System for Inductively Transferring Electric Energy to a Vehicle Using Consecutive Segments
First Claim
1. A system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle comprising:
- an electric conductor arrangement for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring electric energy to a vehicle,wherein the conductor arrangement comprises a plurality of consecutive segments, wherein the segments extend along a path of travel of the vehicle, each segment comprising at least one alternating current line for carrying an alternating current in order to produce the alternating electromagnetic field,a current supply for supplying the electric energy to the segments,wherein the segments are electrically connected in parallel to each other to the current supply,wherein, for a sequence of consecutive segments, a converter is assigned and connected to each segment, wherein the assigned converter is connected to the current supply and is adapted to convert a current carried by the current supply to an alternating current carried by the at least one alternating current line of the segment, so that there is a sequence of assigned converters for the corresponding sequence of consecutive segments,wherein each of the converters of the sequence of assigned converters is connected to a synchronization link for synchronizing operation of the sequence of assigned converters, andwherein the system is adapted to synchronize the sequence of assigned converters (K;
P) in a manner so that the electromagnetic field produced by the sequence of consecutive segments is continuous at the interface or interfaces between the consecutive segments.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle including an electric conductor arrangement for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring electric energy to a vehicle, and a current supply for supplying electric energy to the segments. The conductor arrangement including a plurality of consecutive segments. Each segment includes at least one alternating current line for carrying an alternating current. The segments are electrically connected in parallel to each other to the current supply. For a sequence of consecutive segments, a converter is assigned and connected to each segment. The assigned converter is connected to the current supply and is adapted to convert a current carried by the current supply to an alternating current carried by the at least one alternating current line of the segment, so that there is a sequence of assigned converters for the corresponding sequence of consecutive segments.
17 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle comprising:
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an electric conductor arrangement for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring electric energy to a vehicle, wherein the conductor arrangement comprises a plurality of consecutive segments, wherein the segments extend along a path of travel of the vehicle, each segment comprising at least one alternating current line for carrying an alternating current in order to produce the alternating electromagnetic field, a current supply for supplying the electric energy to the segments, wherein the segments are electrically connected in parallel to each other to the current supply, wherein, for a sequence of consecutive segments, a converter is assigned and connected to each segment, wherein the assigned converter is connected to the current supply and is adapted to convert a current carried by the current supply to an alternating current carried by the at least one alternating current line of the segment, so that there is a sequence of assigned converters for the corresponding sequence of consecutive segments, wherein each of the converters of the sequence of assigned converters is connected to a synchronization link for synchronizing operation of the sequence of assigned converters, and wherein the system is adapted to synchronize the sequence of assigned converters (K;
P) in a manner so that the electromagnetic field produced by the sequence of consecutive segments is continuous at the interface or interfaces between the consecutive segments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of transferring electric energy to a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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operating an electric conductor arrangement for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring electric energy to a vehicle, wherein the conductor arrangement comprises a plurality of consecutive segments, wherein the segments extend along a path of travel of the vehicle, each segment comprising at least one alternating current line which carries—
during operation of the segment—
an alternating current in order to produce the alternating electromagnetic field,supplying electric energy to the segments via a current supply, electrically connecting the segments in parallel to each other to the current supply, for a sequence of consecutive segments, assigning and connecting a converter to each segment, wherein the assigned converter is connected to the current supply and converts—
during operation of the segment—
a current carried by the current supply to an alternating current carried by the at least one alternating current line of the segment, so that there is a sequence of assigned converters for the corresponding sequence of consecutive segments,connecting each of the converters of the sequence of assigned converters to a synchronization link for synchronizing operation of the sequence of assigned converters (K;
P) and receiving, outputting, or receiving and outputting—
during operation of the segment and if another converter of the sequence of assigned converters is also operated—
a synchronization signal via the synchronization link, andsynchronizing the sequence of assigned converters in a manner so that the electromagnetic field produced by the sequence of consecutive segments is continuous at the interface or interfaces between the consecutive segments. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. The method ofc laim 7, wherein operation of the converter is started in two steps, the first step being switching on a power supply and the second step being, with a predefined delay or when it has been detected that the power supply has become stable, enabling production of the alternating current carried by the corresponding segment.
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13. A method of manufacturing a system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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providing an electric conductor arrangement for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring electric energy to a vehicle, providing a plurality of consecutive segments for the conductor arrangement, wherein the segments extend along a path of travel of the vehicle, each segment comprising at least one alternating current line for carrying an alternating current in order to produce the alternating electromagnetic field, providing a current supply for supplying electric energy to the segments, electrically connecting the segments in parallel to each other to the current supply, for a sequence of consecutive segments, assigning and connecting a converter to each segment, wherein the assigned converter is connected to the current supply and is adapted to convert a current carried by the current supply to an alternating current carried by the at least one alternating current line of the segment, so that there is a sequence of assigned converters for the corresponding sequence of consecutive segments, connecting each of the converters of the sequence of assigned converters to a synchronization link for synchronizing operation of the sequence of assigned converters, and enabling the system to synchronize the sequence of assigned converters in a manner so that the electromagnetic field produced by the sequence of consecutive segments is continuous at the interface or interfaces between the consecutive segments.
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Specification