Wireless power transfer system and object power supply device

• US 10,348,118 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2016
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IHI Corporation
• Original Assignee: IHI Corporation
• Inventors: Takatsu, Yuji, Tokura, Susumu, Ueda, Akio, Hashizume, Sho, Akune, Kei, Hayashi, Tooru
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US15/271,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20170012459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/147 electro magnetic [EMI]
• 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 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/34 Plug-like or socket-like devices specially adapted for contactless inductive charging of electric vehicles positioning means for charging devices using inductive energy transfer B60L53/38
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• 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 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

A wireless power transfer system includes: a power supply primary coil capable of performing wireless power transfer; and a power supply secondary coil capable of performing the wireless power transfer between the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil. The power supply secondary coil contains a secondary coil wire for the wireless power transfer and forms a secondary outer shape having a projecting surface on at least a part of the secondary outer shape, and the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil are capable of performing the wireless power transfer, with the projecting surface of the secondary outer shape directed to the power supply primary coil.

Claims

1. A wireless power transfer system that performs wireless power transfer, the wireless power transfer system comprising:

a power supply primary coil capable of performing the wireless power transfer; and

a power supply secondary coil capable of performing the wireless power transfer between the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil, wherein

the power supply secondary coil contains a secondary coil wire for the wireless power transfer and forms a secondary outer shape having a projecting surface on at least a part of the secondary outer shape,

the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil are capable of performing the wireless power transfer, with the projecting surface of the secondary outer shape directed to the power supply primary coil,

the secondary outer shape has a projecting curved surface on at least a part of the secondary outer shape,

the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil are capable of performing the wireless power transfer, with the projecting curved surface of the secondary outer shape directed to the power supply primary coil,

a gravity center point of the power supply secondary coil is offset from a curvature center of the projecting curved surface and located on a side of the projecting curved surface,

the power supply primary coil contains a primary coil wire for the wireless power transfer and forms a primary outer shape having a depression in at least a part of the primary outer shape,

the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil are capable of performing the wireless power transfer, with the projecting surface of the secondary outer shape fit into the depression of the primary outer shape,

the depression includes a first depression and a second depression located at a center of the first depression and smaller than the first depression, and

the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil are capable of performing the wireless power transfer, with the projecting surface of the secondary outer shape fit into the second depression of the primary outer shape.

2. The wireless power transfer system according to claim 1, comprising an intermediate case that supports the power supply secondary coil, wherein

the secondary outer shape has a projecting curved surface with a constant radius of curvature on at least a part of the secondary outer shape,

the intermediate case has an inner wall forming a recessed curved surface with a constant radius of curvature that covers the projecting curved surface of the secondary outer shape, and

the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil are capable of performing the wireless power transfer, with the projecting curved surface of the secondary outer shape swingable guided by the recessed curved surface of the intermediate case.

3. The wireless power transfer system according to claim 2, wherein

the intermediate case contains an intermediate coil wire, and

the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil are capable of performing the wireless power transfer relayed by the intermediate coil wire.

4. The wireless power transfer system according to claim 3, wherein

the power supply secondary coil contains a first secondary coil wire and a second secondary coil wire that are a pair of secondary coil wires,

the first secondary coil wire is wound along a first virtual surface,

the second secondary coil wire is wound along a second virtual surface, and

the first virtual surface and the second virtual surface intersect.

5. The wireless power transfer system according to claim 1, comprising an intermediate case that supports the power supply secondary coil, wherein

the secondary outer shape has a projecting curved surface with a constant radius of curvature on at least a part of the secondary outer shape,

the intermediate case has an inner wall forming a recessed curved surface with a constant radius of curvature that covers the projecting curved surface of the secondary outer shape,

the intermediate case contains an intermediate coil wire, and

the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil are capable of performing the wireless power transfer relayed by the intermediate coil wire, with the projecting curved surface of the secondary outer shape swingable guided by the recessed curved surface of the intermediate case.

6. The wireless power transfer system according to claim 1, wherein

the power supply secondary coil contains a first secondary coil wire and a second secondary coil wire that are a pair of secondary coil wires,

the first secondary coil wire is wound along a first virtual surface,

the second secondary coil wire is wound along a second virtual surface, and

the first virtual surface and the second virtual surface intersect.

7. A wireless power transfer system that performs wireless power transfer, the wireless power transfer system comprising:

a power supply primary coil capable of performing the wireless power transfer;

a power supply secondary coil capable of performing the wireless power transfer between the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil; and

an intermediate case that supports the power supply secondary coil, wherein

the power supply secondary coil contains a secondary coil wire for the wireless power transfer and forms a secondary outer shape having a projecting surface on at least a part of the secondary outer shape,

the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil are capable of performing the wireless power transfer, with the projecting surface of the secondary outer shape directed to the power supply primary coil,

the secondary outer shape has a spherical curved surface with a constant radius of curvature on at least a part of the secondary outer shape,

the intermediate case has an inner wall forming a recessed curved surface with a constant radius of curvature that covers the spherical curved surface of the secondary outer shape, and

the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil are capable of performing the wireless power transfer, with the spherical curved surface of the secondary outer shape swingable guided by the recessed curved surface of the intermediate case.

8. An object power supply device capable of supplying electric power to an object in which a power receiving circuit is provided, the object power supply device comprising:

an object support structure capable of supporting the object;

a power supply primary coil provided at the object support structure and capable of performing wireless power transfer to a power supply secondary coil; and

a charging cable having an electric circuit that is electrically connectable to the power receiving circuit of the object, and the power supply secondary coil electrically connected to the electric circuit and capable of receiving the wireless power transfer from the power supply primary coil, wherein

the power supply secondary coil contains a secondary coil wire for the wireless power transfer and forms a secondary outer shape having a projecting surface on at least a part of the secondary outer shape,

the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil are capable of performing the wireless power transfer, with the projecting surface of the secondary outer shape directed to the power supply primary coil,

the object support structure forms a primary outer shape having a depression in at least a part of a position where the power supply primary coil is provided,

the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil are capable of performing the wireless power transfer, with the projecting surface of the secondary outer shape fit into the depression of the primary outer shape,

the object support structure forms the primary outer shape having the depression in at least a part of the position where the power supply primary coil is provided,

the depression includes a first depression and a second depression located at a center of the first depression and smaller than the first depression, and

the power supply primary coil and the power supply secondary coil are capable of performing the wireless power transfer, with the projecting surface of the secondary outer shape fit into the second depression of the primary outer shape.