JP7456852B2 - Wireless power supply system for vehicles, wireless power supply method to vehicles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle wireless power supply system and a wireless power supply method to a vehicle.

In recent years, electric vehicles have become popular. An electric vehicle runs by rotating its wheels by driving a motor using electric power stored in a battery mounted on the vehicle. When the amount of electricity stored in the battery decreases, an electric vehicle connects to a charging facility to charge the battery. For this reason, when a user travels a long distance in an electric vehicle, for example, he or she must stop at a charging facility to charge the battery while on the go, which may be a burden to the user.

In response, wireless power supply systems have been proposed that wirelessly supply power to vehicles that use electric energy as motive power, such as electric cars, electric carts, and AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles). By using such a wireless power supply system, it is possible to supply power to the vehicle to charge the battery while the vehicle is running, or to drive the motor to drive the vehicle.

By the way, in a wireless power supply system that supplies power to a running vehicle, power transmission electrodes for power supply are provided continuously in the direction in which the vehicle travels, and power is supplied from the power transmission electrodes to the vehicle using a high-frequency electric field. However, if the travel route is, for example, a highway, the power transmission electrodes will be long and the amount of power supplied to the power transmission electrodes will also be enormous. It is also desired to suppress the influence of a high frequency electric field radiated from the power transmitting electrode by energizing the power transmitting electrode.

On the other hand, for example, the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a power transmission electrode that is embedded in the surface layer material and is supplied with power from the outside via a power supply cable. The power transmission electrode includes a first power transmission electrode and a second power transmission electrode that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the running path. A plurality of sets of power transmission electrodes are arranged at intervals in the direction in which the running path extends. These plurality of sets of power transmission electrodes are divided into a plurality of sectors in the direction in which the travel path extends. In each sector, one or a plurality of adjacent sets of power transmission electrodes are arranged in the direction in which the travel path extends. In such a configuration, power is supplied to each sector from the power supply cable. Therefore, a decrease in power feeding efficiency is suppressed and propagation loss is reduced.

However, even in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, power must be supplied to the power transmission electrodes of all the sectors lined up in the direction in which the travel path extends, and it is difficult to suppress the power supplied to the power transmission electrodes. . Furthermore, the range of influence of the high-frequency electric field radiated from the power transmission electrode becomes wider, making it difficult to take countermeasures.

JP2018-65407A

The object of the present invention is to provide a wireless power supply system for vehicles and a method of wireless power supply to a vehicle that can efficiently supply wireless power to a moving vehicle, reduce the power supplied to the power transmission electrode, and reduce the range of the high-frequency electric field radiated from the power transmission electrode.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.
That is, the wireless power supply system for a vehicle of the present invention includes a plurality of power transmission electrodes that are arranged at intervals in the direction in which the vehicle travels and that supply power to the vehicle in a non-contact manner, and a plurality of power transmission electrodes that are arranged at intervals in the direction in which the vehicle runs. A plurality of sensors are arranged at intervals and each detects the vehicle traveling on the travel path, and only some of the power transmission electrodes associated with the sensor that has detected the vehicle among the plurality of power transmission electrodes are provided. The present invention is characterized by comprising a power supply control device that supplies power to the vehicle.

According to such a configuration, when the sensor detects a vehicle traveling on the travel path, the sensor transmits a signal indicating that the vehicle has been detected. The power supply control device receives signals from the sensor. The power supply control device supplies power to the vehicle in a non-contact manner from only some of the power transmission electrodes that are associated with the sensor that transmitted the signal, out of the multiple power transmission electrodes that are arranged at intervals in the direction in which the running path extends. let In this way, by supplying power from only some of the plurality of power transmission electrodes based on the position of the vehicle detected by the sensor, there is no need to supply power from other power transmission electrodes. This makes it possible to suppress the electric power supplied throughout the travel path and the radiation of electromagnetic fields from the power transmission electrodes that are not energized. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently supply wireless power to a moving vehicle, suppress the power supplied to the power transmission electrode, and suppress the range of the high frequency electric field radiated from the power transmission electrode.

In one aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle wireless power supply system of the present invention, the plurality of power transmission electrodes are divided into a plurality of sectors along the extending direction of the running path, and the power supply control device is configured to Power is supplied from the power transmission electrode to the vehicle only in one or more of the sectors including the sector where the power transmission electrode is located.

