Inductive power transfer apparatus

• US 9,283,858 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2010
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auckland UniServices Limited (Auckland University)
• Original Assignee: Auckland UniServices Limited (Auckland University)
• Inventors: Boys, John Talbot, Huang, Chang-Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thienvu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Duc M
• Application Number:
  US13/138,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20120025603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,230 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• 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 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• 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

A magnetic flux pad for generating or receiving magnetic flux has two pole areas (11, 12), a permeable core (14) and a coil (16) wound about the core. The pad allows useable flux to be generated at a significant height above a surface of the pad.

Claims

1. A magnetic flux pad for generating or receiving magnetic flux, the pad having a front face and a back face and comprising:

a magnetically permeable material having two ends from which magnetic flux is directed into an area beyond the front face of the pad;

two separated solenoidal windings connected magnetically in series and magnetically associated with the permeable material; and

a magnetic flux repelling member adjacent to the back face.

2. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 1 wherein the magnetic flux repelling member directs magnetic flux into an area beyond the front face of the pad.

3. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a further flux repelling member located between the ends and on a side of the permeable material adjacent to the front face of the pad.

4. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 1 wherein the windings are connected electrically in parallel.

5. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 1 wherein each end comprises a plurality of fingers.

6. An IPT system including a magnetic flux pad or IPT power transfer pad according to claim 1.

7. An IPT system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the system supplies power to an electric vehicle.

8. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 1 wherein the permeable material is elongate and each end of the core comprises a pole area.

9. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 1 wherein each winding is provided adjacent to a pole area.

10. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 1 wherein each winding provides substantially the same flux linkages.

11. A magnetic flux pad having a front face and a back face for generating a magnetic flux in a space beyond the front face of the pad, the pad comprising:

two pole areas for sending or receiving flux;

a magnetically permeable core magnetically connecting the pole areas;

a winding magnetically associated with the core;

a flux repelling member provided adjacent to a rear face; and

wherein each pole area includes a plurality of fingers.

12. An IPT system including a magnetic flux pad or IPT power transfer pad according to claim 11.

13. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 11 wherein each winding provides substantially the same flux linkages.

14. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a further flux repelling member located adjacent to the front face of the pad.

15. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 11 wherein the winding comprises two windings.

16. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 15 wherein the windings are connected electrically in parallel.

17. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 15 wherein the windings are connected magnetically in series.

18. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 15 wherein the windings are separated.

19. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 18 wherein each winding is provided adjacent to a pole area.

20. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 15 wherein each winding provides substantially the same flux linkages.

21. A magnetic flux pad as claimed in claim 11 wherein the cores is elongate and the pole areas are at either end of the core.

22. An IPT system including a first magnetic flux pad or IPT power transfer pad for connection to a power supply and a second magnetic flux pad or IPT power transfer pad for connection to a load, the first and second magnetic flux pads or IPT power pads having one or more windings with a same number of turns, and wherein the number of turns is selected dependent on a required operating frequency.

23. An IPT system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the system supplies power to an electric vehicle.