Micro-Electromechanical Switches Application in Smart Grids for Improving Their Performance

摘要

Wireless sensor networks are as series sensor node in very small dimensions with the capability of sensing the surrounding environments, processing the data which is sensed; and, sharing the data between each other in wireless form. Despite numerous capabilities of these nodes, as their energy is supplied by batteries with limited power, they have limited life. In fact, the restrictions in the energy of nodes and the life span of a network poses as one of the important challenges in (using) these networks. The sensor nodes shall have the characteristics of low consumption capability; thus, in designing the nodes hardware, one must try to use designs and parts with low consumption. Furthermore, providing the sleep mode for the whole node or each section separately is highly important. Therefore, we suggest a combo-switch in which, the Micro-Electromechanical switch is used as a MOSFET switch functions as a gate MOSFET driver with the applicability of energy collection systems. The Power Administration Circuits which use combo-switch have the capacity of very low loss and no leakage, autonomous property and high current transmission capability. The measurements show solar energy collection circuits that use combo-switches collect energy without any power supply sources and voltage source, they charge the battery or drive resistive load. The current leakage during energy collection is very low; therefore, power administration which uses the proposed combo switch could serve as an ideal solution for autonomy of wireless sensor nodes in smart grid systems.