Device and method of adjusting relative position between power-supplying coil and power-receiving coil

• US 9,873,346 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2015
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IHI Corporation
• Original Assignee: IHI Corporation
• Inventors: Maekawa, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, An
• Application Number:
  US14/659,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20150191094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• 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 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 7/003 for vehicles using stored power (e.g. charging stations)
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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: 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 power-supplying coil and a wheel stopper are installed in a stop area, and distance data showing a distance in front-back direction between a power-receiving coil and a wheel of an electric vehicle is received by a receiver. Based on the distance data, as a controller controls a drive device, the wheel stopper or the power-supplying coil is moved and a distance in an approach direction between the power-supplying coil and the wheel stopper shown by distance data is made equal to the distance in the front-back direction. Accordingly, in a state in which the wheel of the electric vehicle which has entered the stop area touches the wheel stopper and stops, a position of the power-receiving coil coincides with a position of the power-supplying coil in the approach direction.

Claims

1. An adjusting device for adjusting a relative position between a power-supplying coil and a power-receiving coil of an electric vehicle when the electric vehicle has entered and stopped in a stop area for wireless supply of electric power from the power-supplying coil to the power-receiving coil,

wherein, the power-supplying coil and a wheel stopper are provided in the stop area, a wheel of the electric vehicle which has entered the stop area touches the wheel stopper, and the power-supplying coil wirelessly supplies power to the power-receiving coil of the electric vehicle stopping as the wheel touches the wheel stopper,

the adjusting device comprises:

a receiver configured to receive, from the electric vehicle, distance data showing a distance between the power-receiving coil and the wheel in a front-back direction of the electric vehicle;

a drive device configured to move the wheel stopper or the power-supplying coil in an approach direction of the electric vehicle to the stop area or in an opposite direction of the approach direction; and

a controller configured to control the drive device, and

the controller makes a distance in the approach direction between the power-supplying coil and the wheel stopper equal to the distance shown by the distance data by controlling the drive device based on the distance data received by the receiver.

2. The adjusting device for adjusting the relative position between the power-supplying coil and the power-receiving coil of the electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a pallet on which the electric vehicle is able to ride is provided in the stop area, and the wheel stopper and the power-supplying coil are provided on the pallet, and

the pallet is moved between the stop area and a storage space.

3. An adjusting device for adjusting a relative position between a power-supplying coil and a power-receiving coil of an electric vehicle when the electric vehicle has entered and stopped in a stop area for wireless supply of electric power from the power-supplying coil to the power-receiving coil,

wherein, the power-supplying coil and a wheel stopper are provided in the stop area, a wheel of the electric vehicle which has entered the stop area touches the wheel stopper, and the power-supplying coil wirelessly supplies power to the power-receiving coil of the electric vehicle stopping as the wheel touches the wheel stopper,

the adjusting device comprises a receiver, a drive device and a controller which are provided in the electric vehicle,

the receiver receives distance data showing a distance between the power-supplying coil and the wheel stopper in an approach direction of the electric vehicle from a transmitter, and the transmitter is disposed in front of the stop area or in the stop area,

the drive device moves the power-receiving coil of the electric vehicle in a front-back direction of the electric vehicle, and

the controller makes a distance in the front-back direction between the power-receiving coil and the wheel equal to the distance shown by the distance data by controlling the drive device based on the distance data received by the receiver.

4. The adjusting device for adjusting the relative position between the power-supplying coil and the power-receiving coil of the electric vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a pallet on which the electric vehicle is able to ride is provided in the stop area, and the wheel stopper and the power-supplying coil are provided on the pallet, and

the pallet is moved between the stop area and a storage space.

5. A method of adjusting a relative position between a power-supplying coil and a power-receiving coil of an electric vehicle when the electric vehicle has entered and stopped in a stop area for wireless supply of electric power from the power-supplying coil to the power-receiving coil, the method comprising:

(A) installing the power-supplying coil and a wheel stopper which a wheel of the electric vehicle touches in the stop area;

(B) receiving, from the electric vehicle entering the stop area, distance data showing a distance from the power-receiving coil to the wheel in a front-back direction of the electric vehicle; and

(C) making a distance in an approach direction between the power-supplying coil and the wheel stopper equal to the distance shown by the distance data by moving the wheel stopper or the power-supplying coil in the approach direction of the electric vehicle to the stop area or in an opposite direction of the approach direction based on the distance data.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, after the (C), the electric vehicle enters the stop area and the electric vehicle stops as the wheel touches the wheel stopper.

7. A method of adjusting a relative position between a power-supplying coil and a power-receiving coil of an electric vehicle when the electric vehicle has entered and stopped in a stop area for wireless supply of electric power from the power-supplying coil to the power-receiving coil, the method comprising:

(A) installing the power-supplying coil, a wheel stopper which a wheel of the electric vehicle touches in the stop area, and a transmitter in front of the stop area or in the stop area;

(B) receiving distance data showing a distance between the power-supplying coil and the wheel stopper in an approach direction of the electric vehicle from the transmitter by a receiver of the electric vehicle; and

(C) making a distance in a front-back direction between the power-receiving coil and the wheel equal to the distance shown by the distance data by moving the power-receiving coil in the front-back direction of the electric vehicle based on the distance data.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, after the (C), the electric vehicle enters the stop area and the electric vehicle stops as the wheel touches the wheel stopper.