Electromagnetic induction type charging device

• US 6,239,577 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2000
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Shojima, Hirohisa, Kaneko, Masaaki, Hyogo, Takashi, Koike, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/526,282
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/34 Plug-like or socket-like devices specially adapted for contactless inductive charging of electric vehicles positioning means for charging devices using inductive energy transfer B60L53/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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: 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 electromagnetic induction type charging device for charging a battery device has a charging paddle and a receptacle. The charging paddle has an infrared communication apparatus for communicating between the paddle and the receptacle. The housing of the charging paddle is made of a material that transmits infrared waves.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic induction type charging paddle for engaging a receptacle to charge a battery, the charging paddle comprising:

a first coil;

a first infrared communication apparatus for sending or transmitting data between the first infrared communication apparatus and a second infrared communication apparatus in the receptacle; and

a housing for accommodating the first coil and the first infrared communication apparatus, wherein the housing is made of a material that transmits infrared waves.

2. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is made of a material that is non-transparent.

3. The charging paddle according to claim 1, wherein the paddle can be inserted into the receptacle in either of two orientations, the housing is substantially flat, the charging paddle has a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite to the first side, and wherein the first infrared communication apparatus can communicate with the second infrared communication apparatus regardless of which of the orientations the paddle is in when the charging paddle is inserted in the receptacle.

4. The charging paddle according to claim 3, wherein the first infrared communication apparatus is a pair of infrared communication elements, wherein one of the infrared communication elements is located to face the first side and the other is located to face the second side.

5. The charging paddle according to claim 3, wherein a refractor is located in the charging paddle such that the refractor separates an infrared beam transmitted from the first infrared communication apparatus into a first branch and a second branch, wherein the first branch passes through the first side, and the second branch passes through the second side.

6. The charging paddle according to claim 5, wherein the refractor is a prism.

7. The charging paddle according to claim 1, wherein the material is a polycarbonate resin, and the material is coated with a non-transparent, infrared wave transmitting paint.

8. The charging paddle according to claim 1, wherein a power supply is connected to the charging paddle, and a first communication circuit is provided in the charging paddle and a second communication circuit is provided in the power supply.

9. The charging paddle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle includes:

an electromagnetic induction coil;

a refractor for directing an infrared beam so that the beam travels between the first infrared communication apparatus and the second infrared communication apparatus.

10. The charging paddle according to claim 1, wherein the first infrared communication apparatus is located such that a longitudinal axis of the first infrared communication apparatus is parallel to the sides of the charging paddle.

11. An electromagnetic induction type charging device contacting a receptacle to charge a battery, wherein the charging device has a charging paddle connected with a power supply, the charging paddle comprising:

a first coil;

a first infrared communication apparatus for sending or transmitting data between the first infrared communication apparatus and a second infrared communication apparatus in the receptacle; and

a flat housing for accommodating the first coil and the first infrared communication apparatus, wherein the housing is made of a material that is non-transparent and permits infrared waves to pass through the housing.

12. The charging device according to claim 11, wherein the paddle can be inserted into the receptacle in either of two orientations, the housing is substantially flat, the charging paddle has a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite to the first side, and wherein the first infrared communication apparatus can communicate with the second infrared communication apparatus regardless of which of the orientations the paddle is in when the charging paddle is inserted in the receptacle.

13. The charging device according to claim 12, wherein the first infrared communication apparatus is a pair of infrared communication elements, wherein one of the infrared communication elements is located to face the first side and the other is located to face the second side in the housing of the charging paddle.

14. The charging device according to claim 13, wherein a refractor is located in the charging paddle such that the refractor separates an infrared beam transmitted from the first infrared communication apparatus into a first branch and a second branch, wherein the first branch passes through the first side, and the second branch passes through the second side.

15. The charging device according to claim 14, wherein the refractor is a prism.

16. The charging device according to claim 11, wherein the material is a polycarbonate resin, and the material is coated with a non-transparent, infrared wave transmitting paint.

17. The charging device according to claim 11, wherein a power supply is connected to the charging paddle, and a first communication circuit is provided in the charging paddle and a second communication circuit is provided in the power supply.

18. The charging device according to claim 11, wherein the receptacle includes:

an electromagnetic induction coil;

a refractor for directing an infrared beam so that the beam travels between the first infrared communication apparatus and the second infrared communication apparatus.

19. The charging device according to claim 11, wherein the first infrared communication apparatus is located such that a longitudinal axis of the first infrared communication apparatus is parallel to the sides of the charging paddle.