Inductive Power Distribution in a Vehicle

• US 20200136433A1
• Filed: 10/31/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Eisenhour, Ronald, Gupta, Balkishan Malay
• Granted Patent: US 11,322,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0238 Electrical distribution centers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 30/04 having two or more secondary windings, each supplying a separate load, e.g. for radio set power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas

Abstract

In one aspect of the present disclosure, an induction hub is disclosed for use in powering components in a vehicle. The induction hub includes a source coil; first and second receiver coils having first and second conductive portions, respectively; and at least one isolation member that is positioned between the first and second conductive portions. The receiver coils are separated from the source coil such that, upon being energized by a power source, the source coil creates an induced electromagnetic field (EMF) and an electrical current in the receiver coils, which are in electrical communication with at least one component in the vehicle to thereby deliver power from the receiver coils to the at least one component. The at least one isolation member includes a material that is electrically nonconductive and electromagnetically permeable so as to physically and electrically separate the receiver coils without impacting the induced EMF.

Claims

1. An induction hub for use in powering components in a vehicle, the induction hub comprising:

a source coil;

a first receiver coil having a first conductive portion and a second receiver coil having a second conductive portion, the first and second receiver coils being separated from the source coil such that upon being energized by a power source, the source coil creates an induced electromagnetic field (EMF) and an electrical current in the first and second receiver coils, the first and second receiver coils being in electrical communication with at least one component in the vehicle to thereby deliver power from the first and second receiver coils to the at least one component; and

at least one isolation member positioned between the first conductive portion of the first receiver coil and the second conductive portion of the second receiver coil, the at least one isolation member including a material that is electrically nonconductive and electromagnetically permeable so as to physically and electrically separate the first and second receiver coils without impacting the induced EMF.

2. The induction hub of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver coil is in electrical communication with a first component in the vehicle and the second receiver coil is in electrical communication with a second component in the vehicle,

the at least one isolation member includes at least one spacer configured as a discrete structure positioned between the first and second receiver coils such that the first receiver coil, the second receiver coil, and the at least one spacer are arranged in a stack,

the induction hub further includes a magnetic core supporting the first receiver coil, the second receiver coil, and the at least one spacer, and a retainer connectable to the magnetic core to secure the first receiver coil, the second receiver coil, and the at least one spacer in relation to the magnetic core and thereby maintain uniformity in the EMF.

3. The induction hub of claim 1, wherein the first receiver coil is in electrical communication with a first component in the vehicle and the second receiver coil is in electrical communication with a second component in the vehicle, the first receiver coil, the second receiver coil, and the at least one isolation member being arranged in a stacked configuration.

4. The induction hub of claim 3, wherein the at least one isolation member includes at least one spacer configured as a discrete structure, the at least one spacer including a first spacer positioned between the first receiver coil and the second receiver coil.

5. The induction hub of claim 4, further including a third receiver coil in electrical communication with a third component in the vehicle, the at least one spacer further including a second spacer configured as a discrete structure positioned between the second receiver coil and the third receiver coil.

6. The induction hub of claim 3, wherein the first receiver coil includes a first jacket at least partially covering the first conductive portion and the second receiver coil includes a second jacket at least partially covering the second conductive portion.

7. The induction hub of claim 1, further including a core supporting the first receiver coil, the second receiver coil, and the at least one isolation member.

8. The induction hub of claim 7, wherein the core includes a magnetic material.

9. The induction hub of claim 7, further including a retainer connectable to the core to secure the first receiver coil, the second receiver coil, and the at least one isolation member in relation to the core and thereby maintain uniformity in the EMF.

10. The induction hub of claim 9, wherein the retainer is configured for removable connection to the core.

11. The induction hub of claim 10, wherein the retainer and the core include corresponding threaded portions such that the retainer is threadably engageable with the core.

12. An induction hub for use in powering components in a vehicle, the induction hub comprising:

a magnetic core;

a first receiver coil positioned about the magnetic core and being in electrical communication with a first component in the vehicle;

a second receiver coil positioned about the magnetic core and being in electrical communication with a second component in the vehicle;

a first source coil positioned to induce a first electromagnetic field (EMF) and create an electrical current in the first and second receiver coils to thereby power the first and second components in the vehicle, the first source coil receiving current in a first direction; and

a first isolation member positioned between the first and second receiver coils, the first isolation member including a material that is electrically nonconductive and electromagnetically permeable so as to physically and electrically separate the first and second receiver coils without impacting the first EMF.

13. The induction hub of claim 12, further including a first retainer connectable to the magnetic core to secure the first receiver coil, the second receiver coil, and the first isolation member in relation to the magnetic core and thereby maintain uniformity in the first EMF.

14. The induction hub of claim 13, wherein the first retainer is configured for removable connection to the magnetic core.

15. The induction hub of claim 14, wherein the first retainer and the magnetic core include corresponding threaded portions such that the first retainer is threadably engageable with the magnetic core.

16. The induction hub of claim 13, further including:

a third receiver coil positioned about the magnetic core and being in electrical communication with a third component in the vehicle;

a fourth receiver coil positioned about the magnetic core and being in electrical communication with a fourth component in the vehicle;

a second source coil positioned to induce a second electromagnetic field (EMF) and create an electrical current in the third and fourth receiver coils to thereby power the third and fourth components in the vehicle, the second source coil receiving current in a second direction opposite the first direction; and

a second isolation member positioned between the third and fourth receiver coils, the second isolation member including a material that is electrically nonconductive and electromagnetically permeable so as to physically and electrically separate the third and fourth receiver coils without impacting the second EMF.

17. The induction hub of claim 16, further including a second retainer removably connectable to the magnetic core to secure the third receiver coil, the fourth receiver coil, and the second isolation member in relation to the magnetic core and thereby maintain uniformity in the second EMF.

18. A method of delivering power to components in a vehicle, the method comprising:

electrically connecting an induction hub to at least one component in the vehicle; and

energizing a source coil of the induction hub so as to create an induced electromagnetic field (EMF) and an electrical current in receiver coils that are electrically separated from one another by at least one isolation member, the receiver coils being in communication with the at least one component in the vehicle to thereby power the at least one component.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein electrically connecting the induction hub to the at least one component in the vehicle includes electrically connecting a first receiver coil to a first component in the vehicle and electrically connecting a second receiver coil to a second component in the vehicle, wherein the at least one isolation member is positioned between the first and second receiver coils and includes a material that is electrically nonconductive and electromagnetically permeable so as to physically and electrically separate the first and second receiver coils without impacting the induced EMF.

20. The method of claim 19, further including adding a third receiver coil to the induction hub and electrically connecting the third receiver coil to a third component in the vehicle.