Dynamic inductive wireless power transmitter system with a power transmitter module

• US 10,727,693 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2017
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Utah State University
• Original Assignee: Utah State University
• Inventors: Wang, Hongjie, Zane, Regan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US15/711,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20190089195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/53 in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• 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 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A power transmitter module is disclosed. In embodiments, a power transmitter module includes a module LC input filter configured to receive regulated DC current, a module transmitter circuit configured to receive the regulated DC current from the module LC input filter and generate a high-frequency AC current. A power transmitter module further includes a module transmitter coil and compensation circuit comprising a transmitter coil, and a first capacitor in parallel with the transmitter coil. The module transmitter coil and compensation circuit are configured to receive the high-frequency AC current from the module transmitter circuit and generate a time-varying magnetic field emitted from the transmitter coil. Additionally, a power transmitter module further includes a module controller configured to receive a power transmission input signal and further configured to control a state of the module transmitter circuit based on the power transmission input signal.

Claims

1. A power transmitter module comprising:

a module LC input filter configured to receive regulated DC current and reduce voltage ripple within the power transmitter module;

a module transmitter circuit configured to receive the regulated DC current from the module LC input filter and generate a high-frequency AC current;

a module transmitter coil and compensation circuit comprising a transmitter coil, and a first capacitor in parallel with the transmitter coil, the module transmitter coil and compensation circuit configured to receive the high-frequency AC current from the module transmitter circuit and generate a time-varying magnetic field emitted from the transmitter coil; and

a module controller configured to receive a power transmission input signal, the module controller configured to control a state of the module transmitter circuit based on the power transmission input signal.

2. The power transmitter module of claim 1, wherein the module controller is further configured to energize the module transmitter circuit based on the power transmission input signal.

3. The power transmitter module of claim 1, wherein the module transmitter coil and compensation circuit further comprises a second capacitor in series with the transmitter coil, the second capacitor configured to compensate for a self-inductance of the transmitter coil.

4. The power transmitter module of claim 1, wherein the module transmitter circuit comprises:

first and second current unidirectional switches arranged in parallel to each other,

third and fourth current unidirectional switches arranged in parallel to each other, the first and third current unidirectional switches arranged in series to each other, and the second and fourth current unidirectional switches arranged in series to each other, and

wherein, the module transmitter circuit is configured such that when it is energized,

the first and second current unidirectional switches each operate at approximately 50% duty ratio with an overlap in their closed state, and

the third and fourth current unidirectional switches each operate at approximately 50% duty ratio with an overlap in their closed state.

5. The power transmitter module of claim 4, wherein the first and second unidirectional switches and the third and fourth unidirectional switches are each in a configuration selected from the group consisting of:

a MOSFET in series with a diode,

an IGBT in series with a diode, and

two MOSFETs connected in series, the two MOSFETs with opposite polarity.

6. The power transmitter module of claim 1, wherein the module transmitter circuit has a switching frequency between 10 KHz to one MHz and is configured to transmit a peak power in the range from zero watts to several hundred kilowatts.

7. The power transmitter module of claim 1, wherein the module transmitter controller controls the module transmitter circuit using phase-shift modulation, the phase-shift modulation being the time delay between the first and third current unidirectional switches, or the time delay between the second and fourth current unidirectional switches.

8. The power transmitter module of claim 1, further comprising a normally closed module short circuiting switch configured to bypass the regulated DC current around the module LC input filter.

9. The power transmitter module of claim 8, wherein the module controller is configured to open the normally closed module short circuiting switch when the power transmitter module is activated.

10. The power transmitter module of claim 1, further comprising a normally closed module short circuiting switch configured to bypass the regulated DC current around the module transmitter circuit.

11. The power transmitter module of claim 10, further comprising:

a voltage sensing circuit;

a first current sensing circuit configured to measure the current flow through the power transmitter module;

a second current sensing circuit configured to measure the current flow through the module transmitter coil and compensation circuit; and

a module auxiliary DC power supply configured to draw power from the regulated DC current or an outside power supply and provide power to at least one of the;

the normally closed module short circuiting switch,

the voltage sensing circuit;

the first current sensing circuit;

the second current sensing circuit;

the module transmitter circuit; and

the module controller.

12. The power transmitter module of claim 1, wherein the power transmitter module is embedded in a precast concrete module and configured to connect in series to another power transmitter module.

13. The power transmitter module of claim 1, wherein the module controller is further configured to detect a vehicle containing a receiving coil and generate the power transmission input signal.

14. The power transmitter module of claim 1, wherein the module controller is further configured to wirelessly communicate with a vehicle containing a receiving coil and generate the power transmission input signal.

15. The power transmitter module of claim 14, wherein the module controller is further configured to receive a secure code from the vehicle containing a receiving coil, wherein the secure code is derived from information sent at an earlier time from the module controller to the vehicle containing a receiving coil.

16. The power transmitter module of claim 14, wherein the module controller is further configured to:

detect the arrival and alignment of the vehicle containing a receiving coil and activate the module transmitter circuit based on a signal received from the vehicle containing a receiving coil, and

detect the departure of the vehicle containing a receiving coil and deactivate the module transmitter circuit based on a measure of power being delivered by the module transmitter circuit.

17. The power transmitter module of claim 1, wherein:

the module transmitter coil and compensation circuit comprises multiple module transmitter coil and compensation circuits;

each of the multiple module transmitter coil and compensation circuits further comprises a normally open module transmitter coil and compensation short circuiting switch configured to bypass the high-frequency AC current around its respective transmitter coil and compensation circuit; and

each of the multiple module transmitter coil and compensation circuits are configured to operate independently based on the power transmission input signal.