According to such a configuration, by dividing the plurality of power transmission electrodes arranged at intervals along the extending direction of the vehicle into a plurality of sectors, power feeding from the power transmission electrodes to the vehicle can be controlled for each sector. It can be carried out.

In one aspect of the present invention, the wireless power supply system for a vehicle of the present invention is configured such that the power supply control device operates on the sector associated with the sensor that has detected the vehicle and the sector associated with the sensor. Power is supplied to the vehicle by one or more of the other sectors adjacent in front of the vehicle in the traveling direction.

According to such a configuration, power is supplied only to the sector where the vehicle is located and one or more sectors adjacent to the front in the traveling direction of the vehicle. That is, in the front of the vehicle in the travel direction, power is not supplied to other sectors that are located further forward in the travel direction than one or more sectors to which power is supplied. Also. No power is supplied to the rear sector in the direction of travel of the vehicle. In this way, it is possible to suppress the power supplied to the power transmission electrodes over the entire travel route.

In one aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle wireless power supply system of the present invention, the sensor and the power supply control device are arranged in each of the sectors.

According to such a configuration, the sensor and the power supply control device are arranged in respective sectors, so that the signal propagation path from the sensor to the vehicle and the power supply control device can be kept short. This makes it possible to suppress delays in power supply control in each sector due to signal propagation delays. Therefore, even when the vehicle travels on the road at high speed, the sectors to which power is supplied can be sequentially shifted forward in the travel direction at high speed in accordance with the movement of the vehicle.

In one aspect of the present invention, when the sensor detects the vehicle, the vehicle wireless power supply system of the present invention transmits a sensor signal including identification information for identifying the sensor to the vehicle, and controls the power supply. When the device receives a power supply request signal requesting power supply from the power transmission electrode from the vehicle that has received the sensor signal, the device supplies power from the power transmission electrode to the vehicle.

According to such a configuration, the vehicle side can recognize (identify) the sensor that detected the vehicle based on the identification information included in the sensor signal by receiving the sensor signal transmitted from the sensor. . Thereby, the power transmission electrode through which power is supplied to the vehicle can be specified.
Furthermore, when the power supply control device receives a power supply request signal from the vehicle that has received the sensor signal, it can supply power to the vehicle in response to the power supply request from the vehicle. In other words, if there is no response from the vehicle with a power supply request signal in response to a sensor signal transmitted from the sensor to the vehicle, it is possible to prevent power supply to the vehicle.

In one aspect of the present invention, the vehicle wireless power supply system of the present invention is a short-distance non-contact sensor in which the sensor has a detection range for detecting the vehicle within 1 m from the sensor.

With this configuration, the sensor detects only vehicles that pass within 1 m of the sensor. This makes it possible to prevent the sensor from erroneously detecting vehicles traveling in lanes adjacent to the lane in which the sensor is installed, for example.

In one aspect of the present invention, the wireless power supply method for a vehicle of the present invention includes, when a sensor detects a vehicle traveling on a running road, transmitting a vehicle detection signal indicating that the vehicle has been detected. , receiving the vehicle detection signal from the sensor, and transmitting the vehicle detection signal among the plurality of power transmission electrodes arranged at intervals in the extending direction of the running path based on the received vehicle detection signal. The present invention is characterized in that the method includes supplying power to the vehicle in a non-contact manner from only some of the power transmission electrodes associated with the sensor that has transmitted the power.

According to such a configuration, power is supplied from only some of the plurality of power transmission electrodes based on the position of the vehicle detected by the sensor, thereby eliminating the need to supply power from other power transmission electrodes. There is no. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently supply wireless power to a moving vehicle, suppress the power supplied to the power transmission electrode, and suppress the range of the high frequency electric field radiated from the power transmission electrode.

