Method and arrangement for automatic contactless charging
First Claim
1. A method of contactless energy transmission during charging of a battery of a vehicle using an inductive transmission arrangement which includes:
- a primary inductive element and a secondary inductive element, the secondary inductive element being disposed on the vehicle, the primary inductive element being movable with respect to the vehicle, the primary inductive element for moving into an approach position with respect to the secondary inductive element to achieve magnetic coupling with the secondary inductive element, anda charging device having an inverter for supplying the primary inductive element with a current having a frequency greater than about 20 kHz, the charging device additionally having a demodulation apparatus, and coupling detection circuitry which includes a peak rectifier, an analog-digital converter, a memory controlled by a clock generator, and a comparison stage,wherein capacitors are provided which resonate with the inductance of the primary inductive element and the inductance of the secondary inductive element, there being an a gap on the order of centimeters between the primary and secondary inductive elements,wherein a battery state detection and charging current control means is provided in the vehicle,wherein a means of contactless transmission of information from the vehicle to the charging device is provided in the vehicle, the means for contactless transmission of information including a high frequency generator disposed in the vehicle for producing a high frequency signal, and a modulating apparatus configured as a frequency modulator for producing a modulated high frequency signal,wherein an orientation signal emitter is provided on the vehicle to supply an orientation signal,wherein there is a charging current setter associated with the inverter of the charging device, andwherein there is at least one electronic switch associated with the inventer, the method comprising;
(a) measuring a battery charging current and determining a deviation of the measured battery charging current from a predetermined desired charging current value, with the battery state detection and charging current control means;
(b) transmitting the determined charging current deviation, under control of the means for contactless transmission of information, to the charging current setter associated with the inverter of the charging device, step (b) including(b-1) modulating the high frequency signal with a charging current deviation signal produced by the battery state detection and charging control means, using the modulating apparatus,(b-2) transmitting the modulated high frequency signal produced in step (b-1) through an electromagnetic field to the demodulation apparatus of the charging device,(b-3) using the demodulation apparatus to regenerate the charging current deviation signal, and(b-4) supplying the regenerated charging current deviation signal to the inverter;
(c) controlling switching time or switching frequency of the at least one electronic switch of the inverter supplying the current to the primary inductive element, so that the charging current deviation becomes zero; and
(d) before steps (a) through (c) are conducted, finding a favorable approach position and magnetic coupling between the movable primary inductive element and the secondary inductive element disposed on the vehicle, step (d) including(d-1) supplying an orientation signal from the orientation signal emitter provided on the vehicle to the modulation apparatus,(d-2) modulating the high frequency signal with the orientation signal as the primary inductive element approaches the secondary inductive element, and(d-3) transmitting the modulated signal produced in step (d-2) from the vehicle to the charging device,(d-4) demodulating the signal transmitted in step (d-3), and(d-4) using the coupling detection circuitry to indicate whether an amplitude of the orientation signal, and, therefore, coupling between the primary inductive element and the secondary inductive element disposed on the vehicle, increases, decreases, or remains the same.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a process for contactless energy transmission in charging the battery of a vehicle, in particular an electric car, by means of an inductive transmitter having a primary element (1) and a secondary element (2) which is attached to the vehicle, the secondary element (2) is made freely accessible and the primary element is power driven to move in all three spatial coordinates within a predetermined spatial area. In this process the primary element (1) and the secondary element (2) are placed, under sensor control, in predetermined positions relative to each other and then electrical energy is transmitted in the medium frequency range by means of the inductive transmitter.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of contactless energy transmission during charging of a battery of a vehicle using an inductive transmission arrangement which includes:
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a primary inductive element and a secondary inductive element, the secondary inductive element being disposed on the vehicle, the primary inductive element being movable with respect to the vehicle, the primary inductive element for moving into an approach position with respect to the secondary inductive element to achieve magnetic coupling with the secondary inductive element, and a charging device having an inverter for supplying the primary inductive element with a current having a frequency greater than about 20 kHz, the charging device additionally having a demodulation apparatus, and coupling detection circuitry which includes a peak rectifier, an analog-digital converter, a memory controlled by a clock generator, and a comparison stage, wherein capacitors are provided which resonate with the inductance of the primary inductive element and the inductance of the secondary inductive element, there being an a gap on the order of centimeters between the primary and secondary inductive elements, wherein a battery state detection and charging current control means is provided in the vehicle, wherein a means of contactless transmission of information from the vehicle to the charging device is provided in the vehicle, the means for contactless transmission of information including a high frequency generator disposed in the vehicle for producing a high frequency signal, and a modulating apparatus configured as a frequency modulator for producing a modulated high frequency signal, wherein an orientation signal emitter is provided on the vehicle to supply an orientation signal, wherein there is a charging current setter associated with the inverter of the charging device, and wherein there is at least one electronic switch associated with the inventer, the method comprising; (a) measuring a battery charging current and determining a deviation of the measured battery charging current from a predetermined desired charging current value, with the battery state detection and charging current control means; (b) transmitting the determined charging current deviation, under control of the means for contactless transmission of information, to the charging current setter associated with the inverter of the charging device, step (b) including (b-1) modulating the high frequency signal with a charging current deviation signal produced by the battery state detection and charging control means, using the modulating apparatus, (b-2) transmitting the modulated high frequency signal produced in step (b-1) through an electromagnetic field to the demodulation apparatus of the charging device, (b-3) using the demodulation apparatus to regenerate the charging current deviation signal, and (b-4) supplying the regenerated charging current deviation signal to the inverter; (c) controlling switching time or switching frequency of the at least one electronic switch of the inverter supplying the current to the primary inductive element, so that the charging current deviation becomes zero; and (d) before steps (a) through (c) are conducted, finding a favorable approach position and magnetic coupling between the movable primary inductive element and the secondary inductive element disposed on the vehicle, step (d) including (d-1) supplying an orientation signal from the orientation signal emitter provided on the vehicle to the modulation apparatus, (d-2) modulating the high frequency signal with the orientation signal as the primary inductive element approaches the secondary inductive element, and (d-3) transmitting the modulated signal produced in step (d-2) from the vehicle to the charging device, (d-4) demodulating the signal transmitted in step (d-3), and (d-4) using the coupling detection circuitry to indicate whether an amplitude of the orientation signal, and, therefore, coupling between the primary inductive element and the secondary inductive element disposed on the vehicle, increases, decreases, or remains the same. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of contactless energy transmission during charging of a battery of a vehicle using an inductive transmission arrangement which includes:
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a primary inductive element and a secondary inductive element, the secondary inductive element being disposed on the vehicle, the primary inductive element being movable with respect to the vehicle, the primary inductive element for moving into an approach position with respect to the secondary inductive element to achieve magnetic coupling with the secondary inductive element, and a charging device having an inverter for supplying the primary inductive element with a current having a frequency greater than about 20 kHz, wherein capacitors are provided which resonate with the inductance of the primary inductive element and the inductance of the secondary inductive element, there being a gap on the order of centimeters between the primary and secondary inductive elements, wherein a battery state detection and charging current control means is provided in the vehicle, wherein a means for contactless transmission of information is provided on the vehicle, the means for contactless transmission of information including a high frequency generator, a modulating apparatus, and a charging current deviation indicator, wherein there is a charging current setter associated with the inverter of the charging device, and wherein there is at least one electronic switch associated with the inventer, the method comprising; (a) measuring a battery charging current and determining a deviation of the measured battery charging current from a predetermined desired charging current value, with the battery state detection and charging current control means, the battery state detection and charging current control means including a battery state detection means a charging current controller, and a measurement controller;
step (a) including(a-1) transmitting a desired value for a charging current from the battery state detection means to the charging current controller, (a-2) obtaining a measuring signal with the aid of the measurement converter, the measuring signal being proportional to the current induced in the secondary inductive element, and (a-3) supplying the measuring signal to the charging current controller, the charging current controller forming a charging current deviation signal from the desired value for a charging current and the measuring signal; (b) transmitting the determined charging current deviation, under control of the means for contactless transmission of information, to the charging current setter associated with the inverter of the charging device, step (b) including (b-1) supplying the charging current deviation signal to the charging current deviation indicator, and (b-2) using the charge current deviation indicator to connect the charging current deviation signal to the modulating apparatus, which in turn modulates a high frequency signal generated by the high frequency generator; (c) controlling switching time or switching frequency of the at least one electronic switch of the inverter supplying the current to the primary inductive element, so that the charging current deviation becomes zero; and (d) when the battery is charged, emitting a signal from the battery state detection means to indicate the battery is charged, the signal emitted by the battery state detection means switching the charging current deviation signal off at the modulating apparatus by resetting the charging current deviation indicator, and producing a charging end signal for transmission to the charging device and to the modulating apparatus to turn off the modulating apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. An apparatus for contactless energy transmission, comprising:
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a primary inductive element and a secondary inductive element, the secondary inductive element being disposed on a vehicle, the primary inductive element being movable with respect to the vehicle to a position at which the primary inductive element is spaced apart from the secondary inductive element to form a transformer with a gap, a charging device having a capacitor which is connected in series with the primary inductive element and having an inverter for supplying the primary inductive element with an oscillating current via the capacitor, the inverter having an inverter frequency greater than about 20 kHz, another capacitor carried by the vehicle, the another capacitor being connected in parallel to the secondary inductive element, the capacitors having capacitances which are selected so that the capacitors resonate with the transformer with a gap at around the inverter frequency; and means for adjusting the amplitude of oscillation of the oscillating current by changing the inverter frequency, wherein the diameter or outer dimensions of the primary inductive element and the secondary inductive element are approximately ten to twenty times the gap width which remains between the two transmission elements when they form the transformer with a gap. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of contactless energy transmission during charging of a battery of a vehicle using an inductive transmission arrangement, the inductive transmission arrangement including
a primary and a secondary inductive element, the secondary inductive element being disposed on the vehicle, the primary inductive element being movable with respect to the vehicle to a position adjacent the secondary inductive element to achieve magnetic coupling with the secondary inductive element, plastic material on the primary and secondary inductive elements for electrical insulation and protection, the plastic material on each of the inductive elements having a respective thickness, a charging device having a capacitor which is connected in series with the primary inductive element and having an inverter for supplying an oscillating current to the primary inductive element via the capacitor, the inverter having an inverter frequency which is greater than about 20 kHz, and another capacitor carried by the vehicle, the another capacitor being connected in parallel to the secondary inductive element, wherein said method comprises the steps of: -
moving the primary inductive element toward the secondary inductive element to a position at which the primary inductive element is spaced apart from the secondary inductive element to form a transformer with a gap, the gap between the primary and secondary inductive elements being at least as large as the sum of the thickness of the plastic material on the primary inductive element and the thickness of the plastic material on the secondary inductive element, the capacitors having capacitances which are selected so that the capacitors resonate with the transformer with a gap at around the inverter frequency; and adjusting the amplitude of oscillation of the oscillating current by changing the inverter frequency. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification