GB2526126A - Inductive power transfer arrangement with object detection - Google Patents

Inductive power transfer arrangement with object detection Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2526126A
GB2526126A GB1408595.5A GB201408595A GB2526126A GB 2526126 A GB2526126 A GB 2526126A GB 201408595 A GB201408595 A GB 201408595A GB 2526126 A GB2526126 A GB 2526126A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
detector
detector surface
force
arrangement
power transfer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Application number
GB1408595.5A
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GB201408595D0 (en
Inventor
Roman Polunin
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Alstom Transportation Germany GmbH
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Bombardier Transportation GmbH
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bombardier Transportation GmbH filed Critical Bombardier Transportation GmbH
Priority to GB1408595.5A priority Critical patent/GB2526126A/en
Publication of GB201408595D0 publication Critical patent/GB201408595D0/en
Publication of GB2526126A publication Critical patent/GB2526126A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60LPROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L53/00Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
    • B60L53/30Constructional details of charging stations
    • B60L53/32Constructional details of charging stations by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02JCIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J50/00Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
    • H02J50/90Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60LPROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L53/00Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
    • B60L53/10Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles characterised by the energy transfer between the charging station and the vehicle
    • B60L53/12Inductive energy transfer
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60LPROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L53/00Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
    • B60L53/10Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles characterised by the energy transfer between the charging station and the vehicle
    • B60L53/12Inductive energy transfer
    • B60L53/124Detection or removal of foreign bodies
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60LPROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L53/00Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
    • B60L53/10Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles characterised by the energy transfer between the charging station and the vehicle
    • B60L53/12Inductive energy transfer
    • B60L53/126Methods 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
    • H02J5/005
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02JCIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J50/00Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
    • H02J50/10Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02JCIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J50/00Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
    • H02J50/60Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
    • H02J7/025
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60LPROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2270/00Problem solutions or means not otherwise provided for
    • B60L2270/10Emission reduction
    • B60L2270/14Emission reduction of noise
    • B60L2270/147Emission reduction of noise electro magnetic [EMI]
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02TCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/70Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02TCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/7072Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02TCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T90/00Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02T90/10Technologies relating to charging of electric vehicles
    • Y02T90/12Electric charging stations
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02TCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T90/00Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02T90/10Technologies relating to charging of electric vehicles
    • Y02T90/14Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An inductive power transfer arrangement for transferring electric energy to a vehicle on a surface of a route comprises an electric conductor arrangement 6 to produce an alternating electromagnetic field for transferring field energy to a receiver 10. A detector 3 senses forces exerted onto an upward orientated surface of the detector, such as the weight of an object 8 or a vehicle. The force detector can be above the conductors 6 and have movable portions 2, 3 having sensors 4 to detect its movement and stops 2 to limit its movement. The sensors can be strain gauges. An evaluation device can output a signal if a measured downward force exceeds a criterion and stop or modify operation of the electric conductors in response. The evaluation device can measure fluctuations in force over time and using temperature detector 9 can, with the force measurement determine whether ice is present on the detector surface.

Description

Inductive power transfer arrangement with object detection The invention relates to an inductive power transfer arrangement for transferring electric energy, in particular to a vehicle (e.g. a road automobile or a rail vehicle) on a surface of a route (e.g. a road, a rail track or a parking area for parking the vehicle), wherein the arrangement comprises an electric conductor arrangement (which can be called primary side conductor arrangement, e.g. on the wayside, i.e. on the route) for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring the energy (in the form of field energy) to a receiver (which can be called secondary side conductor arrangement, e.g. on the vehicle). The receiver, which is not necessarily part of the inductive power transfer arrangement according to the invention, receives the alternating electromagnetic field and produces electric energy from the field energy by magnetic induction. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system comprising the primary side inductive power transfer arrangement and the secondary side receiver. In addition, the invention relates to a method of operating an inductive power transfer arrangement or system of the kind indicated before. A method of manufacturing an inductive power transfer arrangement or system of the kind described before is also an aspect of the invention.
More particularly, the invention relates to the detection of objects, in particular in a space between the primary and secondary side. Often, inductive power transfer (IPT) systems are operated while there is a space between the primary and secondary side large enough so that electrically conductive objects, such as metal objects (e.g. coins), or even larger objects, such as body pads of living beings, may be present in the space. Objects can also be present if there is no secondary side and, therefore, there is no receiver for receiving field energy from the primary side arrangement. However, for example a vehicle with a receiver may approach the primary side arrangement and the detection of an object obstructing the primary side arrangement may be of value.
A detector arrangement for detecting objects between the primary and secondary side of an 1FF system is known from EF2679970 A2. The detector arrangement detects an object having an elevated temperature using a light conducting body, a thermochromic layer and a light detector coupled with the light conducting body. Therefore, the basic idea is to detect electrically conductive material which is heated by the electromagnetic field. While this kind of detection can be performed reliably if the temperature has been increased already, it cannot detect objects that are not heated or have not been heated yet.
Even more particularly, the invention relates to inductive power transfer arrangements for transferring energy to vehicles while the respective vehicle stops, in particular while the vehicle is parked. Typically, the primary side PT arrangement is at least partly integrated in the ground.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an inductive power transfer arrangement of the kind defined above which can detect objects that are not heated or have not been heated yet by the electromagnetic field produced by the primary side conductor arrangement. Other objects of the invention are to provide a corresponding system comprising the inductive power transfer arrangement and a secondary side receiver, a corresponding method of operating such an inductive power transfer arrangement or system and a corresponding method of manufacturing such an inductive power transfer arrangement or system.
It is a basic idea of the present invention to evaluate weight forces which are exerted onto the primary side IPT arrangement. Depending on the result of the evaluation, it can be decided whether or not the operation of the 1FF arrangement and in particular the operation of the electric conductor arrangement is modified. For example, the operation of the electric conductor arrangement, in particular the electric current through the electric conductor arrangement which causes the electromagnetic field, may be stopped if the evaluation (i.e. the evaluation result) fulfills a predetermined criterion. According to a specific example, the operation is stopped automatically, if the force or forces exerted onto the IPT arrangement exceeds a predetermined threshold value and/or if the force or forces fluctuate(s) over time, for example with an amplitude higher than a predetermined threshold value. In addition or alternatively to the modification of the IPT arrangement operation, a signal can be output, such as a signal resulting in a warning and/or a signal which triggers the modification of the IPT arrangement operation.
Since the weight force or weight forces of an object or objects is/are evaluated, such objects can be detected reliably. It is therefore possible to detect living beings and other objects, such as electrically conducting objects (e.g. metal objects). As a result, injuries of living beings and damages as a result of hot objects can be prevented. The object detection does not depend on the detection of elevated temperatures and is therefore capable of detecting potential hot objects before they are becoming hot.
In order to evaluate the weight forces, they are detected by the IPT arrangement. According to another basic idea of the invention, the detection is made possible by providing a detector surface onto which the object or objects exert(s) its/their force(s). This means that the object has contact to the detector surface while it exerts its weight force. The size and/or shape of the detector surface can be chosen in different ways. In particular, the detector surface may be planar, wherein the direction perpendicular to the planar surface is oriented upwards. For example, the planar surface may be a horizontal surface. The size of the detector surface may be chosen so that it fully covers the region where the electric conductor arrangement is placed.
More particularly, the detector surface may extend transversely to the magnetic field lines of the field produced by operating the electric conductor arrangement in the area where the magnetic flux density is maximal. In particular, the detector surface may extend transversely in this manner with respect to two different directions being perpendicular to each other. For example, this is the case if the detector surface is a horizontal planar surface and the direction of the magnetic field lines in the area where the flux density is maximal is oriented in vertical direction.
The detector surface and the material which forms the detector surface have the purpose to receive the weight forces which can be made available for evaluation in different ways. One option is to use a matrix of force sensors or pressure sensors distributed along the detector surface, for example in a plane parallel to the plane of the detector surface. If the material forming the detector surface is elastically deformable to a sufficient extent the individual sensors of the sensor matrix can measure the local weight force exerted on the detector surface in the surface region nearest to the sensor. It is therefore possible to measure the distribution of weight forces over the detector surface.
More generally speaking, there are different options to make the weight forces available for evaluation. One option is like the option mentioned before which can be described generally by a flexible material forming the detector surface including a plurality of sensors for measuring the distribution of weight forces exerted onto the detector surface. Another option, which is preferred since it can be realized with low effort and is highly robust, uses a detector surface material which is stable in shape. This means that the weight forces which are exerted typically do not deform the material which constitutes the detector surface. Such a stable material has the further advantage that it can resist high forces over a long period of time. The weight forces can be measured easily, in particular if the detector surface material is part of a movable portion or forms the movable portion which is movable relative to the electric conductor arrangement.
Preferably, the relative motion is caused by the exerted weight forces against the mechanical resistance of an elastically deformable portion of the arrangement in the transition zone of the movable portion to a portion of the IPT arrangement which is fixed to the electric conductor arrangement and/or to a base of the IPT arrangement. It is preferred that there is a plurality of transition zones of this kind. These transition zones are located at a distance to each other. If there are more than two transition zones, for example three or four transition zones, the transition zones may define the corners of an imaginary polygonal area, which is preferably parallel to the detector surface. However, the size of this area is not necessarily equal to the size of the detector surface. In particular, the detector surface may be larger so as to overlap the area in between the transition zones.
The deformation in the respective transition zone and, therefore, at least a part of the weight force or weight forces exerted onto the detector surfaces may be measured using a strain gauge. Suitable strain gauges can be obtained, for example, from Flintec GmbH, 74909 Meckesheim, Germany, for example type PBW planar beam load cell.
The at least one sensor, in particular the at least one strain gauge, which measures the weight force or weight forces or a part thereof may take a measurement value at a single point in time or, preferably, repeatedly, so that information about the measured force as a function of time is provided. The measurement information is preferably transferred to the evaluation device of the PT arrangement.
In particular, the following is proposed: An inductive power transfer arrangement, in particular for transferring electric energy to a vehicle on a surface of a route, wherein the inductive power transfer arrangement comprises an electric conductor arrangement for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring field energy to a receiver, wherein: * the inductive power transfer arrangement further comprises a detector portion for detecting forces exerted onto a detector surface of the detector portion, * the detector surface of the detector portion is oriented upwards.
Furthermore, a method is proposed of operating an inductive power transfer arrangement, in particular for transferring electric energy to a vehicle on a surface of a route, wherein an electric conductor arrangement of the inductive power transfer arrangement is operated so that an alternating electromagnetic field is produced and field energy is transferred to a receiver, wherein: * forces exerted from above onto a detector surface of a detector portion of the inductive power transfer arrangement are detected and * the operation of the electric conductor arrangement is stopped or is modified, if a detected force or detected forces fulfil(s) a predetermined criterion.
For example, a signal is generated in order to stop or modify the operation of the electric conductor arrangement, if the detected force or the detected forces fulfils the predetermined criterion.
In addition, a method is proposed of manufacturing an inductive power transfer arrangement, in particular for transferring electric energy to a vehicle on a surface of a route, wherein * an electric conductor arrangement for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring field energy to a receiver is provided and * the electric conductor arrangement is combined with a detector portion for detecting forces exerted onto a detector surface of the detector portion, so that the detector surface of the detector portion is oriented upwards.
In particular, the electric conductor arrangement may be an arrangement for a single or, alternatively, plural phases of an alternating electric current.
In particular as mentioned above, the detector portion may comprise a movable portion which is movable relative to the electric conductor arrangement and further comprises at least one sensor adapted to measure a position shift of the movable portion and/or a strain of the detector portion caused by a force exerted onto the detector surface. According to the operation method, the position shift and/or a strain is measured in order to detect the force or forces.
Preferably, the arrangement IPT comprises a stop for stopping motion of the movable portion relative to the electric conductor arrangement, wherein the stop is reached by an increasing force or increasing forces onto the detector surface and the stop prevents further motion of the movable portion even if the force(s) is/are increasing further.
The stop avoids an overload, in particular an overload which might damage the sensor or sensors. This embodiment is based on the findings that it is not necessary to evaluate forces higher than a certain threshold value.
Preferably, the detector surface is arranged above the electric conductor arrangement.
Therefore, the detector portion protects the electric conductor arrangement and the detector surface is placed where the magnetic flux density is maximal for a typical primary side IPT arrangement.
In particular, a direction perpendicular to the detector surface is a direction of magnetic field lines at the maximal flux density of the electromagnetic field produced by the electric conductor arrangement during operation.
The IPT arrangement may comprise an evaluation device for evaluating the force or forces exerted onto the detector surface. According to the operation method, the force or forces exerted onto the detector surface is/are evaluated. Possible functions of the evaluation device and possible embodiments of the operation method are described above and below. In particular, a signal is output, if an evaluation of the force or forces exerted onto the detector surface fulfils a predetermined criterion.
In particular the evaluation device may determine a fluctuation of the force or forces exerted onto the detector surface over time and may output the signal as a corresponding first type signal. Fluctuations are typically caused by an object which is moving while it exerts weight forces onto the detector surface. By determining and evaluating the fluctuations, such objects can be detected.
In addition or alternatively, a temperature of the detector surface may be measured, in particular by the inductive power transfer arrangement, which, in this case, further comprises a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of (in particular on or nearby) the detector surface. In this case, the signal is output as a second type signal, if the temperature measured is above a predetermined threshold temperature.
In particular, the predetermined threshold temperature is a temperature above 000, for example in the range of 0°to 4°C, preferably in the range of 2°C to 4°C. Therefore, there is no permanent ice on the detector surface, if the temperature is above the predetermined threshold temperature. Ice would permanently exert its weight forces onto the detector surface, so that the evaluation of the detected forces would produce false results, provided that the presence of the ice is neglected.
Therefore, it is preferred that the fluctuations of the force or forces exerted onto the detector surface are determined in order to detect an object on the detector surface while the measured temperature is not above the predetermined threshold temperature and/or while ice on the detector surface cannot be excluded or avoided.
On the other hand, if the temperature is above the predetermined threshold temperature, the fluctuations can optionally be determined, but this is not necessary. In this case, the strength of the detected force or forces can be evaluated, for example it can be compared with a predetermined threshold value. If the predetermined threshold value is exceeded by the force, it can be decided that there is an object on the detector surface or that there is an object of significant weight on the detector surface. Optionally, the determined strength of the detected force can be used to classify objects on the detector surface, such as "object of negligible weight", object of significant weight" or heavy weight object". Corresponding to the classification result, the present way of operating the IPT arrangement can be modified or not modified or, alternatively, it can be decided how the operation is modified. In addition or alternatively, the information about the classification result can be output and, for example, displayed and/or indicated in a different manner.
In view of the above description, the first type signal may be a signal indicating that there is a significant fluctuation of the force or forces exerted onto the detector surface. The fluctuation may be significant if the amplitude of the fluctuation exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
The second type signal mentioned above may be a signal comprising the information about the strength of the weight force(s) and/or about the classification result.
From the above description follows that in particular light weight objects permanently resting on the detector surface over a certain period of time can be detected reliably, if there is no permanent ice on the detector surface. Determining that the measured temperature is above the predetermined threshold temperature is one way of determining that there is no ice. However, there are other possible ways of determining that there is no ice. For example, a user might observe and/or examine the detector surface and may determine that there is no ice. Another way is to heat the detector surface at least occasionally so that ice is melted and the resulting water can be drained away. For this reason, it is preferred that the detector surface is slightly curved and/or is structured so that water drains off.
Embodiments of the manufacturing method follow from the description of the IPT arrangement and system. For example, the manufacturing method may include the steps of providing the detector portion with a movable portion which is movable relative to the electric conductor arrangement and of adapting at least one sensor to measure a position shift of the movable portion and/or a strain of the detector portion caused by a force exerted onto the detector surface.
Also proposed is an inductive power transfer system comprising the inductive power transfer arrangement of one of the embodiments described here and further comprising the receiver.
The invention will be described with reference to the attached figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 a sectional view of an inductive power transfer system comprising a primary side inductive power transfer (IPT) arrangement and a secondary side receiver, Fig. 2 a perspective view of a board-like movable portion of a primary side IPT arrangement, such as the IPT arrangement of Fig. 1, with four sensors for measuring weight forces exerted onto the detector surface of the movable portion and Fig. 3 a flow-chart for illustrating an embodiment of a method of operating an inductive power transfer arrangement.
The IPT system 1, 10 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a primary side IPT arrangement 1 having a primary side electric conductor arrangement 6 (schematically represented by a rectangular block). On the secondary side of the system, a receiver 10 is schematically shown which receives, during operation of the system, the magnetic field component of the electromagnetic field which is produced by the primary side conductor arrangement 6. While the conductor arrangement 6 converts electric energy into field energy, the receiver 10 converts the field energy back into electric energy. The receiver may be mounted to a vehicle (not shown).
The conductor arrangement 6 and other portions 7 of the primary side IPT arrangement 1 are fixed to each other and/or to a common base (not shown). The fixed portions 7 shown in Fig. 1, which may have the shape of a cuboid, a movable portion 2, 3 and a connecting portion 4 are portions of a detector portion of the IPT arrangement 1. The connecting portions 4 which rest on the fixed portions 7 (or which may rest on a common fixed portion) carry the weight of the movable portion 2, 3. At least one sensor is combined with at least one and preferably all of the connecting portions 4. The at least one sensor is adapted to measure at least additional weight forces which are exerted onto the upper surface 5 of the detector portion. These additional weight forces are caused by objects which are exerting their weight forces onto the upper surface 5. One object 8 is shown in Fig. 1 schematically.
The at least one sensor is preferably a strain gauge. If the connecting portion 4 is deformed by the additional weight of the object 8, a corresponding strain of the connecting portion 4 is measured and the corresponding measurement value is an equivalent to the weight force of the object 8 or to a part of the weight force of the object 8, if the weight force of the object S is split into at least two pads corresponding to the at least two connecting portions 4. In practice, depending on the mechanical configuration of the detector portion, the weight forces of objects may be split in equally large parts corresponding to the number of connecting portions or may be split into parts depending on the location of the upper surface 5 where the object exerts its weight forces onto the surface 5.
As shown in Fig. 1, a motion stop is realized by at least some of a plurality of protruding portions 2, which protrude downwards from the portion forming the upper surface 5, and by the fixed portions 7. If the weight force onto the upper surface 5 increases the protruding portions 2 are approaching the fixed portions 7 until further motion of the movable portion 2, 3 relative to the fixed portion 7 or fixed portions 7 is stopped. This protects the connecting portions 4 and sensors from damage. However, such a stop can be realized in a different manner. For example, in addition or alternatively to the solution described before, the connecting portion may have an integrated stop.
Preferably, a vehicle (not shown) may drive over the upper surface 5 and, in this case, the weight forces exerted via the wheels of the vehicle may be large enough so that the motion stop stops further motion. In addition, it is preferred that the movable portion 2, 3 is sufficiently stable so that it is not deformed when the motion stop is acting. For example, the cuboid 3 may have reinforcing ribs (not shown) on its underside. In addition or alternatively, protruding portions 2 as shown in the central region of the movable portion 2, 3 in Fig. 1 may be provided so that there is also a stop in the central region. Corresponding fixed portions are omitted in Fig. 1 for better illustration.
The movable portion 2, 3, in particular the cuboid 3 or corresponding other material which forms the upper surface 5, may be provided with at least one temperature sensor 9 for measuring the temperature of the upper surface 5 or a region near by the upper surface 5. Another term for the upper surface S is "detector surface", since weight forces are exerted onto the surface and will be detected by the detector portion.
The cuboid 3 shown in Fig. 2 may be an embodiment of the cuboid 3 shown in Fig. 1. It is combined with four sensors 14 for measuring the weight force or weight forces exerted onto the upper surface of the cuboid 3. The sensors 14 are positioned on the underside of the cuboid 3 at a distance to each other at corners of an imaginary rectangle.
The sensors 14 may be strain gauges as described above. They are connected with an evaluation device 19 of the IPT arrangement via signal lines 17 for transferring the measurement signals from the sensors 14 to the evaluation device 19.
In addition, the temperature sensor 9, which is combined with the cuboid 3 in order to measure its surface temperature, is also connected to the evaluation device 19 via a signal line 18.
The cuboid 3 or any other body forming the upper surface of the detector portion may be made of plastic, such as a polymer. Alternatively, it may be made of stone. In any case, it is preferred that it is made of electrically non-conductive material.
The evaluation device 19 receives the measurement values of the sensors 14 and the temperature signal from the temperature sensor 9. A preferred embodiment of the method of operating an IPT arrangement which may be performed by the evaluation device and operationally by additional units of the arrangement will be described in the following with reference to Fig. 3. However, the method is not limited to the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 1.
In step Si, the operation of the electrical conductor arrangement (such as the arrangement 6 in Fig. 1) is prepared. This means, that the conductor arrangement does not carry an electric current at the beginning of the step. In order to prepare the operation, it is detected whether an object or objects exert(s) weight force(s) onto the detector surface of the detector portion. In step Si, at least one measurement value of at least one sensor is taken.
In step S2, which may be a step following on step Si, which may be performed before step Si or which may be performed at the same time as step Si, and which is an optional step, a temperature measurement is taken by the temperature sensor measuring the detector surface temperature or a temperature representing the detector surface temperature.
In step S3, the at least one measurement value representing the weight force(s) is evaluated. In case that there is at least one temperature value, it is preferred to perform the evaluation using the value(s).
If the measured temperature exceeds a threshold temperature, it is decided that there is no ice (this includes snow) on the detector surface. Therefore, the at least one measurement value representing the weight force(s) can directly be evaluated, for example by comparing the measurement value with a threshold value. If the measured value is greater than the threshold value, it is decided that there is an object on the detector surface. If the measured temperature is smaller than the threshold value, it is decided that there may be ice on the detector surface.
Provided that there is no additional information (in particular no temperature value) on the question whether there is actually ice on the detector surface, or if such additional information confirms that there is actually ice on the detector surface, the evaluation of the measurement values representing the weight force(s) is performed in a different manner, namely by determining if there are fluctuations of the measured values. This means that the evaluation requires at least two, and preferably a multiplicity of, measured values of the same sensor.
If there is no temperature sensor of if step S2 has not been performed for other reasons, the evaluation of the at least one measurement value can be performed in any manner, such as in the first and/or second manner as described before.
In any case, as a result of step S3, there is a decision result of the decision whether an object exerts a weight force or exerts a significant weight force onto the detector surface.
In the following step S4, a corresponding signal is output to a control device which controls the operation of the primary side electric conductor arrangement. Optionally, the signal is only output if a specific decision result has been obtained, for example the decision result that there is an object on the detector surface.
In the following, step S5, the control device controls the operation of the conductor arrangement under consideration of the signal or any signal received in step S4. In particular, if the control device is informed about an object or objects on the detector surface by a signal or by the absence of a signal, it may prohibit or stop the operation of the electric conductor arrangement, for example by controlling at least one corresponding electric switch to stay in the oft state or by switching it off. The procedure of stopping the operation of the conductor arrangement for example by switching off the corresponding switch, is mentioned here, since the previous steps Si to S4 (or Si, S3 and S4) can be performed as well during the operation of the electric conductor arrangement, while the electric conductor arrangement produces an electromagnetic
field.
If the control device is informed about the existence of at least one object on the detector surface, it may alternatively reduce the level of an electric current through the conductor arrangement.
In the following optional step S6, which may be performed any time as soon as the decision result has been made, it is indicated that there is at least one object on the detector surface.
The indication is made, for example, by the generation of an optical signal (such as a fluctuating light) and/or an acoustic signal.

Claims (25)

  1. Claims 1. An inductive power transfer arrangement (1), in particular for transferring electric energy to a vehicle on a surface of a route, wherein the inductive power transfer arrangement (1) comprises an electric conductor arrangement (6) for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring field energy to a receiver (10), wherein: * the inductive power transfer arrangement (1) further comprises a detector portion (2, 3, 4, 7) for detecting forces exerted onto a detector surface (5) of the detector portion (2, 3, 4, 7), * the detector surface (5) of the detector portion (2, 3, 4, 7) is oriented upwards.
  2. 2. The inductive power transfer arrangement of claim 1, wherein the detector portion (2, 3, 4, 7) comprises a movable portion (2, 3) which is movable relative to the electric conductor arrangement (6) and further comprises at least one sensor (14) adapted to measure a position shift of the movable portion (2, 3) and/or a strain of the detector portion (2, 3, 4, 7) caused by a force exerted onto the detector surface (5).
  3. 3. The inductive power transfer arrangement of claim 2, comprising a stop for stopping motion of the movable portion (2, 3) relative to the electric conductor arrangement (6), wherein the stop is reached by an increasing force or increasing forces onto the detector surface (5) and the stop prevents further motion of the movable portion (2, 3) even if the force(s) is/are increasing further.
  4. 4. The inductive power transfer arrangement of one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the detector surface (5) is arranged above the electric conductor arrangement (6).
  5. 5. The inductive power transfer arrangement of one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a direction perpendicular to the detector surface (5) is a direction of magnetic field lines at the highest flux density of the electromagnetic field produced by the electric conductor arrangement (6) during operation.
  6. 6. The inductive power transfer arrangement of one of claims 1 to 5, comprising an evaluation device (19) for evaluating the force or forces exerted onto the detector surface (5).
  7. 7. The inductive power transfer arrangement of claim 6, wherein the evaluation device (19) is adapted to output a signal, if an evaluation of the force or forces exerted onto the detector surface (5) fulfils a predetermined criterion.
  8. 8. The inductive power transfer arrangement of claim 7, wherein the evaluation device (19) is adapted to determine a fluctuation of the force or forces exerted onto the detector surface (5) over time and to output the signal as a corresponding first type signal.
  9. 9. The inductive power transfer arrangement of claim 7 or 8, further comprising a temperature sensor (9) for measuring a temperature of the detector surface (5). wherein the evaluation device (19) is adapted to output the signal as a second type signal, if the temperature measured is above a predetermined threshold temperature.
  10. 10. An inductive power transfer system comprising the inductive power transfer arrangement (1) of one of claims ito 9 and further comprising the receiver (10).
  11. 11. A method of operating an inductive power transfer arrangement (1), in particular for transferring electric energy to a vehicle on a surface of a route, wherein an electric conductor arrangement (6) of the inductive power transfer arrangement (1) is operated so that an alternating electromagnetic field is produced and field energy is transferred to a receiver (10), wherein: * forces exerted from above onto a detector surface (5) of a detector portion (2, 3, 4, 7) of the inductive power transfer arrangement (1) are detected and * the operation of the electric conductor arrangement (6) is stopped or is modified, if a detected force or detected forces fulfil(s) a predetermined criterion.
  12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein a position shift of the movable portion (2, 3) and/or a strain of the detector portion (2, 3, 4, 7) caused by a force or forces exerted onto the detector surface (5) is measured in order to detect the force or forces.
  13. 13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein a direction perpendicular to the detector surface (5) is a direction of magnetic field lines at the highest flux density of the electromagnetic field produced by the electric conductor arrangement (6).
  14. 14. The method of one of claims 11 to 13, wherein a signal is generated in order to stop or modify the operation of the electric conductor arrangement (6), if the detected force or the detected forces fulfils a predetermined criterion.
  15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein a fluctuation of the detected force or detected forces over time is determined and the signal is output as a corresponding first type signal.
  16. 16. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein a temperature of the detector surface (5) is measured and wherein the signal is output as a second type signal, if the temperature measured is above a predetermined threshold temperature.
  17. 17. A method of manufacturing an inductive power transfer arrangement (1), in particular for transferring electric energy to a vehicle on a surface of a route, wherein * an electric conductor arrangement (6) for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring field energy to a receiver (10) is provided and * the electric conductor arrangement (6) is combined with a detector portion (2, 3, 4, 7) for detecting forces exerted onto a detector surface (5) of the detector portion (2, 3, 4, 7), so that the detector surface (5) of the detector portion (2, 3, 4, 7) is oriented upwards.
  18. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the detector portion (2, 3, 4, 7) is provided with a movable portion (2, 3) which is movable relative to the electric conductor arrangement (6) and at least one sensor (14) is provided adapted to measure a position shift of the movable portion (2, 3) and/or a strain of the detector portion (2, 3, 4, 7) caused by a force exerted onto the detector surface (5).
  19. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein a stop is provided for stopping motion of the movable portion (2, 3) relative to the electric conductor arrangement (6), so that the stop is reached by an increasing force or increasing forces onto the detector surface (5) and the stop prevents further motion of the movable portion (2, 3) even if the force(s) is/are increasing further.
  20. 20. The method of one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the detector surface (5) is arranged above the electric conductor arrangement (6).
  21. 21. The method of one of claims 17 to 20, wherein a direction perpendicular to the detector surface (5) is a direction of magnetic field lines at the highest flux density of the electromagnetic field produced by the electric conductor arrangement (6) during operation.
  22. 22. The method of one of claims 17 to 21, wherein an evaluation device (19) is provided for evaluating the force or forces exerted onto the detector surface (5).
  23. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the evaluation device (19) is adapted to output a signal, if an evaluation of the force or forces exerted onto the detector surface (5) fulfils a predetermined criterion.
  24. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the evaluation device (19) is adapted to determine a fluctuation of the force or forces exerted onto the detector surface (5) over time and to output the signal as a corresponding first type signal.
  25. 25. The method of claim 23 or 24, wherein a temperature sensor (9) is provided for measuring a temperature on of the detector surface (5) and wherein the evaluation device (19) is adapted to output the signal as a second type signal, if the temperature measured is above a predetermined threshold temperature.
GB1408595.5A 2014-05-14 2014-05-14 Inductive power transfer arrangement with object detection Withdrawn GB2526126A (en)

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WO2018189228A1 (en) * 2017-04-13 2018-10-18 Continental Automotive Gmbh Monitoring device and method for monitoring a contactless charging device of a vehicle
DE102017211373A1 (en) * 2017-07-04 2019-01-10 Continental Automotive Gmbh Inductive charging device for an electrically driven motor vehicle and operating method for the charging device

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JPH08838A (en) * 1994-06-20 1996-01-09 Taiyo Kogyo Kk Vehicle toy of electromagnetic induction charging system
EP0788212A2 (en) * 1996-01-30 1997-08-06 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Connection system and connection method for an electric automotive vehicle
US20110074346A1 (en) * 2009-09-25 2011-03-31 Hall Katherine L Vehicle charger safety system and method
US20110133692A1 (en) * 2009-12-03 2011-06-09 Hyundai Motor Japan R&D Center, Inc. Primary coil raising type non-contact charging system with elevating-type primary coil
US20130313910A1 (en) * 2012-05-23 2013-11-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Power transmitting device
WO2014070026A1 (en) * 2012-11-05 2014-05-08 Powerbyproxi Limited Inductively coupled power transfer systems

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH08838A (en) * 1994-06-20 1996-01-09 Taiyo Kogyo Kk Vehicle toy of electromagnetic induction charging system
EP0788212A2 (en) * 1996-01-30 1997-08-06 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Connection system and connection method for an electric automotive vehicle
US20110074346A1 (en) * 2009-09-25 2011-03-31 Hall Katherine L Vehicle charger safety system and method
US20110133692A1 (en) * 2009-12-03 2011-06-09 Hyundai Motor Japan R&D Center, Inc. Primary coil raising type non-contact charging system with elevating-type primary coil
US20130313910A1 (en) * 2012-05-23 2013-11-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Power transmitting device
WO2014070026A1 (en) * 2012-11-05 2014-05-08 Powerbyproxi Limited Inductively coupled power transfer systems

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018189228A1 (en) * 2017-04-13 2018-10-18 Continental Automotive Gmbh Monitoring device and method for monitoring a contactless charging device of a vehicle
DE102017211373A1 (en) * 2017-07-04 2019-01-10 Continental Automotive Gmbh Inductive charging device for an electrically driven motor vehicle and operating method for the charging device

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