According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently supply wireless power to a moving vehicle, suppress the power supplied to the power transmission electrode, and suppress the range of the high frequency electric field radiated from the power transmission electrode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a running road on which a vehicle wireless power supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a road on which the vehicle wireless power supply system of FIG. 1 is installed. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a vehicle to which wireless power is supplied by the vehicle wireless power supply system of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the wireless power feeding system for a vehicle shown in FIG. 1 and a vehicle to which power is fed. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a state in which power is being supplied by a power transmission electrode in a sector where a vehicle is located and a power transmission electrode in another sector adjacent to the sector in which the vehicle is located in front of the sector in which the vehicle is located. From the state shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle moves forward in the traveling direction, and the power transmitting electrode of the sector where the vehicle is located and the power transmitting electrode of another sector adjacent to the sector where the vehicle is located in the forward direction of the vehicle's traveling direction. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which power is being supplied. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of processes executed by the vehicle and the sensor, respectively, in the wireless power supply method to the vehicle according to the present embodiment. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the power supply control device in the method of wirelessly supplying power to a vehicle according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a vehicle to which wireless power is supplied by a vehicle wireless power supply system according to a modification of the present embodiment.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, with reference to an accompanying drawing, the form for implementing the wireless power supply system for vehicles and the wireless power supply method to a vehicle by this invention is demonstrated based on a drawing.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a running road on which a vehicle wireless power supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a running road on which the vehicle wireless power supply system is installed. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a vehicle to which wireless power is supplied by the vehicle wireless power supply system.

A wireless power supply system 1 for a vehicle shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 wirelessly supplies power to a vehicle 100 traveling on a road 2. The vehicle 100 to which power is supplied is, for example, an electric vehicle. The driving route 2 is, for example, a road such as an expressway or a general road. The vehicle 100 travels on the travel path 2 along the extending direction Da of the travel path 2. The vehicle 100 travels on the travel path 2 in a travel direction Dr facing one side of the stretching direction Da.

The vehicle 100 travels on the surface layer of the travel path 2 . The surface member 21 forming the surface layer portion of the running path 2 is made of, for example, a material obtained by mixing ceramics into an asphalt material or a cement-based material. Note that the surface member 21 can also be made of a material in which asphalt material or cement material is mixed with a substance having at least one of dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent smaller than that of general aggregate.

The vehicle wireless power supply system 1 mainly includes a plurality of power transmission electrodes 3, a plurality of sensors 4, a power source 5, and a power supply control device 6.

The plurality of power transmission electrodes 3 are arranged at intervals in the extending direction Da of the traveling path 2 of the vehicle 100. Each power transmission electrode 3 includes a pair of first power transmission electrode 3A and second power transmission electrode 3B. The first power transmission electrode 3A and the second power transmission electrode 3B are arranged at intervals in the width direction Dw intersecting the extending direction Da of the running path 2. The first power transmission electrode 3A and the second power transmission electrode 3B supply power supplied from the external power source 5 to the vehicle 100. The first power transmission electrode 3A and the second power transmission electrode 3B supply power to the vehicle 100 in a non-contact manner. The first power transmission electrode 3A and the second power transmission electrode 3B are buried in the running path 2. The first power transmission electrode 3A and the second power transmission electrode 3B are covered from above by a surface member 21 that forms the surface layer of the running path 2.

Each power transmission electrode 3 (first power transmission electrode 3A, second power transmission electrode 3B) has a predetermined length in the stretching direction Da. The length of each power transmission electrode 3 in the extending direction Da is appropriately set according to the assumed (set) running speed of the vehicle 100 on the running path 2 and the like. The length of each power transmission electrode 3 in the extending direction Da is set to, for example, about 5 to 30 m. In this embodiment, the length of the power transmission electrode 3 in the extending direction Da is set to, for example, 25 m.

A plurality of (many) power transmission electrodes 3 installed on the running path 2 are divided into a plurality of sectors 3S. The plurality of sectors 3S are set to be lined up along the extending direction Da of the traveling path 2. Each sector 3S includes one or more power transmission electrodes 3 (first power transmission electrode 3A, second power transmission electrode 3B). In this embodiment, each sector 3S includes, for example, two power transmission electrodes 3 (two sets of first power transmission electrode 3A and second power transmission electrode 3B) lined up in the stretching direction Da. The two sets of first power transmission electrode 3A and second power transmission electrode 3B arranged in the sector 3S are connected to the power source 5 via a connection circuit 32 arranged in the center of the sector 3S. The connection circuit 32 includes a matching circuit, a connection connector (none of which is shown), and the like. The connection circuit 32 connects the two first power transmission electrodes 3A and the second power transmission electrodes 3B that are lined up in the stretching direction Da so that they have the same potential.

The power source 5 that supplies power to the two power transmission electrodes 3 of each sector 3S is a high frequency power source. The power supply 5 supplies high frequency current to each power transmission electrode 3 via the connection circuit 32. The power supply 5 is individually provided in each sector 3S.

The plurality of sensors 4 are arranged at intervals in the extending direction Da of the traveling path 2. For example, one sensor 4 is arranged in each sector 3S. A plurality of sensors 4 may be installed in one sector 3S at intervals in the stretching direction Da. Further, a plurality of sensors 4 may be installed in one sector 3S at intervals in the width direction Dw. The sensor 4 detects the vehicle 100 entering each sector 3S. Therefore, in each sector 3S, the sensor 4 is arranged, for example, at the end on the rear side (the near side as seen from the driver of the vehicle 100) in the traveling direction Dr. Thereby, the sensor 4 can quickly detect the vehicle 100 entering each sector 3S. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each sensor 4 is embedded, for example, in a surface member 21 that forms the surface layer of the travel path 2. As shown in FIGS. The sensor 4 is buried so as to be exposed on the surface of the surface member 21. The sensor 4 may be provided on a side wall of the travel path 2 or the like.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the vehicle wireless power supply system and a vehicle to which power is supplied.
As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor 4 includes a sensor main body 41 and a sensor signal transmitter 42. The sensor body 41 detects the vehicle 100 traveling on the road 2 . As such a sensor body 41, a short-distance non-contact type sensor is used in which the detection range for detecting the vehicle 100 is, for example, within 1 m from the sensor body 41. As the short-distance non-contact sensor constituting the sensor body 41, for example, an optical sensor using laser light can be employed. When an optical sensor using a laser beam is used as the sensor body 41, the sensor 4 detects the vehicle 100 when the laser beam irradiated from the sensor body 41 hits the vehicle 100. By using a short-distance non-contact sensor for the sensor body 41, when a plurality of lanes are arranged in parallel on the driving path 2, it is possible to prevent false detection of vehicles in other lanes adjacent to the lane in which the vehicle 100 is traveling. suppress.

The sensor body 41 is given individual identification information (ID information). Identification information of the sensor body 41 is stored in the sensor 4. Further, the identification information of the sensor body 41 is associated with the sector 3S in which the sensor 4 is arranged and the power transmission electrode 3 arranged in the sector 3S, and is associated with the power supply control device 6 or a higher control device (not shown). etc. is registered.

When the sensor body 41 detects the vehicle 100, the sensor signal transmission unit 42 transmits a vehicle detection signal M1 indicating that the vehicle 100 has been detected to the power supply control device 6 described below. When the sensor signal transmission unit 42 detects the vehicle 100, it transmits a sensor signal M2 including the identification information of the sensor 4 to the vehicle 100. Signal transmission from the sensor signal transmission unit 42 to the power supply control device 6 may be performed by wireless communication, or may be performed by connecting the sensor signal transmission unit 42 and the power supply control device 6 via a communication line (not shown) and communicating by wire. Signal transmission (propagation) from the sensor signal transmission unit 42 to the vehicle 100 is performed by wireless communication such as 4G (fourth generation mobile communication system), 5G (fifth generation mobile communication system), Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

The power supply control device 6 consists of a computer device. The power supply control device 6 is a control unit consisting of a computer device. In the power supply control device 6, hardware including a CPU, a memory, and a storage device such as a hard disk drive, which constitute the computer device, and a computer program preset in the computer device cooperate to execute a predetermined process.
Power supply control device 6 controls power supply from power transmission electrode 3 to vehicle 100 . The power supply control device 6 is individually provided in each sector 3S. The power supply control device 6 controls the power supply (energization) to the power transmission electrode 3 provided in the sector 3S by switching the ON/OFF state of the power supply 5 provided in the sector 3S.

