analyzers (CNCSIS project no. 429/2006, „Study of shielding properties for materials obtained with nanotechnologies and nanoprocesses, in order to integrate them in electrical and electronic systems for environmental improvement”).

81

Materials testing with the LABVOLT system (left) and measurement of the electromagnetic field with the Spectran analyzer (right)

4. Prototyping facilities based on the PCB Prototyping Machine and SMT equipment. Currently, most of the equipment contains a computer system. Every electrical circuit in the structure of an "embedded" system is done on a PCB. The equipment necessary to produce any type of electronic circuit in small series is the machine for planting SMT components. Prototypes can be accomplished, based on the patents obtained and on the research contracts proposing electronic devices with a commercial potential, as well as production for third parties.

Semiautomatic machine for the planting of SMT components

5. System for measuring the characteristics of magnetic material in dynamic regime, for a correct dimensioning of the circuits with magnetic core devices operating in dynamic conditions such as impulse mode. Design and efficient operation of electrical and electronic components that include soft magnetic cores is directly related to the nature of the magnetic material used and to the specific magnetization regime.

6. Electronic circuits for increasing the energy efficiency. Switching supplies have become widely used in powering the electronic equipment due to compactness and high efficiency compared to the linear sources . Determination of actual magnetization characteristics of magnetic cores for impulse regime enables the design of pulse transformers for improved energy parameters .

7. Device for automated measuring of the tangential force in piston rings of internal combustion engines, is one of the first applications in automotive electronics, a very important domain in the present and in the recent history of Brasov. Oltean I. „Device to automate the workbench for measuring tangential force in automotive piston rings”, Patent RO - 97713 .

8. Measurement of electrical and magnetic characteristics of composite materials. It is studied the electrical and magnetic behavior of composite materials with metal powders. Oltean I.D., Motoc D., „Resistor adjustable by changing the pressure applied to the resistive element” Patent No. 123 411 / 28.02.2012. The object of the invention is an adjustable resistor, of piezoresistive material, whose resistance can be controlled by the mechanical pressure applied to the resistive element of the device. The device can be used in circuits for the control of electric current in electric and electronic circuits, in DC or AC (low or high frequency). The adjustable resistor is non-inductive, allowing its resistance to change down to –50% of the nominal value by using a composite material with of a polymer matrix and iron powders with particle size of 100m.

82

9. Workbench for characterization and mobile applications of supercapacitors, designed for specific tests for the study of rechargeable batteries, of supercapacitors and of hybrid energy storage devices . There have been accomplished more test-benches and an 1/10 scale prototype of an electric vehicle powered by a hybrid power source . The completed research enabled the development of several models that characterize the functioning of energy storage devices as well as of a methodology for the specific dimensioning that takes into account implementation specifications of some vehicles . It is under development a test-bench based on the use of impulses in parameters identification for the electrode - electrolyte interfaces.

Supercapacitor test-bench for renewable energy applications

10. Microcontroller-based photovoltaic cells test-bench for the development of solar cells characterization methodology – aimed to modeling of the systems based on photovoltaic cells. The test-bench can be accessed and controlled remotely, and also allows complete automation of the characterization process for photocells.

11. Systems for monitoring and control – control system with microcontroller, dedicated to: centrifuges for bee products; spatially distributed synchronous clocks; monitoring system for the parameters of cement kiln; dosing of raw materials to clinker kilns; software system for monitoring the chemical maps of raw materials quarries and assisting their selective exploitation; software system for monitoring the quality of raw materials and of the products in cement industry; raw material dosing control in flour mills.

Research projects, national or international – ongoing or completed

1. Project CEEX 2006 "System for the remote control and monitoring of intelligent buildings – COMODICI". Embedded electronic systems for intelligent buildings have been developed in order to bring the convenience and savings to European standards. It was developed and tested an intelligent building monitoring system based on an embedded server, as a central point of communication that allows mobile and remote control of distributed networked devices – using a PDA or Smartphone.

Prof. dr. eng. Petre

Lucian Ogruţan Prof. dr. eng.

Mihai Romanca Prof. dr. eng. Paul

Nicolae Borza

2. Biomedical signal acquisition and tele-transmission via mobile computing equipment - BIOMEDTEL, contract no. D1-1-057/2007, PN2, 2007-2010. The contract allowed the research, design and implementation of a flexible and auto-adaptive system, to monitor key vital parameters of patients such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, electrocardiogram, blood sugar levels and patient's state of motion. The system developed is organized into four levels: smart sensors, data concentrator, patient server and hospital server. System functionality allows three basic operating modes: the first mode, in normal regime, when vital parameters of patients are acquired and processed, and periodically, at least once in 24 hours, acquired data are sent to the hospital server. The second mode is adopted automatically by the system when at least one of the patient's vital parameters exceed normal limits - patient records will be transmitted in real time to the patient server and to the hospital server. The third mode of operation allows the alarming of rapid intervention services when most of the vital parameters of the patient are affected.

