Resonance-type non-contact power supply system, and adjustment method for matching unit during charging of resonance-type non-contact power supply system

• US 9,391,468 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2011
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Takada, Kazuyoshi, Suzuki, Sadanori, Sakoda, Shimpei, Yamamoto, Yukihiro, Ichikawa, Shinji, Nakamura, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/697,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20130193913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,888 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• 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: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Power supply equipment (10) is provided with an AC power supply (11) and a primary-side resonance coil (13b). Movable body equipment (20) is provided with a secondary-side resonance coil (21b), which receives power from the primary-side coil, a rectifier (23), which rectifies the received power, a charger (24) to which the rectified power is supplied, and a secondary battery (25), which is connected to the charger. A primary matching unit (12) is provided between the AC power supply (11) and the primary-side resonance coil (13b). A secondary matching unit (22) is provided between the secondary-side resonance coil (21b) and the rectifier (23). A control unit is provided to either the power supply equipment (10) or the movable body equipment (20). The control unit controls a primary matching unit adjustment unit (14) and a secondary matching unit adjustment unit (26). In order to efficiently transfer power from the primary side to the secondary side when charging the secondary battery, the control unit initially adjusts the secondary matching unit (22). After adjusting the secondary matching unit (22), the control unit adjusts the first matching unit (12).

Claims

1. A resonance type non-contact power supply system comprising a power supply equipment and movable body equipment, wherein

the power supply system includes an AC power source and a primary-side resonance coil for receiving electric power from the AC power source,

the movable body equipment includes:

a secondary-side resonance coil for receiving the electric power from the primary-side resonance coil;

a rectifier for rectifying the electric power received by the secondary-side resonance coil; and

a secondary battery to which the electric power rectified by the rectifier is supplied,

the power supply equipment further includes;

a primary matching unit arranged between the AC power source and the primary-side resonance coil;

a primary matching unit adjusting section for adjusting the primary matching unit; and

an electric power detecting section,

the movable body equipment further includes;

a secondary matching unit arranged between the secondary-side resonance coil and the rectifier; and

a secondary matching unit adjusting section for adjusting the secondary matching unit,

the resonance type non-contact power supply system also includes a control section mounted in one of the power supply equipment and the movable body equipment, and

the control section controls the primary matching unit adjusting section and the secondary matching unit adjusting section such that, when the secondary battery is charged, the secondary matching unit is adjusted first and then the primary matching unit is adjusted after the secondary matching unit is adjusted,

wherein through the adjustment of the secondary matching unit, the power supply equipment is adapted to decrease the output of the AC power source based on the reflected electric power detected by the electric power detecting section.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control section controls the AC power source and the secondary matching unit adjusting section such that, when the secondary matching unit is adjusted, adjustment of the secondary matching unit is started with an output of the AC power source maintained less than an output at the start of charging, and then the output of the AC power source is increased to the output at the start of charging of the secondary battery in multiple steps.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control section is mounted in the movable body equipment.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the matching units is a π

-type matching unit including two variable capacitors and an inductor arranged between the variable capacitors.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the movable body is a vehicle.

6. A method for adjusting a matching unit when a resonance type non-contact power supply system performs charging, wherein

the resonance type non-contact power supply system has power supply equipment and movable body equipment,

the power supply equipment includes:

an AC power source;

a primary-side resonance coil;

a primary matching unit; and

an electric power detecting section,

the movable body equipment includes;

a secondary-side resonance coil for receiving electric power from the primary-side resonance coil;

a secondary matching unit;

a rectifier for rectifying the electric power received by the secondary-side resonance coil; and

a secondary battery to which the electric power rectified by the rectifier is supplied, and

the method comprises, when the secondary battery is charged, adjusting the secondary matching unit first and then adjusting the primary matching unit after the secondary matching unit is adjusted; and

through the adjustment of the secondary matching unit, decreasing the output of the AC power source based on the reflected electric power detected by the electric power detecting section.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein

the primary matching unit and the secondary matching unit are each a π

-type matching unit including two variable capacitors and an inductor arranged between the capacitors, and

the method further comprises adjusting the primary matching unit and the secondary matching unit by adjusting the capacity of the variable capacitors.