The power supply control device 6 controls the power supply to the vehicle 100 from only some of the power transmission electrodes 3 associated with the sensor 4 that has detected the vehicle 100 among the plurality (all) of the power transmission electrodes 3 arranged on the driving path 2. control to ensure that it is carried out. Power supply control device 6 performs control so that power is supplied from power transmission electrode 3 to vehicle 100 only in one or more sectors 3S including sector 3S in which vehicle 100 is located. The power supply control device 6 connects the power transmission electrode 3 to the sector 3S associated with the sensor 4 that detected the vehicle 100 and one or more other sectors 3S adjacent to the sector 3S in the forward direction of the vehicle 100. The power is turned on to supply power to the vehicle 100. In the present embodiment, the power supply control device 6 energizes the power transmission electrodes 3 in the sector 3S to which the sensor 4 that detected the vehicle 100 belongs and in one sector 3S adjacent to this sector 3S in front of the driving direction Dr. Then, power is supplied to the vehicle 100.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which power is supplied between a power transmission electrode of a sector in which the vehicle is located and a power transmission electrode of another sector adjacent to and ahead of the sector in which the vehicle is located in the traveling direction of the vehicle. Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the vehicle moves forward in the traveling direction from the state shown in Fig. 5, and power is supplied between a power transmission electrode of the sector in which the vehicle is located and a power transmission electrode of another sector adjacent to and ahead of the sector in which the vehicle is located in the traveling direction of the vehicle.
5, when the sensor 4 provided in the sector 3SA located on the left side of the drawing detects the vehicle 100, the power supply control device 6 provided in the sector 3SA where the sensor 4 is provided switches the power supply 5 of the sector 3SA to the ON state. The power supply control device 6 also switches the power supply 5 of the other sector 3SB adjacent to the sector 3SA in the forward traveling direction Dr of the vehicle 100 to the ON state. To switch the ON/OFF state of the power supply 5 of the other sector 3SB in the forward traveling direction Dr by the power supply control device 6, for example, the power supply control device 6 transmits (outputs) a pre-feed command signal M5 from the power supply control device 6 to the power supply control device 6 of the sector 3SB. When each power supply control device 6 receives a pre-feed command signal M5 from the power supply control device 6 of the other sector 3S located behind in the traveling direction Dr, it switches the power supply 5 of the sector 3S to the ON state.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, when the vehicle 100 moves forward in the traveling direction Dr from the state shown in FIG. 5 and reaches the next sector 3SB, the The vehicle 100 is detected by the sensor 4. Then, the power supply control device 6 provided in the sector 3SB in which the sensor 4 is provided turns on the power supply 5 of the sector 3SB. In this case, the power supply of sector 3SB is already in the ON state in the state shown in FIG. 5, so when the sensor 4 of sector 3SB detects the vehicle 100, the power supply control device 6 keeps the power supply 5 in the ON state. Further, the power supply control device 6 also switches the power supply 5 to the ON state in another sector 3SC adjacent to the sector 3SB in front of the sector 3SB in the traveling direction Dr of the vehicle 100.

As shown in FIG. 4, the power supply control device 6 includes a signal receiving section 61, a signal processing section 62, a power supply control section 63, and a signal transmitting section 64 in order to perform the functions of the power supply control device 6 as described above. It has a functional configuration of .
The signal receiving section 61 receives a vehicle detection signal M1 transmitted from the sensor signal transmitting section 42 of the sensor 4 and a power supply request signal M3 transmitted from the vehicle 100, which will be described later. Further, the signal receiving unit 61 receives the advance power feeding command signal M5 transmitted from the signal transmitting unit 64 of another sector 3S adjacent to the rear of the vehicle 100 in the traveling direction Dr.

The signal processing unit 62 determines (judges) whether the power source 5 should be turned on or turned off based on the signal received by the signal reception unit 61 . The signal processing unit 62 switches the power supply 5 to the ON state only when the signal receiving unit 61 receives both the vehicle detection signal M1 from the sensor 4 and the power supply request signal M3 from the vehicle 100. When the signal processing unit 62 receives only one of the vehicle detection signal M1 and the power supply request signal M3, the signal processing unit 62 does not turn on the power supply 5 but turns it off. When the signal processing unit 62 determines that the vehicle 100 has passed through the sector 3S based on the vehicle detection signal M1 from the sensor 4, it turns the power source 5 from the ON state to the OFF state. For example, the signal processing unit 62 determines that the vehicle 100 has passed through the sector 3S when the elapsed time from when the sensor 4 detects the vehicle 100 and transmits the vehicle detection signal M1 is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. It may be determined that Further, a passage sensor (not shown) for detecting that the vehicle 100 has passed through the sector 3S is provided at the front end of each sector 3S in the driving direction Dr, and based on the detection signal, the vehicle 100 is It may be determined that the vehicle has passed through sector 3S.

Further, the signal processing unit 62 turns on the power supply 5 when the signal receiving unit 61 receives the advance power supply command signal M5 from the power supply control device 6 of another sector 3S adjacent to the rear of the vehicle 100 in the traveling direction Dr. Performs processing to determine the status.

