WIRELESS ENERGY TRANSFER ANTENNAS AND ENERGY CHARGING SYSTEMS

• US 20140327301A1
• Filed: 07/16/2014
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: IIZUKA, HIDEO, LEE, JAE SEUNG, SCHMALENBERG, PAUL DONALD, ROBERT, BRIAN JOSEPH
• Granted Patent: US 9,701,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/122 Circuits or methods for driving the primary coil, e.g. supplying electric power to the coil
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A resonant wireless energy transfer system comprises first and second antennas made up of dual parallel wire helixes wherein the wires are terminated by short wires. Voltage controlled variable capacitors are connected into the antennas to permit progressive variation between folded dipole and normal dipole operating modes such that optimum energy transfer can be achieved between the antennas over a wide range of antenna separation distances. A vehicle battery charging system using the above-described antennas is provided including an installation which allows purchase of battery charging power by members of the general public. In-vehicle energy transfer for sensors, computers, cell phones and the like is also described.

Claims

1. A wireless energy charging installation for installation on a vehicle having a rechargeable battery comprising:

a receiving antenna comprising a helix of dual, interconnected parallel wires; and

means for selectively tuning said antenna for resonant coupling to another, off-vehicle antenna;

wherein said means is capable of reconfiguring said antenna from a folded dipole to normal dipole configurations.

4. A transfer system as defined in claim 1 further including a circuit for tuning said receiving antenna for resonant coupling with another, off-vehicle antenna, wherein said circuit includes controllable circuit elements for reconfiguring said antenna from a folded dipole configuration to a normal dipole configuration.

5. A transfer system as defined in claim 4 wherein the circuit elements are Varactors.

6. The transfer system defined in claim 5 further including a power converter connected to said battery.

7. The transfer system defined in claim 4 wherein the antenna comprises a helix of dual parallel wires with a central feed point.

2. A wireless electrical power transfer system on-board an automotive vehicle comprising:

a power utilization device equipped with a receiving antenna to wirelessly receive power for operation; and

a transmitter antenna mounted in the vehicle for wirelessly transferring electrical power to said receiving antenna.

3. A system as defined in claim 2 wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of cell phones, tire pressure sensors, O₂ sensors, battery monitors and portable computers.