Power Line Communication (PLC) and Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT) are popular examples of applications, where power and information are transmitted simultaneously. In most cases, different devices have been used to generate the power and communication signals independently. Usually, the information is superimposed onto the power signal using an external modulator. Recently, power converters have been used to generate pulses not just for power conversion but also for information transfer simultaneously. This approach represents a fundamental difference because it exploits the signal processing potential of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), where for power conversion only the average pulse width is used, while the information is represented by the harmonics instead of being filtered out, as typically done in power electronics. The concept of embedding information into the switching ripple generated by a switched-mode power converter has recently been dubbed Talkative Power (TP), in this paper referred as Talkative Power Conversion (TPC). TPC technologies are reviewed in non-isolated and isolated converters in this paper. Potential applications include visible light communications, battery management systems, switching reluctance generators/motors, microgrids, and wireless electric vehicle charging stations. Finally, trending topics are identified.

Crosstalk phenomena taking place between synapses can influence signal transmission and, in some cases, brain functions. It is thus important to discover the dynamic behaviors of the neural network infected by synaptic crosstalk. To achieve this, in this paper, a new circuit is structured to emulate the Coupled Hyperbolic Memristors, which is then utilized to simulate the synaptic crosstalk of a Hopfield Neural Network (HNN). Thereafter, the HNN’s multi-stability, asymmetry attractors, and anti-monotonicity are observed with various crosstalk strengths. The dynamic behaviors of the HNN are presented using bifurcation diagrams, dynamic maps, and Lyapunov exponent spectrums, considering different levels of crosstalk strengths. Simulation results also reveal that different crosstalk strengths can lead to wide-ranging nonlinear behaviors in the HNN systems.

Intrinsically safe power converters have been highly demanded in many harsh industrial environments, such as gas stations, chemical plants, and mine tunnels, to realize accurate voltage or current regulations with minimum safety risks. Communication among different devices is the key to realizing important operations, such as coordinated control, fault detection, and state update, for intrinsically safe converters. In this article, a capacitor current pulse train (CC-PT) control strategy is designed to increase the dynamic response of dc–dc converter with intrinsic operational safety. An orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) based power and signal synchronous transmission (PSST) method is then proposed. The mathematical models of signal modulation are established, and the intrinsic safety region is drawn in the L–C parameters plane, considering the requirements of electric performance, the inductor disconnection discharging, and output short-circuit tests. Simulations and prototype experiments are conducted and presented to verify the feasibility of the OFDM-based PSST in the CC-PT-controlled buck converter with intrinsically safe parameters.

Talkative power conversion (TPC), which embeds information into the switching ripples of power converters to achieve the simultaneous transmission of power and data without installation of additional hardware, can reduce the additional communication infrastructure in cyber-physical systems of digital energy and modern power plants. TPC in DC/DC converters has been the subject of numerous investigations, but comparatively few studies have focused on DC/AC converters. In this paper, a novel variable zero-vector-width modulation (VZVWM) for three-phase DC/AC converters is proposed to achieve TPC. The DC/AC converters can transmit information to the receiver, crossing the LCL filter and power cable, with a good power quality. The harmonic distribution is mathematically analyzed, underpinning the viability of VZVWM-based TPC, and leading to the proposed sliding FFT-based demodulation. The EMI performance of the VZVWM-based talkative DC/AC converter is studied in detail. The correctness of harmonics distribution and feasibility of the VZVWM-based TPC is validated in simulations and experiments. Total harmonic distortion and bit error rate are evaluated with regard to variable cable distances, types, and zero vector’s widths.

This article provides a systematic overview of the basics of talkative power conversion (TPC). TPC is an emerging technique for simultaneous information and power transmission, in which data modulation is integrated into a switched-mode power converter. The data sequence is embedded in the ripple voltage, which is superimposing the output voltage of the converter. In contrast to conventional power line communication (PLC), TPC can be used universally, not only in grid applications. Aspects of power electronics (PE) and digital communication are presented in a structured form, including new perspectives such as multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques applied to TPC, adaptive modulation and channel coding, and advanced receiver design with adaptive channel and load estimation. The new aspects aim to mitigate the inherent shortcomings of TPC.

Talkative power conversion (TPC), which embeds information in the switching ripple to achieve simultaneous power and data transmission without installing any or few additional hardware at the transmitter side, can reduce the additional communication infrastructure needed in cyber-physical systems like smart grids and renewable power plants. While in dc–dc converters TPC has been the subject of numerous investigations, dc–ac converters have received less attention. Recently, zero vectors of three-phase dc–ac converters were used to embed data, and variable zero vector width modulation TPC has been investigated. In this study, a novel zero vector-based modulation, called variable zero-vector position modulation, is proposed for three-phase dc–ac TPC with improved communication performance. This type of dc–ac converter can send data through the power line to the demodulator with good power quality. The viability of using sliding fast fourier transform (FFT)-based demodulation for target side-band harmonics is supported by a mathematical study of the harmonic distribution. The results of MATLAB/Simulink-based simulations and scaled-down prototype-based experimental results verify the correctness of the theoretical analysis. Besides, the bit error rate is evaluated for different line lengths and zero vector positions.