The power supply control unit 63 generates a power supply control signal M4 for switching the power supply 5 ON/OFF based on the judgment result in the signal processing unit 62. There are two types of power supply control signals M4 generated by the power supply control unit 63: a power supply ON command signal M4a for turning the power supply 5 ON, and a power supply OFF command signal M4b for turning the power supply 5 OFF. When the signal processing unit 62 judges that the power supply 5 is to be ON, the power supply control unit 63 generates a power supply ON command signal M4a for turning the power supply 5 ON. When the signal processing unit 62 judges that the power supply 5 is to be ON, the power supply control unit 63 generates a pre-power supply command signal M5 for turning the power supply 5 ON before the vehicle 100 arrives in another adjacent sector 3S ahead in the driving direction Dr. When the signal processing unit 62 judges that the power supply 5 is to be OFF, the power supply control unit 63 generates a power supply OFF command signal M4b for turning the power supply 5 OFF.

The signal transmission unit 64 transmits the power supply control signal M4 (power supply ON command signal M4a, power supply OFF command signal M4b) generated by the power supply control unit 63 to the power supply 5. The signal transmission unit 64 transmits the advance power supply command signal M5 generated by the power supply control unit 63 to the power supply control device 6 of another adjacent sector 3S behind the vehicle 100 in the driving direction Dr.

Vehicle 100 includes a receiving section 101, a power supply request signal transmitting section 102, a recording section 103, a power receiving electrode 104, a load 105, and a power meter 106.

The receiving unit 101 receives the sensor signal M2 including identification information of the sensor 4 transmitted from the sensor signal transmitting unit 42 of the sensor 4 of each sector 3S via wireless communication.
When receiving the sensor signal M2, the power supply request signal transmitting unit 102 transmits a power supply request signal M3 requesting wireless power supply to the vehicle wireless power supply system 1 by wireless communication.

The recording unit 103 is functionally included in a control device (not shown) mounted on the vehicle 100. The recording unit 103 records the reception time of the sensor signal M2 received by the receiving unit 101, the identification information of the sensor 4 included in the sensor signal M2, and the like. Furthermore, the recording unit 103 records information on the amount of power measured by a power meter 106, which will be described later. By using these records, for example, the user of the vehicle 100 or the power supply service provider with which the user has a contract can grasp the amount of power received while the vehicle 100 is traveling on the driving route 2. Furthermore, for example, the power supply service provider with which the user has a contract acquires billing information for the power supply service provided to the user based on data on the amount of power received while the vehicle 100 is traveling on the driving route 2. It is also possible to do so.

The power receiving electrode 104 receives contactless wireless power feeding from the power transmitting electrode 3 provided in each sector 3S. As shown in FIG. 3, the power receiving electrodes 104 are arranged, for example, above the wheels 107 provided on both sides of the vehicle 100 in the width direction Dw. The power receiving electrode 104 is arranged at intervals from each wheel 107 in the vertical direction. Inside the tire provided on each wheel 107, a steel belt is provided as a tire internal conductor. The vehicle 100 travels with wheels 107 on both sides in the width direction Dw positioned on the power transmission electrodes 3 (first power transmission electrode 3A, second power transmission electrode 3B) on the travel path 2. Then, between the first power transmission electrode 3A and the second power transmission electrode 3B and the steel belt provided on each wheel 107 side, and between the steel belt of each wheel 107 and the power receiving electrode 104 provided on the vehicle body side. A capacitance is formed between them. As a result, capacitance is formed between the power receiving electrode 104 disposed on the vehicle body side and the power transmitting electrode 3 disposed on the road surface side. Via this capacitance, high-frequency power is transmitted from the power transmission electrode 3 installed on the driving path 2 to the power reception electrode 104 placed on the vehicle 100 side.

Load 105 is mounted on vehicle 100 and consumes or accumulates power supplied by power receiving electrode 104 . The load 105 is, for example, at least one of a battery and a motor mounted on the vehicle 100. When load 105 is a battery, the power supplied by power receiving electrode 104 is stored in load 105 (battery) under the control of a control device (not shown) of vehicle 100. When the load 105 is a motor, the electric power supplied by the power receiving electrode 104 is used to drive the motor under the control of a control device (not shown) of the vehicle 100. An on-vehicle circuit (matching circuit, rectifier circuit, etc.) is provided between the power receiving electrode 104 and the load 105 as necessary.

