Contactless power feeding system, vehicle, power feeding facility and method of controlling contactless power feeding system

• US 9,634,733 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2010
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaplan, Hal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ortiz, Elim
• Application Number:
  US13/992,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,314 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/44 by parameter estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• 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: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• 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 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

When an impedance adjustment process of a resonant system is started, a power feeding facility outputs power for adjustment. Then, an ECU of the power feeding facility adjusts an impedance matching box provided in the power feeding facility, and when the adjustment is completed, transmits an instruction for adjustment in a vehicle to the vehicle. When the vehicle receives the adjustment instruction from the power feeding facility, the vehicle adjusts an impedance matching box provided in the vehicle. That is, in this contactless power feeding system, the impedance adjustment in the power feeding facility is performed first, and the adjustment in the vehicle is performed thereafter.

Claims

1. A contactless power feeding system comprising:

a power feeding facility; and

a power receiving apparatus for receiving electric power in a contactless manner from the power feeding facility;

the power feeding facility including;

a power supply device for generating electric power having a prescribed frequency;

a power transmission unit for receiving the power from the power supply device, and resonating with the power receiving apparatus through an electromagnetic field to transmit the power in a contactless manner to the power receiving apparatus;

a first variable impedance device provided between the power supply device and the power transmission unit;

a first control device that adjusts the first variable impedance device; and

a first communication device that transmits information on the power feeding facility and a position mismatch amount to the power receiving apparatus;

the power receiving apparatus including;

a power reception unit for resonating with the power transmission unit through the electromagnetic field to receive the power in a contactless manner from the power transmission unit;

a load for receiving the power received by the power reception unit;

a second variable impedance device provided between the power reception unit and the load;

a second control device for adjusting the second variable impedance device; and

a second communication device capable of establishing communication with the first communication device, the second communication device transmitting information on the power receiving apparatus to the power feeding facility;

the first control device adjusting the first variable impedance device prior to adjustment of the second variable impedance device in the power receiving apparatus, the first control device adjusting the first variable impedance device by using the information on the power receiving apparatus received by the first communication device, the first control device further adjusting the first variable impedance device based on the position mismatch amount, which is estimated based on the information on the power receiving apparatus and corresponds to a position mismatch of the power transmission unit relative to the power reception unit,

the second control device adjusting the second variable impedance device after the adjustment of the first variable impedance device by the first control device, the second control device adjusting the second variable impedance device by using the information on the power feeding facility received by the second communication device and the position mismatch amount which is received by the second communication device.

2. The contactless power feeding system according to claim 1, wherein

the power transmission unit includes a primary self-resonant coil for receiving the power from the power supply device to generate the electromagnetic field, and

the power reception unit includes a secondary self-resonant coil for resonating with the primary self-resonant coil through the electromagnetic field to receive the power from the primary self-resonant coil.

3. The contactless power feeding system according to claim 1, wherein

the power transmission unit includes:

a primary coil for receiving the power from the power supply device; and

a primary self-resonant coil for receiving the power from the primary coil by electromagnetic induction to generate the electromagnetic field; and

the power reception unit includes;

a secondary self-resonant coil for resonating with the primary self-resonant coil through the electromagnetic field to receive the power from the primary self-resonant coil; and

a secondary coil for extracting the power received by the secondary self-resonant coil by electromagnetic induction to output the power.

4. The contactless power feeding system according to claim 1, wherein

the power receiving apparatus is mounted on a vehicle.

5. A contactless power feeding system comprising:

a power feeding facility; and

a power receiving apparatus for receiving electric power in a contactless manner from the power feeding facility;

the power feeding facility including;

a power supply device for generating electric power having a prescribed frequency;

a power transmission unit for receiving the power from the power supply device, and resonating with the power receiving apparatus through an electromagnetic field to transmit the power in a contactless manner to the power receiving apparatus;

a first variable impedance device provided between the power supply device and the power transmission unit; and

a first control device for adjusting the first variable impedance device;

the power receiving apparatus including;

a power reception unit for resonating with the power transmission unit through the electromagnetic field to receive the power in a contactless manner from the power transmission unit;

a load for receiving the power received by the power reception unit;

a second variable impedance device provided between the power reception unit and the load;

a second control device for adjusting the second variable impedance device;

a resistor element electrically connected between a pair of power lines provided between the power reception unit and the second variable impedance device during the adjustment of the first and second variable impedance devices; and

a switching device for electrically connecting the resistor element between the pair of power lines and electrically disconnecting the second variable impedance device from the power reception unit during the adjustment of the first and second variable impedance devices,

the first control device adjusting the first variable impedance device prior to adjustment of the second variable impedance device in the power receiving apparatus, and

the second control device adjusting the second variable impedance device after the adjustment of the first variable impedance device by the first control device.

