Vehicle wireless power transfer using metal member with high permeability to improve charging efficiency

• US 10,135,287 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2016
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yuasa, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Omar, Ahmed
• Application Number:
  US15/224,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20170040832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• 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: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• 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 bottom portion of a vehicle includes a metal member formed of a metal having a higher magnetic permeability than aluminum, and a power reception coil including a low-turn-count portion with a smaller number of turns and a high-turn-count portion with a larger number of turns than the low-turn-count portion. In plan view as seen from below the metal member and the power reception coil, the low-turn-count-portion is located in at least a part of a facing portion of the power reception coil, the facing portion facing the metal member.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a power reception apparatus including a power reception coil configured to wirelessly receive electric power from a power transmission coil, the power reception apparatus being provided at a bottom surface of the vehicle; and

at least one metal member provided at a position horizontally adjacent to the power reception apparatus in plan view as seen from below the bottom surface of the vehicle,

the at least one metal member being formed of a metal having a higher magnetic permeability than a magnetic permeability of aluminum,

the power reception coil including

a low-turn-count portion with a smaller number of turns, and

a high-turn-count portion with a larger number of turns than the low-turn-count portion, and

the low-turn-count portion being located in at least a part of a facing portion of the power reception coil, the facing portion facing the at least one metal member in plan view as seen from below the at least one metal member and the power reception coil.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one metal member includes a first metal member and a second metal member, the second metal member being provided at a position closer to a ground beneath the vehicle than a position where the first metal member is provided,

in plan view of the first metal member, the second metal member, and the power reception coil as seen from below the first metal member, the second metal member, and the power reception coil, the low-turn-count portion of the power reception coil includes a first facing portion facing the first metal member and a second facing portion facing the second metal member, and

the number of turns of the second facing portion is smaller than the number of turns of the first facing portion.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metal member includes a metal member selected from a group consisting of a metal cover of a muffler, a protruding portion of a floor panel, and a metal cover of an on-board device.

7. A wireless charging system comprising:

the vehicle according to claim 1; and

a power transmission apparatus including a power transmission coil configured to wirelessly transmit electric power to the power reception coil.

3. A vehicle comprising:

a power reception apparatus including a power reception coil configured to wirelessly receive electric power from a power transmission coil, the power reception apparatus being provided at a bottom surface of the vehicle; and

at least one metal member provided at a position horizontally adjacent to the power reception apparatus in plan view as seen from below the bottom surface,

the at least one metal member having a magnetic permeability equal to or less than a magnetic permeability of aluminum,

the power reception coil including

a low-turn-count portion with a smaller number of turns, and

a high-turn-count portion with a larger number of turns than the low-turn-count portion, and

the high-turn-count portion being located in at least a part of a facing portion of the power reception coil, the facing portion facing the at least one metal member in plan view as seen from below the at least one metal member and the power reception coil.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

the at least one metal member includes a first metal member and a second metal member, the second metal member being provided at a position closer to a ground beneath the vehicle than a position where the first metal member is provided,

in plan view of the first metal member, the second metal member, and the power reception coil as seen from below the first metal member, the second metal member, and the power reception coil, the high-turn-count portion of the power reception coil includes a first facing portion facing the first metal member and a second facing portion facing the second metal member, and

the number of turns of the second facing portion is larger than the number of turns of the first facing portion.

5. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

the at least one metal member is a first metal member,

the vehicle further comprises a second metal member being formed of a metal having a higher magnetic permeability than aluminum,

in plan view of the first metal member, the second metal member, and the power reception coil as seen from below the first metal member, the second metal member, and the power reception coil, the low-turn-count portion of the power reception coil includes a first facing portion facing the second metal member and a remaining second facing portion, and

the number of turns of the second facing portion is larger than the number of turns of the first facing portion.