POLO - Complete galvanic isolation on PCBs via optical power transmission over printed polymer waveguides

The use of renewable energy sources and the adoption of electric vehicles require the conversion of direct current into alternating current by means of inverters. Increasingly stringent requirements are being placed on the power electronics they contain in terms of performance and efficiency. To meet these requirements, intelligent, rapid control of the semiconductors based on real-time sensor data is necessary. In this process, the sensors used must be supplied with the necessary power independently of the power electronics. To ensure safe and reliable operation, galvanic isolation (potential separation) between the semiconductor power electronics and the control electronics is required for both data and power transmission. Transformers or optical systems are currently used for power transmission, and these have significant drawbacks. Optoelectronic components are available for the galvanic isolation of data transmission. The solutions currently in use require complex assembly and connection technology during production and therefore incur high costs.

The key motivation behind the 'POLO' project is to overcome the existing technical and economic disadvantages of electrical isolation in inverters and to be able to present a universal, flexible and cost-effectively manufacturable solution. The project's approach is to develop and prototype a complete galvanic isolation solution for data and power transmission using printed polymeric optical waveguides at the printed circuit board (PCB) level. Using industrial manufacturing processes, the aim is to make it possible to integrate the waveguides into printed circuit boards and to connect them to readily available, cost-effective transmitting and receiving components. Several partners are collaborating on the project, all of whom already possess extensive expertise in the individual components of the targeted system solution.