Contactless power supply system

• US 7,009,860 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daifuku Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Daifuku Company Limited
• Inventors: Kazutoshi, Takeda
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US11/004,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 363/95, 363/98, 363/132, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 363/98
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type

Abstract

A contactless power supply system that limits current to inductive wires, even when circuit load varies. The inductive wires are connected in series to a capacitor and a variable inductor to yield a capacitive impedance at a predetermined frequency f (e.g., 10 KHz). In doing so, a finite current at the predetermined frequency f can be asserted to the inductive wires even when circuit load is reduced to 0. Consequently the current fluctuation in the inductive wires is suppressed and the contactless power supply system becomes more manageable.

Claims

1. A contactless power supply system, comprising:

a power supply device, comprising;

inductive wires for an alternating current power supply at a predetermined frequency along a traveling path; and

a plurality of switching devices driven by square waves respectively converting direct current to alternating current with the predetermined frequency to supply the inductive wires,

a moving object on the traveling path, comprising;

a power inducing coil that induces power through the inductive wires and supplies power to the moving object load; and

wherein the inductive wires are connected in series to a capacitor, and a variable inductor as a predetermined length of the inductive wires is not reached; and

wherein the inductive wires, connected in series to the capacitor and the variable inductor under the predetermined frequency result in a capacitive impedance.

2. The contactless power supply system of claim 1, further comprising:

a current detection circuit, detecting an output current supplying to the inductive wire;

a power detection circuit, detecting an output power supplying to the inductive wire; and

a control circuit, controlling duty of the square waves that drives the switching devices, in response to an output current detected at the current detection circuit;

wherein the control circuit switches to a control constant, based on output power detected at the power detection circuit.

3. The contactless power supply system of claim 1, further comprising:

a current detection circuit, detecting an output current supplying to the inductive wire;

a power detection circuit, detecting an output power supplying to the inductive wire; and

a control circuit, controlling duty of the square waves that drives the switching devices, in response to an output current detected at the current detection circuit;

wherein the control circuit selects a duration for evaluation of the duty, based on the output power detected at the power detection circuit.

4. The contactless power supply system of claim 1, further comprising:

a current detection circuit for detecting an output current supplying to the inductive wire;

a power detection circuit, detecting an output power supplying to the inductive wire; and

a control circuit, controlling a duty of the square waves that drives the switching devices, in response to an output current detected at the current detection circuit;

wherein the control circuit, selects an adjustable range of the duty, based on the output power detected at the power detection circuit.