High Frequency Power Electronics (HFPE) Group

Professor Afridi’s HFPE group’s research is focused on radio frequency power electronics for a range of applications, and on energy systems that incorporate these power electronic controls, including wireless power transfer systems. 

The high-frequency power electronics (HFPE) group’s research thrusts include ultra-high efficiency compact grid-interfaced power converters that maintain high efficiency across wide operating ranges for applications ranging from solar micro-inverters to power supplies for electronic loads. Other research thrusts include long-life high-energy-density electrolytic-free twice-line-frequency energy buffers for offline LED drivers and single-phase inverters. Another major research focus is in the area of radio frequency (RF) power electronics for ultra-high-power-density energy conversion, and wireless power transfer. The wireless power transfer research targets applications ranging from the charging of portable electronics to in-motion powering of electric cars from the roadway.

Erickson Group

Prof. Erickson’s research group focus on modeling and design of power electronics components and systems. 

His research has spanned numerous areas within power electronics, and has included collaboration with many students and colleagues. Research results are arranged in the following broad topics:
  • Power electronics for building-integrated photovoltaics
  • Studies of the benefits of distributed maximum power point tracking
  • Modeling, design, and control of converters for solar applications
  • Wind power applications of power electronics
  • Composite converter architectures: beyond multilevel modular conversion
  • Electric vehicle power electronics
  • Low-harmonic rectifiers: modeling and control Integrated high-quality rectifier-regulators
  • Three-phase low-harmonic rectifiers Modeling, analysis, and control of resonant converters
  • Resonant switch converters
  • Modeling, control, and design of PWM power converters
  • Magnetics modeling
  • Power-conservative networks

iPower3Es Group

iPower3Es’s mission is to address the challenges in co-optimizing efficiency and size with performance in different electronic systems and applications, including: High-performance computing and data centers, DC-houses and DC-buildings power distribution, Low-power biomedical implants, and Internet of Things (IoTs). 

Researches in the iPower3Es group led by Prof. Hanh-Phuc Le are focussed on two main directions: integrated Power Electronics and Energy-Efficient Systems. In integrated Power Electronics, our research projects combine expertise in both integrated circuits and power electronics in order to create a solution with smaller footprint while still achieving high performance and efficiency. In Energy-Efficient Systems direction, our goal is to create new energy-efficient platforms for low-power biomedical implants and the Internet of Things. The projects in this direction demonstrate our expertise in integrated circuits and systems, combined with interdisciplinary collaborations from other research areas, including flexible electronics, optogenetics, communications, psychology and neuroscience.

Maksimovic Group

Prof. Maksimovic’s research group focuses on achieving significant system-level advances in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources via smart power electronics. 

Power electronics is the technology that ties wind turbines and photovoltaics to the electric power grid, propels hybrid and electric vehicles, powers a countless variety of electronic systems, and makes it possible to operate battery-powered mobile devices for many hours. In the Colorado Power Electronics Center, we are exploring ways to achieve significant system-level advances in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources via smart power electronics. Current research project topics include:
  • A Disruptive Approach to Electric Vehicle Power Electronics, sponsored by DOE
  • Vehicle Technologies Integrated power converters for photovoltaic (PV) modules in PV power systems, an ARPA-E Solar ADEPT project
  • Robust cell-level modeling and control of large battery packs, an ARPA-E AMPED (Advanced Management and Protection of Energy Storage Devices) program
  • Power management for high-efficiency handset and base station RF transmitter systems, including Microscale Power Converters (MPC)
  • High-efficiency power conversion and power control in data centers
  • Automotive power electronics
  • Control and optimization of micro-grids using smart power electronics
  • Power conversion and power management for mobile electronics
  • Digital control for improved efficiency and improved transient responses in high-frequency switched-mode DC-DC power converters