Power supply apparatus

• US 9,905,351 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tatsuta, Toshiki, Ohashi, Osamu, Nishio, Tsuyoshi, Asaoka, Noriaki, Koizumi, Masayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): GRANT, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US14/387,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20150061582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/147 electro magnetic [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 7/003 for vehicles using stored power (e.g. charging stations)
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/02 Casings
• 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 50/12 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A power supply apparatus capable of appropriately supplying electrical power to a power transmission coil even if a foreign object is heated during power supply. The power supply apparatus (100) is provided with a power supply coil (103a) opposing a power-receiving unit (153) provided to a vehicle and supplying power to the power-receiving unit (153), and a casing (103b) accommodating the power supply coil (103a). In the casing (103b), a first cover (202) is formed on a surface of the casing (103b) opposing the power-receiving unit (153), and a second cover (203) opposing the first cover (202) is arranged between the first cover (202) and the power supply coil (103a).

Claims

1. An electric supply apparatus configured to contactlessly supply electric power using electromagnetic induction to an electric reception section provided in a vehicle, the electric supply apparatus comprising:

an electric supply coil configured to supply electric power to the electric reception section;

a first cover covering the electric supply coil, said first cover configured to face the electric reception section; and

a second cover covering the electric supply coil, said second cover configured to face the electric reception section and being placed between the first cover and the electric supply coil, wherein

a part of the second cover is distinct from the first cover,

the part of the second cover is separate from the electric supply coil,

the part of the second cover is not in direct physical contact with the electric supply coil,

the part of the second cover is between the first cover and the electric supply coil, and

at least the part of the second cover has higher heat resistant properties than the first cover.

2. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric supply apparatus has a space between the first cover and the part of the second cover.

3. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric supply coil is configured to supply electric power to the electric reception section through the first cover and the part of the second cover.

4. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a casing accommodating the electric supply coil.

5. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the casing includes at least the first cover.

6. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the casing includes at least the second cover.

7. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first cover forms a part of an out surface of the casing.

8. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part of the electric supply coil has a ring-shape.

9. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first cover has higher load capacity than the second cover.

10. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the first cover has load capacity that allows the first cover to withstand a load of the vehicle applied when the vehicle is placed on the first cover; and

the second cover has heat resistant properties that allow the second cover to withstand heat generation of a foreign object existing between the electric reception section and the electric supply coil.

11. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second cover is placed between the first cover and the electric supply coil in a direction of a central axis of the electric supply coil.

12. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first cover includes:

a flat portion formed so as to be located above a hollow portion of the electric supply coil; and

an incline portion formed in a portion of the first cover being where the electric supply coil is projected when the electric supply coil is projected on the casing toward the electric reception section, and gradually approaching the electric supply coil toward the flat portion in a radial direction of the electric supply coil.

13. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:

the flat portion is formed so as to cross a central axis of the electric supply coil;

the second cover is placed so as to cross the central axis of the electric supply coil; and

the second cover has a larger area than the flat portion.

14. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the part of the second cover has a smaller area than the first cover.

15. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second cover is concentric to the electric supply coil.

16. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first reinforcement member that supports the first cover.

17. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a space surrounded by the first cover, the second cover, and the first reinforcement member is sealed.

18. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second reinforcement member that is connected to a bottom portion of the casing and the second cover, that is placed in a hollow portion of the electric supply coil, and that support the second cover.

19. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first cover includes a surface covered with a material having a frictional coefficient less than a predetermined value.

20. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second cover is formed of heat-resistant glass.

21. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric supply apparatus has a space between the part of the second cover and the electric supply coil.