Power meter 106 measures the amount of power supplied by power receiving electrode 104 . The amount of power measured by the power meter 106 is recorded in the recording unit 103. Further, the amount of power measured by the power meter 106 may be displayed on, for example, a monitor screen provided inside the vehicle 100.

Next, a method of wirelessly feeding power to the vehicle 100 in the vehicle wireless power feeding system 1 as described above will be described.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the vehicle and the sensor, respectively, in the wireless power supply method for a vehicle according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the power supply control device in the wireless power supply method for a vehicle according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 7, in the vehicle wireless power supply system 1, the sensor 4 provided in each sector 3S detects the presence or absence of the vehicle 100 at sampling intervals of, for example, about 1 second (step S11). .

When the vehicle 100 arrives within the detection range of the sensor body 41 of the sensor 4 provided in a certain sector 3S, the sensor body 41 of the sensor 4 detects the vehicle 100. Then, the sensor signal transmission unit 42 of the sensor 4 transmits to the vehicle 100 the sensor signal M2 including the identification information given to the sensor body 41 of the sensor 4 (step S12). Further, the sensor signal transmitter 42 transmits a vehicle detection signal M1 indicating that the vehicle 100 has been detected to the power supply control device 6 (step S13).

The receiving unit 101 on the vehicle 100 side detects whether or not the sensor signal M2 transmitted from the sensor 4 is received (step S21). Here, for example, a vehicle traveling at 100 km/h travels a distance of about 28 m in 1 second. For this reason, for example, for the power transmitting electrode 3 having a length in the extending direction Da of 25 m, the receiving unit 101 detects whether or not the sensor signal M2 is received at sampling intervals of 0.9 seconds or less. Since the presence or absence of reception of the sensor signal M2 is detected multiple times while the vehicle passes the power transmission electrode 3, the sampling interval in the reception unit 101 is preferably 0.4 seconds or less.

When the receiving unit 101 receives the sensor signal M2 transmitted from the sensor 4, the power supply request signal transmitting unit 102 transmits a power supply request signal M3 requesting wireless power supply to the vehicle wireless power supply system 1 by wireless communication. (Step S22).

Subsequently, the recording unit 103 records the reception time of the sensor signal M2, the identification information of the sensor 4 included in the sensor signal M2, etc. (step S23).

As shown in FIG. 8, in the power supply control device 6, the signal processing unit 62 receives the vehicle detection signal M1 transmitted from the sensor signal transmitting unit 42 of the sensor 4 at sampling intervals of, for example, about 0.5 seconds. The presence or absence of reception by the unit 61 is detected (step S31).

When the signal processing unit 62 confirms that the signal receiving unit 61 has received the vehicle detection signal M1, the signal processing unit 62 further determines whether the signal receiving unit 61 has received the power supply request signal M3 from the vehicle 100. Determination is made (step S32). Here, if the vehicle 100 detected by the sensor 4 requires (desires) wireless power supply, the vehicle 100 automatically transmits the power supply request signal M3. On the other hand, if the vehicle 100 is a vehicle that is not eligible for wireless power feeding, the power feeding request signal M3 is not transmitted from the vehicle 100, and the determination result that the power feeding request signal M3 is not received in step S32 is not obtained. A vehicle that is not eligible for wireless power supply is a case where the vehicle 100 is a normal vehicle that runs only with the driving force of an engine such as a gasoline engine or a diesel engine, for example. Furthermore, even if the vehicle 100 is a hybrid vehicle that has both an engine and a motor, or an electric vehicle that uses only the motor as its driving force, if it is not equipped with equipment that can support wireless power supply, it is not eligible for wireless power supply. It becomes a car. Furthermore, if the user of vehicle 100 does not have a contract to receive wireless power supply service, the vehicle is not eligible for wireless power supply.

In step S32, if the signal processing unit 62 cannot confirm that the power supply request signal M3 has been received, the process returns to step S31 and repeats the process. In step S32, if the signal processing unit 62 confirms that the power supply request signal M3 has been received, it determines to switch the power supply 5 of the sector 3S to the ON state. The power supply control unit 63 generates a power supply ON command signal M4a for switching the power supply 5 to the ON state based on the determination (judgment) in the signal processing unit 62. Further, the power supply control unit 63 generates a advance power supply command signal M5 for turning on the power supply 5 in another sector 3S adjacent to the front in the traveling direction Dr before the vehicle 100 arrives. The generated power supply ON command signal M4a is transmitted from the signal transmitter 64 to the power supply 5. Further, the generated advance power supply command signal M5 is transmitted from the signal transmission unit 64 to the power supply control device 6 of another sector 3S adjacent to the front in the traveling direction Dr (step S33). The power supply 5 that has received the power supply ON command signal M4a applies high frequency current to the plurality of power transmission electrodes 3 within the sector 3S. Thereby, wireless power supply is performed to the vehicle 100 by the power transmission electrode 3 in the sector 3S.

