Inductive charger coupling for electric vehicles

• US 6,154,005 A
• Filed: 03/17/1999
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Tsuzuki, Masanori, Hyogo, Takashi, Terazoe, Masahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/270,948
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/109
• US Class Current: 320/108
• 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 50/005 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 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An inductive charger coupling for charging batteries of electric vehicles which includes a paddle having a circuit board comprising a communication circuit for receiving electrical signals regarding the battery charging state, and an antenna formed as a conductive print pattern on the paddle circuit board; the communication circuit converts radio signals received by the antenna into electrical signals; the receptacle receiving the paddle during charging includes a communication circuit and an antenna formed as a conductive print pattern on the receptacle circuit board.

Claims

1. An inductive charger coupling for charging a battery using electromagnetic induction, the coupling comprising:

a charging paddle, wherein the paddle includes a primary core, a primary coil and a paddle communication circuit for receiving information representing the charging state of the battery, the primary coil being connected to a power source and wound around the primary core, wherein the paddle circuit board includes a paddle antenna and the paddle communication circuit, the paddle antenna being connected to the paddle communication circuit, wherein the paddle antenna is a conductive print pattern formed on the paddle circuit board; and

a receptacle, in which the paddle is received, for delivering power to the battery, wherein the receptacle includes a secondary core, a secondary coil, a receptacle circuit board and a receptacle communication circuit for transmitting the information, the secondary coil being electrically connected to the battery and wound around the secondary core, wherein the receptacle circuit board includes a receptacle antenna and the receptacle communication circuit, the receptacle antenna being connected to the receptacle communication circuit by a connecting line made of a conductive print pattern formed on the receptacle circuit board, wherein the receptacle antenna is a conductive print pattern formed on the receptacle circuit board.

2. The inductive charger coupling according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle antenna is arranged in close proximity to the paddle circuit board when the paddle is plugged in.

3. The inductive charger coupling according to claim 2, wherein the receptacle antenna is parallel with the paddle antenna when the paddle is plugged in.

4. The inductive charger coupling according to claim 3, wherein the receptacle antenna, except for a side facing the paddle circuit board, is shielded by conductive patterns formed on the receptacle circuit board.

5. The inductive charger coupling according to claim 2, further including a connecting line made of a conductive print pattern formed on the paddle circuit board, wherein the paddle antenna and the paddle communication circuit are connected by the connecting line.

6. The inductive charger coupling according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle circuit board and the paddle circuit board are waterproof and dust-proof.

7. The inductive charger coupling according to claim 6, wherein the receptacle is installed in a vehicle and the coupling is used for charging the vehicle battery.

8. An inductive charger coupling for charging a battery using electromagnetic induction, the coupling comprising:

a charging paddle, wherein the paddle includes a primary core, a primary coil, and a receiving circuit board, wherein the primary coil is wound around the primary core and is connected to a power source, wherein the receiving circuit board includes a paddle antenna and a receiving circuit, wherein the paddle antenna is connected to the receiving circuit, wherein the receiving circuit converts radio waves received by the paddle antenna into information concerning the battery charging state; and

a receptacle, in which the paddle is received, for delivering power to the battery, wherein the receptacle includes a secondary core, a secondary coil, a transmitting circuit board for transmitting the information using radio waves, the secondary coil being electrically connected to the battery and wound around the secondary core, wherein the receiving circuit board includes a receptacle antenna and a transmitting circuit, the receptacle antenna being connected to the transmitting circuit by a connecting line made of conductive print pattern formed on the transmitting circuit board, wherein the transmitting circuit converts the information into radio waves, the radio waves being transmitted from the receptacle antenna, and wherein the receptacle antenna is a conductive print pattern formed on the transmitting board.

9. The inductive charger coupling according to claim 8, wherein the receptacle antenna is arranged in close proximity to the paddle antenna when the paddle is plugged in.

10. The inductive charger coupling according to claim 9, wherein the receptacle antenna, except for a side facing the receiving circuit board, is shielded by conductive patterns formed on the transmitting circuit board.

11. The inductive charger coupling according to claim 10 further including a connecting line made of a conductive pattern formed on the receiving circuit board, wherein the paddle antenna and the receiving circuit are connected by the connecting line.

12. The inductive charger coupling according to claim 8, wherein the transmitting circuit board and the receiving circuit board are waterproof and dust-proof.

13. The inductive charger coupling according to claim 12, wherein the receptacle is installed in a vehicle and the coupling charges the vehicle battery.