18. The power transmitter module of claim 1, wherein:

the module transmitter circuit comprises multiple module transmitter circuits;

the module transmitter coil and compensation circuit comprises multiple module transmitter coil and compensation circuits;

each of the multiple module transmitter circuits is electrically coupled to and controls the high-frequency AC current to one of the multiple module transmitter coil and compensation circuits; and

each of the multiple module transmitter circuits are configured to operate independently based on the power transmission input signal.

19. The power transmitter module of claim 1, wherein the module transmitter coil and compensation circuit is configured to transfer wireless inductive power to a vehicle containing a receiver coil travelling with a speed in the range from 0 miles-per-hour to full highway speed.

20. A method for transmitting wireless power, comprising:

providing a module LC input filter configured to receive regulated DC current and reduce voltage ripple within the roadway integrated transmitter module;

providing a module transmitter circuit configured to receive the regulated DC current from the module LC input filter and generate a high-frequency AC current;

providing a module transmitter coil and compensation circuit comprising a transmitter coil, and a first capacitor in parallel with the transmitter coil, the module transmitter coil and compensation circuit configured to receive the high-frequency AC current from the module transmitter circuit and generate a time-varying magnetic field from the transmitter coil; and

providing a module controller configured to receive a power transmission input signal, the module controller configured to control a state of the module transmitter circuit based on the power transmission input signal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of providing a module transmitter coil and compensation circuit further comprises providing a second capacitor in series with the transmitter coil, the second capacitor configured to compensate a self-inductance of the transmitter coil.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of providing the module transmitter circuit further comprises providing within the module transmitter circuit:

first and second current unidirectional switches arranged in parallel to each other,

third and fourth current unidirectional switches arranged in parallel to each other, the first and third current unidirectional switches arranged in series to each other, and the second and fourth current unidirectional switches arranged in series to each other, and

wherein, when the module transmitter circuit is energized, the first and second current unidirectional switches each operate at approximately 50% duty ratio with an overlap in their closed state and the third and fourth current unidirectional switches each operate at approximately 50% duty ratio with an overlap in their closed state.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein providing the first, second, third, and fourth unidirectional switches comprises providing the first, second, third, and fourth unidirectional switches in a configuration selected from the group consisting of:

a MOSFET in series with a diode,

an IGBT in series with a diode, and

two MOSFETs connected in series with opposite polarity.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein providing the module controller comprising configuring the module controller to energize the module transmitter circuit based on the power transmission input signal.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing a normally closed module short circuiting switch configured to bypass the regulated DC current around the module LC input filter.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising configuring the module controller to open the normally closed module short circuiting switch when the power transmitter module is activated.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing a normally closed module short circuiting switch configured to bypass the regulated DC current around the module transmitter circuit.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

providing a voltage sensing circuit;

providing a first current sensing circuit configured to measure the current flow through the power transmitter module;

providing a second current sensing circuit configured to measure the current flow through the transmitter coil; and

providing an auxiliary DC power supply configured to draw power from the regulated DC current or an outside power supply and provide power to;

the normally closed module short circuiting switch,

the voltage sensing circuit;

the first current sensing circuit;

the second current sensing circuit;

the module transmitter circuit; and

the module controller.

29. The method of claim 20, further configuring the module transmitter circuit to have a switching frequency between 10 KHz to one MHz and to transmit a peak power in the range from zero watts to several hundred kilowatts;

and

configuring the module transmitter coil and compensation circuit to transfer wireless inductive power to an oncoming vehicle containing a receiver coil travelling with a speed in the range from 0 miles-per-hour to full highway speed.

30. The method of claim 20, further configuring the module transmitter controller to control the module transmitter circuit using phase-shift modulation, the phase-shift modulation being the time delay between the first and third current unidirectional switches, or the time delay between the second and fourth current unidirectional switches.

31. The method of claim 20, further configuring the module controller to detect a vehicle containing a receiving coil and generate the power transmission input signal.

32. The method of claim 20, further configuring the module controller to wirelessly communicate with a vehicle containing a receiving coil and generate the power transmission input signal.

33. The method of claim 32, further configuring the module controller to receive a secure code from the vehicle containing a receiving coil, wherein the secure code is derived from information sent at an earlier time from the module controller to the vehicle containing a receiving coil.

34. The method of claim 33, further configuring the module controller to:

detect the arrival and alignment of the vehicle containing a receiving coil and activate the module transmitter circuit based on a signal received from the vehicle containing a receiving coil, and

detect the departure of the vehicle containing a receiving coil and deactivate the module transmitter circuit based on a measure of power being delivered by the module transmitter circuit.

35. The method of claim 34, further providing the power transmitter module embedded in a precast concrete module and configuring the power transmitter module to connect in series to another power transmitter module.

36. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

providing the module transmitter coil and compensation circuit that has multiple module transmitter coil and compensation circuits;

wherein;

each of the multiple module transmitter coil and compensation circuits further comprises a normally open module transmitter coil and compensation short circuiting switch configured to bypass the high-frequency AC current around its respective transmitter coil and compensation circuit; and

each of the multiple module transmitter coil and compensation circuits are configured to operate independently based on the power transmission input signal.

37. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

providing the module transmitter circuit with multiple module transmitter circuits;

providing the module transmitter coil and compensation circuit with multiple module transmitter coil and compensation circuits;

wherein;

each of the multiple module transmitter circuits is electrically coupled to and controls the high-frequency AC current to one of the multiple module transmitter coil and compensation circuits; and

each of the multiple module transmitter circuits are configured to operate independently based on the power transmission input signal.