Circuit arrangement and method of operating a circuit arrangement

• US 9,809,124 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2013
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ENRX IPT GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH (Bombardier Incorporated)
• Inventors: Czainski, Robert, Arnold, Rinaldo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Brandon S
• Application Number:
  US14/434,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20150298562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 307 91- 108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/30 Trolleys
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/39 with position-responsive activation of primary coils
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/00 Electric propulsion with power supply external to the vehicle electric propulsion for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways B60L13/00; in combination with batteries or fuel cells within the vehicle B60L50/53
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4266 using passive elements
• 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 circuit arrangement, in particular a circuit arrangement of an electric vehicle for inductive power transfer to the vehicle includes a pick-up arrangement and at least one variable compensating arrangement. The variable compensating arrangement includes a capacitive element, a first switching element and a second switching element. The first switching element and the second switching element are connected in series, and the series connection of the first and the second switching element is connected in parallel to the capacitive element of the variable compensating arrangement. Also disclosed is a method of operating the circuit arrangement and a method of manufacturing the circuit arrangement of the electric vehicle and the electric vehicle.

Claims

1. A circuit arrangement of an electric vehicle for inductive power transfer to the vehicle, the circuit arrangement comprising:

a pick-up arrangement for receiving a magnetic field and for generating an output voltage, and at least one variable compensating arrangement, wherein the variable compensating arrangement comprises a capacitive element, wherein;

the variable compensating arrangement further comprises a first switching element and a second switching element, wherein the first switching element and the second switching element are connected in series, wherein the series connection of the first and the second switching element is connected in parallel to the capacitive element of the variable compensating arrangement; and

the circuit arrangement comprises at least one current sensing means for sensing a phase current of the circuit arrangement, wherein switching times of the first and the second switching element are controllable depending on the phase current.

2. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the variable compensating arrangement is connected in series to the pick-up arrangement.

3. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the circuit arrangement comprises at least one static compensating element, wherein the pick-up arrangement, the static compensating element and the variable compensating arrangement are connected in series.

4. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first switching element and/or the second switching element is/are (a) semiconductor element(s).

5. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first switching element has a conducting direction and the second switching element has a conducting direction, wherein the first and the second switching element are connected such that the conducting direction of the first switching element is opposite to the conducting direction of the second switching element.

6. The circuit arrangement according to claim 5, wherein a first diode is connected anti-parallel to the first switching element and a second diode is connected anti-parallel to the second switching element.

7. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a first diode is connected anti-parallel to the first switching element and a second diode is connected anti-parallel to the second switching element.

8. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the circuit arrangement comprises at least one voltage sensing means for sensing a voltage across the capacitive element of the variable compensating arrangement, wherein the switching times of the first and the second switching element are controllable depending on the voltage.

9. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the circuit arrangement comprises a control unit which is adapted to control an operating mode of the first and the second switching element.

10. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the circuit arrangement comprises three phases, wherein each of the phases comprises at least one variable compensating arrangement.

18. An electric vehicle comprising the circuit arrangement of claim 1.

11. A method of operating a circuit arrangement comprising a pick-up arrangement for receiving a magnetic field and for generating an output voltage, and at least one variable compensating arrangement, wherein the variable compensating arrangement comprises a capacitive element, wherein the variable compensating arrangement further comprises a first switching element and a second switching element, wherein the first switching element and the second switching element are connected in series, wherein the series connection of the first and the second switching element is connected in parallel to the capacitive element of the variable compensating arrangement;

and wherein the circuit arrangement comprises at least one current sensing means for sensing a phase current of the circuit arrangement, wherein switching times of the first and the second switching element are controllable depending on the phase current, wherein the method comprises;

an operating mode of the first and the second switching element is controlled such that the variable compensating arrangement provides a desired impedance.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and the second switching element are closed in an inactive operating mode of the variable compensating arrangement.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first switching element and/or the second switching element is/are operated in a periodical manner synchronized to a phase current of the circuit arrangement.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the switching times of the first switching element and the second switching element correspond to an instant in time at which a phase current becomes smaller than a predetermined value or a voltage across the capacitive element of the variable compensating arrangement becomes smaller than a predetermined value.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the switching times of the first switching element and the second switching element correspond to an instant in time at which a phase current becomes smaller than a predetermined value or a voltage across the capacitive element of the variable compensating arrangement becomes smaller than a predetermined value.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the switching times of the first switching element and the second switching element correspond to an instant in time at which the phase current becomes zero or the voltage across the capacitive element of the variable compensating arrangement becomes zero.

17. A method of manufacturing a circuit arrangement of an electric vehicle for an inductive power transfer to the vehicle comprising:

providing a pick-up-arrangement for receiving a magnetic field and for generating an output voltage;

providing at least one variable compensating arrangement, wherein the variable compensating arrangement comprises a capacitive element;

connecting the pick-up arrangement and the variable compensating arrangement;

providing a first switching element and a second switching element;

connecting the first switching element and the second switching element in series;

connecting the series connection of the first and the second switching element parallel to the capacitive element of the variable compensating arrangement; and

providing a current sensor for sensing a current flow in the at least one variable compensating arrangement.