POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS

• US 20150102664A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tatsuta, Toshiki, Ohashi, Osamu, Nishio, Tsuyoshi, Asaoka, Noriaki, Koizumi, Masayoshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,979,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• 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

In the power supply apparatus (100), on an upper surface (202a), which is the surface opposing the power-receiving unit (153) of a cabinet (103b), in the portion where a power supply coil (103a) is projected when the power supply coil (103a) is projected on the cabinet (103b) toward the direction of the power-receiving unit (153), a first inclined part (203) gradually approaching the power supply coil (103a) from the top section (205) toward the inner edge section (211) of the power supply coil (103a) is formed in the radial direction of the power supply coil (103a), and in the portion where the power supply coil (103a) is projected, a second inclined part (204) gradually approaching the power supply coil (103a) from the top section (205) toward the outer periphery (212) of the power supply coil (103a) is formed in the radial direction of the power supply coil (103a).

Claims

1. An electric supply apparatus that contactlessly supplies electric power using electromagnetic induction to an electric reception section provided in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a ring-shaped electric supply coil that faces the electric reception section and that supplies electric power to the electric reception section; and

a casing that houses the electric supply coil, wherein

the casing includes a first incline portion, a second incline portion, and a recessed portion on an upper surface of the casing, the upper surface being a surface facing the electric reception section;

the first incline portion being formed in a portion of the upper surface where the electric supply coil is projected when the electric supply coil is projected on the casing toward the electric reception section, and gradually approaching the electric supply coil from a top portion on the upper surface toward an inner edge portion of the electric supply coil in a radial direction of the electric supply coil;

the second incline portion being formed in the portion of the upper surface where the electric supply coil is projected, and gradually approaching the electric supply coil from the top portion toward an outer circumference of the electric supply coil in the radial direction of the electric supply coil; and

a recessed portion being in contact with an end portion of the first incline portion located in a direction different from the top portion.

2. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the top portion is located at an intermediate position between the inner edge portion and the outer circumference of the electric supply coil in a direction of a central axis of the electric supply coil.

3. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first incline portion and the second incline portion each include a surface covered with a material having a frictional coefficient less than a predetermined value.

4. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a trench formed in the recessed portion.

5. The electric supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reinforcement member that supports the first incline portion.