6. A contactless power feeding system comprising:

a power feeding facility; and

a power receiving apparatus for receiving electric power in a contactless manner from the power feeding facility;

the power feeding facility including;

a power supply device for generating electric power having a prescribed frequency;

a power transmission unit for receiving the power from the power supply device, and resonating with the power receiving apparatus through an electromagnetic field to transmit the power in a contactless manner to the power receiving apparatus;

a first variable impedance device provided between the power supply device and the power transmission unit; and

a first control device for adjusting the first variable impedance device,

the power receiving apparatus including;

a power reception unit for resonating with the power transmission unit through the electromagnetic field to receive the power in a contactless manner from the power transmission unit;

a load for receiving the power received by the power reception unit;

a second variable impedance device provided between the power reception unit and the load;

a second control device for adjusting the second variable impedance device;

a rectifier provided between the second variable impedance device and the load, for rectifying the power received by the power reception unit;

a resistor element electrically connected between a pair of power lines provided between the rectifier and the load during the adjustment of the first and second variable impedance devices; and

a switching device for electrically connecting the resistor element between the pair of power lines and electrically disconnecting the load from the rectifier during the adjustment of the first and second variable impedance devices;

the first control device adjusting the first variable impedance device prior to adjustment of the second variable impedance device in the power receiving apparatus, and

the second control device adjusting the second variable impedance device after the adjustment of the first variable impedance device by the first control device.

7. A vehicle capable of receiving electric power in a contactless manner from a power feeding facility, the power feeding facility including a first variable impedance device provided between a power supply device and a power transmission unit, the vehicle comprising:

a power reception unit for resonating with the power transmission unit through an electromagnetic field to receive the power in a contactless manner from the power transmission unit;

a load for receiving the power received by the power reception unit;

a second variable impedance device provided between the power reception unit and the load;

a control device for adjusting the second variable impedance device, the control device adjusting the second variable impedance device after adjustment of the first variable impedance device in the power feeding facility;

a resistor element electrically connected between a pair of power lines provided between the power reception unit and the second variable impedance device during the adjustment of the first and second variable impedance devices; and

a switching device for electrically connecting the resistor element between the pair of power lines and electrically disconnecting the second variable impedance device from the power reception unit during the adjustment of the first and second variable impedance devices.

8. A vehicle capable of receiving electric power in a contactless manner from a power feeding facility, the power feeding facility including a first variable impedance device provided between a power supply device and a power transmission unit, the vehicle comprising:

a power reception unit for resonating with the power transmission unit through an electromagnetic field to receive the power in a contactless manner from the power transmission unit;

a load for receiving the power received by the power reception unit;

a second variable impedance device provided between the power reception unit and the load;

a control device for adjusting the second variable impedance device, the control device adjusting the second variable impedance device after adjustment of the first variable impedance device in the power feeding facility;

a rectifier provided between the second variable impedance device and the load, for rectifying the power received by the power reception unit;

a resistor element electrically connected between a pair of power lines provided between the rectifier and the load during the adjustment of the first and second variable impedance devices; and

a switching device for electrically connecting the resistor element between the pair of power lines and electrically disconnecting the load from the rectifier during the adjustment of the first and second variable impedance devices.

9. A method of controlling a contactless power feeding system in which electric power is fed in a contactless manner from a power feeding facility to a power receiving apparatus,

the power feeding facility including:

a power supply device for generating electric power having a prescribed frequency;

a power transmission unit for receiving the power from the power supply device, and resonating with the power receiving apparatus through an electromagnetic field to transmit the power in a contactless manner to the power receiving apparatus;

a first variable impedance device provided between the power supply device and the power transmission unit; and

the power receiving apparatus including;

a power reception unit for resonating with the power transmission unit through the electromagnetic field to receive the power in a contactless manner from the power transmission unit;

a load for receiving the power received by the power reception unit; and

a second variable impedance device provided between the power reception unit and the load;

the method comprising the steps of;

transmitting information on the power receiving apparatus to the power feeding facility;

estimating a position mismatch amount of the power reception unit relative to the power transmission unit based on the transmitted information on the power receiving apparatus;

adjusting the first variable impedance device prior to adjusting the second variable impedance device by using the transmitted information on the power receiving apparatus, and based on the estimated position mismatch amount;

transmitting the estimated position mismatch amount and information on the power feeding facility to the power receiving apparatus; and

adjusting the second variable impedance device after adjusting the first variable impedance device by using the transmitted information on the power feeding facility and the estimated position mismatch amount.