83

Acquisition, processing and tele-transmission of electrocardiographic signal

Senior Lecturer dr.eng.

George Nicolae Senior Lecturer dr.eng.

Aurel Cornel Stanca Senior Lecturer dr.eng.

Marius Carp

3. Integrated system for the management of medical information using the HL7 standard - SIMIMED, contract no. D1-1-019/2007 , PN2 , 2007-2010. As partners in this contract, we have contributed to the research, design and implementation of a centralized patient data base as well as to the inventory of human and material resources within the health institution, using recent standards in medical informatics – HL7 and DICOM. We analyzed the ways to secure communication via VPN, by Firewalls & IDS , and we accomplished the requirements and specifications set for the securing interface of HIS-SIMIMED. It was proposed the implementing of the securing interface with eToken smartcards, the complete security solution was simulated using OPNET and the original concept of SONA -based network architecture, organized on three levels: client, infrastructure and server. 4. "Energy-optimized electrical systems for terrestrial transportation using rechargeable batteries and super-capacitors" TRANS-SUPERCAP, contract D1 -2- 018, 2007-2010. The contract financed the research and optimization of functional energy parameters, of the reliability and availability of locomotives and cars by re-designing their starter systems using combinations of batteries – and "stacked" super-capacitors available due to new nano- technologies. It was developed a prototype of starter-system for the LDH1250CP locomotives, based on super-capacitors, aiming to increase energy efficiency by reducing technological consumption of Diesel hydraulic-locomotives used for the service of heavy maneuvering of trains. The system is based on hybrid power sources (batteries and super-capacitors) controlled by an electronic system based on microcontroller. The prototype was implemented at Braşov railway locomotive depot, the benefits obtained being a reduction with 50% of the needed capacity of the accumulator batteries , increasing their lifespan with 70%, reducing daily fuel consumption with over 50 l /24h of continuous maneuver service and reducing CO2 emissions by over 148 kg /24h .

Selection of 7 recent publications, representative for the research group 1. L.E.Aciu, P.Ogruțan, G.Nicolae, B.Bouriot, New SEDB measurement methods for conductive materials, Przeglad Electrotechniczny, 3/2010,

ISSN 033-2097, p.5-7 2. P. Ogruțan, M. Romanca, C. Gerigan, G. Morariu, L. Aciu, Real Time and Multiple Location Radon (222Rn) Monitoring System, Advances in

Electrical and Computer Engineering, No. 4, November 2010, ISSN 1582-7445 3. P. Ogruțan, L. E. Aciu, D.Lozneanu, I Roșca, Consumers protection and monitoring with microcontroller based device for low-voltage

distribution systems, Przeglad Electrotechniczny, 06/2012, ISSN 033-2097, p. 55-57 4. L. Aciu, P. Ogruțan, HF signal behaviour analysis, Przeglad Electrotechniczny, 07b/2012, ISSN 033-2097, p. 177-179 5. Borza P.N., Pușcaș A.M., Carp M.C., Cocoradă S., Alexandru M., Wearable computing for patients with coronary diseases: Gathering efforts by

comparing methods, Proceeding of the IEEE International Conference on Automation, Quality and Testing, Robotics AQTR 2010, THETA

84

17th edition, May 28-30 2010, Cluj-Napoca, 6. M. Carp, Ana Maria Mușat, Paul Borza, Energy Management System and Controlling Methodsfor a LDH1250HP Diesel Locomotive Based

onSupercapacitors, FIP–The IFIP Advances in Informationand Communication Technology vol. 349 Luis M. Camarinha-Matos (Ed.) TechnologicalInnovationfor Sustainability Second IFIP WG 5.5/SOCOLNET Doctoral Conference on Computing, Electrical and Industrial Systems, Costa de Caparica, Portugal, February 21-23, 2011

7. Ana Maria Pușcaș, M Carp, P.N. Borza, R. Mușat ” Thermal and Voltage Testing and Characterization of Supercapacitors and Batteries”, The 12th International Conference on Optimization of Electrical and Electronic Equipment, OPTIM 2010, Brasov, May, 20-21, 2010

Contact data

Name: Prof. dr. ing. Petre OGRUȚAN Position: Coordinator of the ESD Laboratory petre.ogrutan@unitbv.ro

web: http://vega.unitbv.ro/~ogrutan Tel/fax: +40-268-478705 Address: Str. Politehnicii nr.1, Braşov