SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INDUCTIVELY TRANSFERRING AC POWER AND SELF ALIGNMENT BETWEEN A VEHICLE AND A RECHARGING STATION
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for hands free inductive charging of batteries for an electric vehicle is characterized by the use of a transformer having a primary coil connected with a charging station and a secondary coil connected with a vehicle. More particularly, the when the vehicle is parked adjacent to the charging station, the primary coil is displaced via a self alignment mechanism to position the primary coil adjacent to the secondary coil to maximize the inductive transfer of charging current to the secondary coil. The self alignment mechanism preferably utilizes feedback signals from the secondary coil to automatically displace the primary coil in three directions to position the primary coil for maximum efficiency of the transformer.
14 Citations
30 Claims
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6. A system for charging a rechargeable battery, comprising:
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a power transformer including a first core, the first core including first, second, and third pole areas; and a second core, the second core including first, second, and third pole areas, and wherein the first core and the second core are separated by first, second, and third air gaps, the first air gap separating the first pole of the first core and the first pole of the second core, the second air gap separating the second pole of the first core and the second pole of the second core, and the third air gap separating the third pole of the first core and the third pole of the second core; and a semi-permeable magnetic membrane comprising an epoxy binder and a ferromagnetic material embedded within the epoxy binder, wherein the semi-permeable magnetic membrane coats each of the first, second, and third poles on the first core, and the semi-permeable magnetic membrane coats each of the first, second, and third poles on the second core, the first core is electrically connected to a primary voltage source, and the second core is located apart from the first core until recharging occurs and further is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. An inductively coupled battery recharging system, comprising:
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a first inductive winding coupled to an exterior power source and including a first core, a first winding area of the first core including a first winding cross sectional area AWC1; a first pole section of the first core including a first pole sectional area AC1P1, a second pole section of the first core including a second pole sectional area AC1P2, and a third pole section of the first core including a third pole section area AC1P3, wherein AC1P1, AC1P2, and AC1P3 are substantially similar in shape and size; and a second inductive winding coupled to a rechargeable battery and including a second core, a second winding area of the second core including a second winding cross sectional area AWC2; a first pole section of the second core including a first pole sectional area AC1P1, and a second pole section of the second core includes a second pole sectional area AC2P2, and a third pole section of the second core including a third pole sectional area AC2P3, wherein AC2P1 and AC2P2 and AC2P3 are substantially similar in shape and size, AWC1 and AwC2 are substantially similar in shape and size, and AC1P1 and AC1P2 and AC1P3 and AC2P1 and AC2P2 and AC2P3 are substantially similar in shape and size, and further wherein, when the ratio of the area of the pole of the core to the area of the winding of the core is between 2.0- and 5.0, both a first magnetic flux area formed between the first pole of the first core and the first pole of the second core, and a second magnetic flux area formed between the second pole of the first core and the second pole of the second core, and a third magnetic flux area formed between the third pole of the first core and the third pole of the second core are substantially contained, respectively, within a first volume formed by the cross sectional areas of the first pole of the first core and the first pole of the second core, and the second pole of the first core and the second pole of the second core, and the third pole of the first core and the third pole of the second core. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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16. Apparatus for inductively charging a battery in a vehicle, comprising
(a) a fixture; - and
(b) a transformer including (1) a primary coil mounted on said fixture; and (2) a secondary coil mounted on the vehicle, whereby when the vehicle is positioned adjacent to said fixture and said secondary coil is opposite said primary coil and power is supplied to said primary coil, inductive power is transmitted to said secondary coil to charge the vehicle battery. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification