JP2015008546A - Non-contact power transmission device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a non-contact power transmission device capable of reliably detecting an entered foreign matter.SOLUTION: A power supply unit 2 supplies the power to a power reception unit 4 in a non-contact manner. The power supply unit includes: a primary coil 44 that generates a magnetic flux using an AC current; a cover 40 covering the primary coil 44; and a foreign matter detection means 14 that detects an object existing on the cover 40. Since the foreign matter detection means 14 capable of detecting an object existing on the cover 40 is provided, a foreign matter entered between the primary coil 44 and a secondary coil of the power reception unit 4 is reliably detected.

Description

  The present invention relates to a non-contact power transmission device used for charging an electric propulsion vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a conventional non-contact power transmission apparatus 106. In FIG. 8, a power feeding device (primary side) F connected to the power panel of the ground-side power source 109 physically supplies power to a power receiving device (secondary side) G mounted on an electric propulsion vehicle. It arrange | positions so that it may oppose through the air gap which is a space | gap space without a connection. In this arrangement state, when an alternating current is applied to the primary coil 107 provided in the power feeding device F to form a magnetic flux, an induced electromotive force is generated in the secondary coil 108 provided in the power receiving device G, and thereby the primary coil 107 is generated. Is transmitted to the secondary coil 108 in a non-contact manner.

  The power receiving device G is connected to the in-vehicle battery 110, for example, and the in-vehicle battery 110 is charged with the electric power transmitted as described above. The in-vehicle motor 111 is driven by the electric power stored in the in-vehicle battery 110. Note that, during the non-contact power supply process, for example, the wireless communication device 112 exchanges necessary information between the power supply device F and the power reception device G.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the internal structure of the power feeding device F and the power receiving device G. In particular, FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal structure when the power feeding device F is viewed from above and the power receiving device G is viewed from below. FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal structure when the power feeding device F and the power receiving device G are viewed from the side.

  In FIG. 9, the power feeding device F includes a primary coil 107, a primary magnetic core 113, a back plate 115, a cover 116, and the like. Briefly described, the power receiving device G has a symmetrical structure with the power feeding device F, and includes a secondary coil 108, a secondary magnetic core 114, a back plate 115, a cover 116, and the like. The surface of the secondary magnetic core 113 and the surfaces of the secondary coil 108 and the secondary magnetic core 114 are fixedly covered with a molding resin 117 mixed with a foam material 118, respectively.

  That is, in both the power feeding device F and the power receiving device G, the mold resin 117 is filled between the back plate 115 and the cover 116, and the primary coil 107, the secondary coil 108, the primary magnetic core 113, and the secondary magnetic core 114 inside. The surface of is covered and fixed. The mold resin 117 is made of, for example, a silicon resin, and by fixing the interior in this manner, the primary coil 107 and the secondary coil 108 are positioned and fixed, and the mechanical strength is ensured and the heat dissipation function is also exhibited. That is, the primary coil 107 and the secondary coil 108 generate heat due to Joule heat through an exciting current, but are radiated and cooled by heat conduction of the mold resin 117.

JP 2008-87733 A

  Since the power feeding device F and the power receiving device G are basically installed outdoors, it is conceivable that foreign matter may be placed on the cover 116. In particular, if a metal object, which is an example of a foreign object, is placed on the cover 116 during power transmission and left as it is, the metal object will be overheated. In particular, when a foreign object such as a loop-shaped conductor capable of interlinking magnetic flux is inserted between the primary coil 107 and the secondary coil 108, an electromotive force is generated at both ends of the conductor. If the invading foreign matter is excessively heated, there is a possibility that the power feeding device F and the power receiving device G may be damaged. From the above, it is required to reliably detect the entry of foreign matter between the primary coil 107 and the secondary coil 108 during power transmission.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a non-contact power transmission device that can reliably detect the intrusion of foreign matter.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a power feeding device that supplies power to a power receiving device in a contactless manner, the power feeding device including a primary coil that generates magnetic flux by an input alternating current, and the primary An electrode pattern configuration including a cover that covers the coil and a capacitance sensor that detects an object existing around the cover, the capacitance sensor having a discontinuous portion that blocks a flow path of eddy current generated by the magnetic flux It was.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power receiving device that receives power supply contactlessly from the power feeding device side, and the power receiving device generates an electromotive force according to a magnetic flux generated by a primary coil on the power feeding device side. A secondary coil, a cover that covers the secondary coil, and a capacitance sensor that detects an object present around the cover.

  According to the present invention, a power feeding device or a power receiving device of a non-contact power transmission device includes a capacitance sensor that can detect the intrusion of an object near the cover, and the electrode of the capacitance sensor is caused by a magnetic field during power transmission. Since the configuration has a pattern that suppresses eddy currents, the presence of a foreign object can be reliably detected.

Block diagram of a non-contact power transmission apparatus according to the present invention External view of the non-contact power transmission device of FIG. Block diagram of foreign matter detection means which is a capacitance sensor Partial sectional view of the power feeding device (A) Flow chart showing foreign object detection and transmission power control (B) Flow chart of foreign object intrusion processing External view showing an example of electrode configuration of the foreign matter detection means External view showing another electrode configuration example of the foreign matter detection means Schematic diagram showing the configuration of a conventional non-contact power transmission device The schematic diagram which shows the internal structure of the power receiving apparatus (power feeding apparatus) arrange | positioned facing the power feeding apparatus (power receiving apparatus) of FIG.

  One embodiment of the present invention is a power supply device that supplies power to a power receiving device in a contactless manner, and the power supply device includes a primary coil that generates magnetic flux by an input alternating current, and a cover that covers the primary coil. And an electrostatic capacitance sensor that detects an object existing around the cover, and the electrostatic capacitance sensor has an electrode pattern configuration having a discontinuous portion that blocks a flow path of eddy current generated by the magnetic flux.

  In another aspect of the present invention, the capacitance sensor has a plurality of the electrode patterns.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a power receiving device that receives power supply in a contactless manner from the power feeding device side, and the power receiving device generates an electromotive force according to magnetic flux generated in a primary coil on the power feeding device side. A secondary coil, a cover that covers the secondary coil, and a capacitance sensor that detects an object present around the cover.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to reliably detect the presence of an object on the cover by detecting a change in capacitance on the cover of the power feeding device or the power receiving device using the capacitance sensor. Further, by using the capacitance sensor, it is possible to easily and reliably detect a wide area on the cover where an object (foreign matter) may reach a temperature rise. Therefore, excessive temperature rise of the invading foreign matter can be prevented, and expansion damage such as equipment failure can be prevented in advance, and safety is improved.

  Further, by using an electrode pattern configuration having a discontinuous portion that blocks the flow path of eddy current generated by the magnetic flux, the temperature rise of the capacitance sensor itself can be suppressed, and the detection accuracy can be maintained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a non-contact power transmission apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view of the vehicle installed in the parking space. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the non-contact power transmission device includes a power feeding device 2 installed in, for example, a parking space, and a power receiving device 4 mounted on, for example, an electric propulsion vehicle.

  The power supply device 2 includes a power supply box 8 connected to the commercial power supply 6, an inverter unit 10, a coil unit 12, a foreign object detection unit 14, and a control unit (for example, a microcomputer) 16. On the other hand, the power receiving device 4 includes a coil unit 18, a rectifying unit 20, a load (battery) 22, and a control unit (for example, a microcomputer) 24.

  In the power supply device 2, the commercial power source 6 is a 200 V commercial power source that is a low-frequency AC power source, and is connected to the input end of the power source box 8, and the output end of the power source box 8 is connected to the input end of the inverter unit 10. The output end of the unit 10 is connected to the coil unit 12. On the other hand, in the power receiving device 4, the output end of the coil unit 18 is connected to the input end of the rectifying unit 20, and the output end of the rectifying unit 20 is connected to the load 22.

  The coil unit 12 is laid on the ground, and the power supply box 8 is erected at a position separated from the coil unit 12 by a predetermined distance, for example. On the other hand, the coil unit 18 is attached to, for example, the bottom of the vehicle body (for example, a chassis).

  The control unit 16 performs wireless communication with the control unit 24, and the control unit 24 determines a power command value according to the detected residual voltage of the load 22 and transmits the determined power command value to the control unit 16. The control unit 16 compares the supplied power detected by the coil unit 12 with the received power command value, and drives the inverter unit 10 to obtain the power command value.

  During power feeding, the control unit 24 detects the received power and changes the power command value to the control unit 16 so that the load 22 is not overcurrent or overvoltage.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when power is supplied from the power feeding device 2 to the power receiving device 4, the coil unit 18 is disposed so as to face the coil unit 12 by appropriately moving the vehicle, and the control unit 16 causes the inverter unit 10 to operate. By controlling the driving, a high-frequency electromagnetic field is formed between the coil unit 12 and the coil unit 18. The power receiving device 4 takes out electric power from the high frequency electromagnetic field and charges the load 22 with the taken out electric power.

  The foreign matter detection means 14 is for detecting whether there is a foreign matter in the high-frequency electromagnetic field region and the vicinity thereof, and is provided, for example, in the coil unit 12 of the power feeding device 2 as shown in FIG. Details of the foreign matter detection means 14 will be described later.

  The “foreign matter” in the present invention is an object such as a person or an object that may enter a high-frequency electromagnetic field region, and in particular, a metal piece that may cause an increase in damage due to an increase in temperature due to an electromagnetic field. And so on.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the foreign matter detection means 14. The foreign matter detection means 14 is a capacitance sensor that measures the capacitance between the foreign matter and is configured to detect the foreign matter based on a change in the measured capacitance. For this purpose, the foreign matter detection means 14 includes an electrode 30, a voltage supply unit 32, a C / V conversion unit 34, and a signal processing unit 36.

  Specifically, the foreign matter detection means 14 (its electrode 30) is installed on the back side of the cover 40 of the coil unit 12, as shown in FIG. The cover 40 of the coil unit 12 is attached so as to cover the primary coil 44 from above in order to protect the primary coil 44. The electrode 30 of the foreign matter detection means 14 is the back side of the cover 40, that is, the primary side of the cover 40 so as to be protected from the outside so that the capacitance between the foreign matter 38 existing on the cover 40 can be measured. It is installed between the coil 44.

  Note that the electrode 30 of the foreign matter detection means 14 may be incorporated in the cover 40 so as not to be exposed to the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the voltage supply unit 32 of the foreign matter detection unit 14 applies a predetermined potential with respect to the ground (GND) potential to the electrode 30. As a result, a capacitance C1 is generated between the electrode 30 and the foreign substance 38, and the capacitance C1 is expressed by Equation 1.

  In Equation 1, ε0 is the dielectric constant of vacuum, εr is the relative dielectric constant, S is the minimum area opposite to the electrode 30 and the foreign material 38, and d is the distance between the electrode 30 and the foreign material 38.

  The C / V conversion unit 34 of the foreign matter detection means 14 converts the capacitance C1 into a voltage value. Here, when the electrostatic capacitance between the foreign substance 38 and the GND potential is C2, the C / V conversion unit 34 converts the electrostatic capacitance C1 + C2 into a corresponding voltage value.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the signal processing unit 36 of the foreign object detection unit 14 outputs a signal corresponding to the voltage value converted by the C / V conversion unit 34, that is, a signal corresponding to the measured capacitance, as shown in FIG. 1. 2 to the control unit 16.

  In such a configuration, when the foreign substance 38 approaches the electrode 30, the distance d in Expression 1 decreases and c1 increases. As a result, the measured value of the capacitance of the foreign matter detection means 14 increases, and the entry of the foreign matter 38 can be detected. Therefore, if the foreign matter detection means 14 is appropriately provided, the entry of foreign matter existing on the cover 40 of the power supply device 2 can be reliably detected.

  6 and 7 are external views showing a configuration example of the electrode 30 of the foreign matter detection means 14. The foreign matter detection means 14 prevents the invading foreign matter from being heated excessively by the magnetic flux, so that the electrode 30 is connected to the primary coil 44 so as to detect the distribution range of the magnetic flux transmitted from the primary coil 44 to the secondary coil. Place near the top.

  The electrode 30 is exposed to the magnetic flux of the primary coil 44, and an eddy current flows to cause a problem such as a temperature rise. As shown in FIG. 6, the electrode 30 is provided with a cut 42 to cut the flow path. The generation of eddy current can be prevented. As shown in FIG. 7, even if a plurality of divided electrodes 30 are arranged in a range substantially similar to that of the primary coil 44, a sufficient detection range is secured while preventing problems such as temperature rise due to eddy currents. be able to.

  In addition, when a plurality of electrodes 30 are arranged in a divided manner as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to identify the intrusion position and size of a foreign object by comparing the detection results of each electrode 30. When the detection result of each electrode 30 shows a similar change tendency, it is determined that the influence is due to a change over time related to the whole, and the detection accuracy can be improved by correcting the determination criterion for the entry of foreign matter.

  Next, foreign object detection and transmission power control will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  In step S <b> 1 of the flowchart of FIG. 5A, when the vehicle on which the power receiving device 4 is mounted stops so that the coil unit 18 of the power receiving device 4 faces the coil unit 12, the control unit 16 receives a power command from the control unit 24. Receive value. When the power command value is received, in step S2, the control unit 16 starts the electrostatic capacitance measurement operation by the foreign matter detection unit 14, and the capacitance measured by the foreign matter detection unit 14 is input to the control unit 16. Stored as an initial value. For example, an electrode 30 is used in the capacitance measurement portion of the foreign matter detection means 14, and the capacitance is measured using an electromagnetic field region on the cover 40 covering the coil unit 12 as a detection region.

  Thereafter, in step S <b> 3, the control unit 16 instructs the inverter unit 10 to start power transmission, and starts power supply from the coil unit 12 to the coil unit 18.

  In step S4, the control unit 16 compares the capacitance measurement value (measurement capacitance) by the electrode 30 of the foreign substance detection means 14 with the initial setting value, and there is a change in the electrostatic capacitance due to the foreign substance entering. Determine whether. Note that a value obtained by adding a constant value in consideration of a variation factor such as a variation due to measurement accuracy to the initial value is set as an initial set value, and the variation factor included in the determination of the entry of a foreign object is excluded.

  In step S4, when the measured capacitance exceeds the initial setting value, it is determined that foreign matter has entered, and in order to prevent expansion damage due to overheating of the foreign matter, the process proceeds to step S5 to control transmission power. Foreign matter processing is performed. In step S4, when the measured capacitance is equal to or less than the initial setting value, it is determined that no foreign substance has entered, and in step S6, the control unit 16 causes the inverter unit 10 to continue power transmission.

  The flowchart in FIG. 5B shows details of the foreign substance processing in step S5 in the flowchart in FIG. In the foreign matter processing, first, in step S21, the entry of the foreign matter is notified by a notification means such as a display or sound. Next, in step S22, the measured capacitance and the set value are compared, and a detailed determination including the elimination of the factors that change with time and the risk level is made.

  A time-dependent change factor means a change in capacitance due to an environmental change during measurement such as a temperature rise of a device or a climate change.

  As the initial value, a value obtained by adding a constant value in consideration of a factor of change with time, a danger limit value obtained from design data for the capacitance when a foreign object enters, and the like are set values.

  In step S22, when it is determined that the measured capacitance exceeds the set value, the process proceeds to step S23, and the control unit 16 transmits the transmission power from the coil unit 12 to the coil unit 18 by a predetermined amount (for example, , 1/2) Control to suppress transmission power such as dropping or stopping power transmission is performed. Furthermore, in step S24, the notification means that the transmission power is controlled by the entry of foreign matter is notified by a notification means such as a display or sound, and the foreign matter processing is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S22 that the measured capacitance does not exceed the set value, the foreign substance processing is terminated bypassing steps S23 and S24.

  In step S7 in the flowchart of FIG. 5A, if there is an instruction to interrupt power transmission due to the removal of foreign matter by a person or the use of a vehicle, the process proceeds to step S9, and the control unit 16 transmits power to the inverter unit 10. The end is instructed, the power supply from the coil unit 12 to the coil unit 18 is stopped, and the foreign matter detection means 14 ends the capacitance measuring operation.

  In step S7, when there is no instruction to interrupt power transmission, the process proceeds to step S8, where it is determined whether charging is completed. If charging is not completed, the process returns to step S4, and charging is completed. In step S9, the power supply is terminated and the foreign object detection operation is terminated.

  According to the present embodiment, since the power feeding device 2 includes the foreign matter detection means (capacitance sensor) 14 that can detect an object present on the cover 40, the power supply device 2 is provided between the coil unit 12 and the coil unit 18. It is possible to reliably detect the intrusion of foreign matter.

  In the above description, the case where the capacitance sensor 14 is installed in the coil unit 12 of the power supply device 2 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to such a case. Instead of such a case, for example, a case where a capacitance sensor is installed in the coil unit 18 of the power receiving device 4 may be used. Furthermore, a case where electrostatic capacitance sensors are respectively installed in the coil unit 12 of the power feeding device 2 and the coil unit 18 of the power receiving device 4 may be used.

  Further, in the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5A and 5B, the case where two temperature references, ie, the initial setting value and the setting value, are provided and processing such as foreign object detection is performed step by step has been described. However, for example, processing such as foreign object detection may be performed based on one temperature reference with a set value as an initial set value.

  It is to be noted that, by appropriately combining arbitrary embodiments of the various embodiments described above, the effects possessed by them can be produced.

  As described above, in the non-contact power transmission device according to the present invention, foreign objects that have entered the vicinity of the electromagnetic field region for power feeding from the power feeding device to the power receiving device can be reliably detected. This is useful for feeding power to a power receiving device of an electric propulsion vehicle that may be inadvertently or accidentally approached.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Electric power feeder 4 Power receiving device 6 Commercial power supply 8 Power supply box 10 Inverter part 12 Coil unit 14 Foreign material detection means 16 Control part 18 Coil unit 20 Rectification part 22 Load (battery)
Reference Signs List 24 control unit 30 electrode 32 voltage supply unit 34 C / V conversion unit 36 signal processing unit 38 foreign matter 40 cover 42 electrode break 44 primary coil

Claims (3)

A power supply device that supplies power to a power receiving device in a contactless manner,
The power supply device
A primary coil that generates magnetic flux by an input alternating current;
A cover covering the primary coil;
A capacitance sensor that detects an object existing around the cover;
The non-contact power transmission device, wherein the capacitance sensor has an electrode pattern configuration having a discontinuous portion that blocks a flow path of eddy current generated by the magnetic flux.   The non-contact power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the capacitance sensor has a plurality of electrode patterns arranged thereon. A power receiving device that receives power supply contactlessly from the power feeding device side,
The power receiving device is:
A secondary coil that generates an electromotive force according to the magnetic flux generated in the primary coil on the power supply device side;
A cover covering the secondary coil;
A non-contact power transmission device comprising: a capacitance sensor that detects an object existing around the cover.

Images