User:K moreno/ENES-100/project 2

Week1 Narrative
Task: Understand how the Powerbot wireless charger works.

The Powerbot, along with a majority of commercial wireless chargers works using copper coils. Exactly how it uses the coils is not understood. The copper coil from the wireless charger was unsoldered and was put under various tests:


 * Used alligator clips to connect coil to wireless charger circuit board at a distance
 * Wireless charger receiver was placed on top of coil
 * LED on circuit board changed from green to blue indicating it was charging
 * Repeated the same steps on the other side of the coil and produced the same results
 * Placed magnet under coil and placed receiver on top of coil
 * LED changed from green to blue and back to green repeatedly
 * The device was malfunctioning in the presence of a magnet

Next the door strike copper coil was connected to the Powerbot circuit board. When the receiver was brought near it, the device did not being to charge. Then, using 18 gauge copper wire, a makeshift coil was made and placed under the same conditions as before. It did not charge, however it made the LED on the circuit board turn on and off.

Next Steps:
 * Find a way to increase the range of the wireless charger
 * Find a way to increase the current flowing through the charger.

Week2 Narrative
Task: Make the makeshift copper coil to work with the Powerbot using a function generator.

The function generator allows the makeshift copper coil use the same property commercial wireless charger use, which is creating an near oscillating magnetic field. However, when the copper coil was connected to the function generator with the required frequency of 125kHz, when the Powerbot receiver was brought close, it did not begin to charge.

Task: Understand why the makeshift copper coil was not working with the Powerbot receiver.

Steps Taken:


 * Used an oscilloscope to view the frequency emitted by the Powerbot connected to its original copper coil
 * Connected the makeshift copper coil to the Powerbot and used the oscilloscope to view the frequency
 * Took a picture of both scenarios and compared the two

Upon closer inspection, it was seen that the Powerbot copper coil was oscillating at a faster rate and the magnitudes of the oscillations was different to that of the copper coil. The function of the frequency using the powerboat coil was not the same using the makeshift coil. This is probably due to different quality copper wiring. Need to find similar copper wire.

Task: Attempt to see if the range of the Powerbot could be increased by increasing the current.

Came in contact with a battery charger that had alligator clips extending out of it. The battery charger could deliver 6 to 12 volts.

Steps Taken:


 * Hooked the batter charger to the Powerbot's electricity input at 6 volts
 * Powerbot charged with no noticeable difference in range
 * Changed the current to 12 volts
 * Powerbot ceased functioning

The Powerbot started smoking. Could not handle 12 volts of electricity. Need to find a way to increase the range of a near oscillating magnetic field without destroying circuit boards.

Next Steps: Look up a set up of a long range oscillating magnetic field and attempt to replicate it.

Week3 Narrative
Task: Analyze the quality of several copper could that can be used to work with the Powerbot.

After the Powerbot was induced to 12 volts of current, it no longer serves its original function, however, it still gives increased electrical current at its terminals. Used the Powerbot's circuit board to determine the difference between its original coil and other different coils


 * Connected Powerbot coil to Powerbot Circuit board
 * Used an oscilloscope to measure what it was outputting
 * Took a picture of the reading
 * Repeated this with the previous makeshift copper coil and a coil wrapped around a plexiglass tube

After close inspection, all of the coils were emitting a frequency of 15MHz. Although the Powerbot coil was more clearly defined while the others were more fuzzy.

Next Steps:


 * Use the another Powerbot wireless charger and see if this could be repeated.
 * Look into designing a transmitter which can track the movements of the device intended to be charged and be able to move as it moves.

Week4 Narrative
Task: Organize all of the information gathered thus far.

Next Steps: Build function generator that can work with one of these coils.