Device for contactless transmission of electric energy

• US 6,265,791 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler GmbH (Delachaux Group SA)
• Original Assignee: Wampfler Aktiengesellschaft (Delachaux Group SA)
• Inventors: Eberl, Bernhard, Vonhof, Eberhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Ballato, Josie
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIOS CUEVAS, ROBERTO JOSE
• Application Number:
  US09/284,592
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 191/10, 363/104, 363/173, 336/178, 318/558, 307/104, 307/7, 307/17, 307/125
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/122 Circuits or methods for driving the primary coil, e.g. supplying electric power to the coil
• 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

An energy transmission device allows several consumers to be supplied with energy independent of one another and provides contactless transmission of energy from a primary current line, through which alternating current flows, to a number of secondary, resident load circuits with at least one coil, each of which draws energy from the electromagnetic field of the current lead. An auxiliary line runs parallel to the current lead and it is connected with the current lead via several connecting points in order to conduct current from a first connecting point via the auxiliary line to a second connecting point. In at least one section of the line, between two connecting points, an adjustable impedance is provided in the auxiliary line which is controlled by a monitoring device in order to prevent blocking of the line by a disconnected consumer.

Claims

1. A device for the contactless transmission of energy from a primary current line, through which alternating current flows, to a number of secondary, resonant load circuits with at least one coil each of which draws energy from the electromagnetic field of the current line, the device comprising an auxiliary line running parallel to the current line and connected with the current line via several connecting points for conducting the current from a first connecting point via the auxiliary line to a second connecting point, an adjustable resistance in at least one section of the auxiliary line, between two connecting points, and a monitoring device for controlling said adjustable resistance in order to prevent blocking of the line by a disconnected consumer, the monitoring device monitoring the voltage on the adjustable resistance of at least one line section and generating control pulses for the adjustable resistance at specific changes in value.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the adjustable resistance is formed by a switch that can be closed or opened respectively to switch the auxiliary line to conducting or non-conducting.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the connecting points are in the form of capacitors.

4. The device according to claim 2 wherein the switch is closed in a pulsed manner to control the power consumption of a consumer.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device monitors a testing current flow in at least one line section of the auxiliary line and generates control pulses for an adjustable resistance at specific changes in value.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein at least one consumer has a device for contactless signal transmission.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein a monitoring device receives signals from a consumer transmitted in a contactless manner and generates control pulses for at least one adjustable resistance in dependency thereon.

8. Device according to claim 1, wherein a monitoring device receives signals from several consumers and simultaneously controls several adjustable resistances.

9. Device according to claim 1, wherein a separate monitoring device for controlling the local adjustable resistance is allocated to at least one line section.

10. A device for the contactless transmission of energy from a primary current line, through which alternating current flows, to a number of secondary, resonant load circuits with at least one coil each of which draws energy from the electromagnetic field of the current line, the device comprising an auxiliary line running parallel to the current line and connected with the current line via several connecting points for conducting the current from a first connecting point via the auxiliary line to a second connecting point, an adjustable resistance in at least one section of the auxiliary line, between two connecting points, and a monitoring device for controlling said adjustable resistance in order to prevent blocking of the line by a disconnected consumer, the monitoring device monitoring the current flow in at least one line section of the primary current line and generating control pulses for said adjustable resistance at specific changes in value.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein the adjustable resistance is formed by a switch that can be closed or opened respectively to switch the auxiliary line to conducting or non-conducting.

12. The device according to claim 10 wherein the connecting points are in the form of capacitors.

13. The device according to claim 11 wherein the switch is closed in a pulsed manner to control the power consumption of a consumer.

14. Device according to claim 10, wherein the monitoring device monitors a testing current flow in at least one line section of the auxiliary line and generates control pulses for an adjustable resistance at specific changes in value.

15. Device according to claim 10, wherein at least one consumer has a device for contactless signal transmission.

16. Device according to claim 10, wherein a monitoring device receives signals from a consumer transmitted in a contactless manner and generates control pulses for at least one adjustable resistance in dependency thereon.

17. Device according to claim 10, wherein a monitoring device receives signals from several consumers and simultaneously controls several adjustable resistances.

18. Device according to claim 10, wherein a separate monitoring device for controlling the local adjustable resistance is allocated to at least one line section.

19. A device for the contactless transmission of energy from a primary current line, through which alternating current flows, to a number of secondary, resonant load circuits with at least one coil each of which draws energy from the electromagnetic field of the current line, the device comprising an auxiliary line running parallel to the current line and connected with the current line via several connecting points for conducting the current from a first connecting point via the auxiliary line to a second connecting point, an adjustable resistance in at least one section of the auxiliary line, between two connecting points, and a monitoring device for controlling said adjustable resistance in order to prevent blocking of the line by a disconnected consumer, the monitoring device monitoring the testing current flow in at least one line section of the auxiliary line and generating control pulses for an adjustable resistance at specific changes in value.

20. The device according to claim 19 wherein the adjustable resistance is formed by a switch that can be closed or opened respectively to switch the auxiliary line to conducting or non-conducting.

21. The device according to claim 19 wherein the connecting points are in the form of capacitors.

22. The device according to claim 20 wherein the switch is closed in a pulsed manner to control the power consumption of a consumer.

23. Device according to claim 19, wherein at least one consumer has a device for contactless signal transmission.

24. Device according to claim 19, wherein a monitoring device receives signals from a consumer transmitted in a contactless manner and generates control pulses for at least one adjustable resistance in dependency thereon.

25. Device according to claim 19, wherein a monitoring device receives signals from several consumers and simultaneously controls several adjustable resistances.

26. Device according to claim 19, wherein a separate monitoring device for controlling the local adjustable resistance is allocated to at least one line section.