Non-contact power transmission apparatus

• US 8,432,125 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2010
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Inventors: Takada, Kazuyoshi, Sakoda, Shimpei, Suzuki, Sadanori, Nakata, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US12/702,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20100201316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/109, 320/104, 320/107, 307/104, 191/10, 180/2.1, 324/425, 324/426, 324/427, 324/428, 324/429, 324/430, 324/433
• US Class Current: 320/104
• 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 53/126 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 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A non-contact power transmission apparatus having an AC power source and a resonance system is disclosed. The resonance system has a primary coil connected to the AC power source, a primary side resonance coil, a secondary side resonance coil, a secondary coil, and a load connected to the secondary coil. The primary side resonance coil is separated from the primary coil in an axial direction by a first distance, and the secondary coil is separated from the secondary side resonance coil in the axial direction by a second distance. At least one of the first distance and the second distance is adjusted to be a distance that is determined in advance in accordance with the impedance of the load so that the power transmission efficiency is maintained at a proper value.

Claims

1. A non-contact power transmission apparatus having an AC power source and a resonance system, the resonance system having a primary coil connected to the AC power source, a primary side resonance coil, a secondary side resonance coil, a secondary coil, and a load connected to the secondary coil, wherein the primary side resonance coil is separated from the primary coil in an axial direction by a first distance, and the secondary coil is separated from the secondary side resonance coil in the axial direction by a second distance,

wherein at least one of the first distance and the second distance is adjusted to be a distance that is determined in advance in accordance with the impedance of the load so that the power transmission efficiency is maintained at a proper value in accordance with change of the impedance of the load.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an impedance measuring section that measures the impedance of the load; and

a distance changing section that changes at least one of the first distance and the second distance based on a measurement result of the impedance measuring section.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the load is a selected one of a plurality of loads having constant but different impedances, and

the apparatus further comprising a distance changing section that changes at least one of the first distance and the second distance in accordance with the impedance of the selected load.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the distance changing section moves at least one of the primary side resonance coil and the secondary side resonance coil, thereby changing at least one of the first and second distances.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the distance changing section moves at least one of the primary side resonance coil and the secondary side resonance coil, thereby changing at least one of the first and second distances.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the secondary side resonance coil and the secondary coil are mounted on a movable body,

wherein the load is a secondary battery,

the apparatus further comprising a charging device that contactlessly charges the secondary battery,

wherein the AC power source, the primary coil, and the primary side resonance coil are provided in the charging device.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the primary coil and the primary side resonance coil are circular, and

wherein the diameter of the primary coil is greater than the diameter of the primary side resonance coil.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the distance changing section is a first distance changing section that changes the first distance, the apparatus further comprising a second distance changing section that changes the second distance,

wherein the secondary side resonance coil, the secondary coil, the load, and the second distance changing section are mounted on a movable body,

wherein the load is a secondary battery,

the apparatus further comprising a charging device that contactlessly charges the secondary battery,

wherein the AC power source, the primary coil, the primary side resonance coil, the impedance measuring section, and the first distance changing section are provided in the charging device.