Contactless Power Transfer System

• US 20140252813A1
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Jain, Vivek, Keshavarzian, Abtin, Senel, Murat, Venkatraman, Lakshmi, Lee, Huang, Coors, Martin, Olive, Horace Arlen Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,468,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/180.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0264 characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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 50/502 the energy repeater being integrated together with the emitter or the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling

Abstract

A system for powering components in a vehicle seat enables electronic components within the vehicle seat to receive power without wires connecting the seat to a vehicle body. The system includes a power transmitter that generates an electromagnetic field, and a power receiver located within the vehicle seat and the electromagnetic field. The power receiver is configured to generate electrical power from the electromagnetic field and deliver the power to at least one component in the vehicle seat.

Claims

1. A system for powering components in a seat of a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;

a power transmitter supported by the vehicle body and operatively connected to a vehicle power supply, the power transmitter configured to generate an electromagnetic field;

a seat supported by the vehicle body; and

a power receiver located in the seat within the electromagnetic field and operatively connected to at least one component in the seat, the power receiver configured to generate electrical power from the electromagnetic field and deliver the electrical power to the at least one component.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the seat includes a battery supported in the seat and operatively connected to the power receiver.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the power transmitter includes a near-field transmitting antenna; and

the power receiver includes a near-field receiving antenna.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the near-field transmitting antenna includes a first inductive loop; and

the near-field receiving antenna includes a second inductive loop configured to resonate in the electromagnetic field generated by the power transmitter.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the power transmitter includes a far-field transmitting antenna; and

the power receiver includes a far-field receiving antenna.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the power transmitter is positioned below the seat in a floor of the vehicle body; and

the power receiver is positioned in a lower portion of the seat proximate to the power transmitter.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the power transmitter includes a transmitting antenna that defines a first plane;

the power receiver includes a receiving antenna that defines a second plane; and

the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the power transmitter is positioned above the seat in a ceiling of the vehicle body; and

the power receiver is positioned in an upper portion of the seat proximate to the power transmitter.

9. The system of 1 further comprising:

an additional power receiver located in the seat within the electromagnetic field and operatively connected to at least one additional component in the seat, the additional power receiver configured to generate additional electrical power from the electromagnetic field and deliver the additional electrical power to the at least one additional component.

10. A vehicle comprising:

a power source;

a power transmitter operatively connected to the power source to receive electrical energy from the power source and configured to generate an electromagnetic field; and

a seat having;

(i) a power receiver located within the electromagnetic field and configured to generate electrical power from the electromagnetic field, and (ii) at least one component operatively connected to the power receiver to receive the electrical power generated by the power receiver.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the seat includes a battery supported in the seat and operatively connected to the power receiver.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein:

the power transmitter includes a near-field transmitting antenna; and

the power receiver includes a near-field receiving antenna.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein:

the near-field transmitting antenna includes a first inductive loop; and

the near-field receiving antenna includes a second inductive loop configured to resonate in the electromagnetic field generated by the power transmitter.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, the at least one component in the seat comprising:

a motor configured to move the seat.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, the at least one component in the seat further comprising:

a control device operatively connected to the motor and configured to operate the motor to move the seat.

16. The vehicle of claim 10, the at least one component in the seat comprising:

a heater configured to generate thermal heat within the seat.

17. The vehicle of claim 10, the at least one component in the seat comprising:

a sensor configured to generate an electronic signal in response to detecting a person in the seat.

18. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein:

the power transmitter includes a far-field transmitting antenna; and

the power receiver includes a far-field receiving antenna.

19. The vehicle of claim 10, the seat further comprising:

an additional power receiver located within the electromagnetic field and configured to generate additional electrical power from the electromagnetic field; and

at least one additional component operatively connected to the additional power receiver to receive the additional electrical power generated by the additional power receiver.

20. The vehicle of claim 10 further comprising:

a second seat having;

(i) a second power receiver located within the electromagnetic field and configured to generate additional electrical power from the electromagnetic field, and (ii) at least one additional component operatively connected to the second power receiver to receive the additional electrical power generated by the second power receiver.