Electric supply system, corresponding terminal and mounting base
First Claim
1. A system for supplying electrical energy, comprising:
- a fixed base comprising a first sender induction coil energized by an electrical mains supply, and a mobile terminal comprising a second receiver induction coil supplying at least one socket outlet and designed to be placed opposite said base to enable inductive coupling between said first and second coils so that electrical energy received from the electrical mains supply can be transmitted to said at least one socket outlet with no electrical connection between said base and said terminal, wherein said base comprises first electronic means assuring at least one of the functions belonging to the group consisting of, converting a low-frequency electrical signal received via the electrical mains supply, the frequency being stepped up by an electronics stage assuring the function of a resonant inverter using two IGBT components to produce a high-frequency electrical signal energizing the sender induction coil of the base at an upper voltage, said sender coil being in the form of a sender plate housing concentric turns, detecting correct positioning and the presence of and/or identifying said terminal, the optimum efficiency of the system being conditioned by a concentric arrangement of the sender plate and of a receiver plate of said terminal placed one on the other, said sender and receiver plates having for this purpose a centering hole, said sender coil has an intermediate output energizing only a part of the sender coil for generating a low power just sufficient to establish a communication with said mobile receiver part so as when the mobile part is recognized, after an exchange of information between the base and the terminal, contact means connect the remainder of the sender coil to the receiver coil and all the power is transmitted, and validation of transfer of energy between said coils.
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Abstract
A contactless connecting system based on power transmission by induction includes an embedded transmitting part flush with ground level and a receiving part which is placed above it. The invention provides the possibility of supplying any standard electrical appliance once it is connected to the terminal; the standardization of the terminals which can be set on any contact block and receive power after recognition; the tightness of the embedded part; the safety provided for the electric power supply; and the continuous adaptation of the power supply to the variations in the load (the regulating algorithm is contained in a non-volatile memory). The dialogue established between the transmitting part and the receiving part enables the recognition of the type of terminal and the remote transmission of information for invoicing, remote monitoring, etc.
61 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for supplying electrical energy, comprising:
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a fixed base comprising a first sender induction coil energized by an electrical mains supply, and a mobile terminal comprising a second receiver induction coil supplying at least one socket outlet and designed to be placed opposite said base to enable inductive coupling between said first and second coils so that electrical energy received from the electrical mains supply can be transmitted to said at least one socket outlet with no electrical connection between said base and said terminal, wherein said base comprises first electronic means assuring at least one of the functions belonging to the group consisting of, converting a low-frequency electrical signal received via the electrical mains supply, the frequency being stepped up by an electronics stage assuring the function of a resonant inverter using two IGBT components to produce a high-frequency electrical signal energizing the sender induction coil of the base at an upper voltage, said sender coil being in the form of a sender plate housing concentric turns, detecting correct positioning and the presence of and/or identifying said terminal, the optimum efficiency of the system being conditioned by a concentric arrangement of the sender plate and of a receiver plate of said terminal placed one on the other, said sender and receiver plates having for this purpose a centering hole, said sender coil has an intermediate output energizing only a part of the sender coil for generating a low power just sufficient to establish a communication with said mobile receiver part so as when the mobile part is recognized, after an exchange of information between the base and the terminal, contact means connect the remainder of the sender coil to the receiver coil and all the power is transmitted, and validation of transfer of energy between said coils. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
an indicator showing that energy is being transferred, at least one electrical socket outlet to one or more known standards, a device for reading portable memory objects for authorizing use of said terminals and/or paying for electrical energy consumed, dedicated electrical equipment, such as a lamp on a pole, an illuminated cone, emergency equipment, and at least one carrying handle. -
9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for encouraging and/or controlling aligning said terminal with said base, belonging to the group consisting of,
mechanical guide means for placing said terminal on and/or attaching it to said base, and optical means for transmitting an optical infrared signal from said terminal to a corresponding sensor in said base. -
10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for locking said terminal to said base and preventing removal of said terminal while energy is being transferred.
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11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said locking means employ magnetic forces.
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12. The system according to claim 1, wherein a ring magnet is inserted in each hole of said sender and receiver plates, the intensity of the magnetic field detected due to interaction of the two magnets with each other triggering the operation of an optical interface of a communication receiver and consequent effective transmission of an inductive field from the coil of the buried base to the receiver coil.
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13. The system according to claim 12, wherein for said validation of transfer of energy between said coils, in order to transmit identification and regulation information from the terminal to the buried base without contact, an infrared optical emitter at the center of the magnet in the ring of the plate of the mobile terminal transmits digital information to an infrared optical receiver at the center of the magnet in the central ring of the plate of the buried base opposite it, and in that said bi-directional communication is continuous while the system is operating.
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14. The system according to claim 1, for supplying electrical energy to a variable and unknown load further comprising means of limitation of the power transmitted by placing the sender base on an auto-protection state beyond a predetermined power value detected by the mobile terminal and transmitted to the electronics of the base via the communication and means of automatic resetting of said limitation means after a time-delay.
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15. The system according to claim 1, further comprising data transferring means to a centralized device.
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16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said data is transferred by modulating a power line carrier current.
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Specification