Further, in the step S31, if it is determined that the signal receiving unit 61 has not received the vehicle detection signal M1, the signal processing unit 62 transmits the signal to the sector 3S behind the vehicle 100 in the traveling direction Dr. From there, it is confirmed whether or not the advance power supply command signal M5 is received (step S36). As a result, if the advance power feeding command signal M5 has not been received, the process returns to step S31 and repeats the process. On the other hand, in step S36, if the advance power supply command signal M5 has been received, the signal processing unit 62 determines to switch the power supply 5 of the sector 3S to the ON state. Based on this, the power supply control unit 63 generates a power supply ON command signal M4a for switching the power supply 5 to the ON state. The generated power supply ON command signal M4a is transmitted from the signal transmitter 64 to the power supply 5 (step S37). The power supply 5 that has received the power supply ON command signal M4a applies high frequency current to the plurality of power transmission electrodes 3 within the sector 3S. Thereby, wireless power supply is performed to the vehicle 100 by the power transmission electrode 3 in the sector 3S.

In the power supply control device 6, the signal processing unit 62 checks whether the vehicle 100 has passed through the sector 3S after starting the power supply to the vehicle 100 (step S34). When the passage of the vehicle 100 is confirmed in step S34, the signal processing unit 62 determines to turn off the power source 5. In response to this determination, the power supply control unit 63 generates a power supply OFF command signal M4b that turns the power supply 5 into an OFF state. The generated power supply OFF command signal M4b is transmitted from the signal transmitter 64 to the power supply 5 (step S35). The power supply 5 that has received the power supply OFF command signal M4b stops applying the high frequency current. Thereby, wireless power supply to the vehicle 100 is performed at the power transmission electrode 3 in the sector 3S.

According to the vehicle wireless power supply system 1 as described above, the plurality of power transmission electrodes 3 which are arranged at intervals in the extending direction Da of the running path 2 of the vehicle 100 and supply power to the vehicle 100 in a non-contact manner, and the running path 2 A plurality of sensors 4 are arranged at intervals in the extending direction Da, and are associated with the sensor 4 that detects the vehicle 100 among the plurality of power transmission electrodes 3. A power supply control device 6 that supplies power to the vehicle 100 from only some of the power transmission electrodes 3 is provided.
According to such a configuration, based on the position of the vehicle 100 detected by the sensor 4, power is supplied from only some of the power transmission electrodes 3 among the plurality of power transmission electrodes 3, so that power is supplied from other power transmission electrodes 3. There is no need to supply power. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the power supplied to the power transmission electrodes 3 throughout the running path 2 and the radiation of electromagnetic fields from the power transmission electrodes 3 that are not energized. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently perform wireless power supply to the moving vehicle 100 and suppress the power supplied to the power transmission electrode 3.

In addition, the plurality of power transmission electrodes 3 are divided into a plurality of sectors 3S along the extending direction Da of the traveling path 2, and the power supply control device 6 is configured to perform power transmission only in one or more sectors 3S including the sector 3S in which the vehicle 100 is located. Power is supplied from the power transmission electrode 3 to the vehicle 100.
According to such a configuration, by dividing the plurality of power transmission electrodes 3 arranged at intervals along the extending direction Da of the vehicle 100 into a plurality of sectors 3S, the power transmission from the power transmission electrode 3 is divided into a plurality of sectors 3S. Power supply to vehicle 100 can be controlled. Moreover, by including a plurality of power transmission electrodes 3 adjacent to each other in the extending direction Da of the running path 2 in each sector 3S, a large number of power transmission electrodes 3 arranged along the running path 2 can be connected to a small number of power feeding control devices 6. can be controlled with.

In addition, the power supply control device 6 controls the vehicle 100 in the sector 3S associated with the sensor 4 that detected the vehicle 100, and one or more other sectors 3S adjacent to this sector 3S in the forward direction of the vehicle 100. Supply power to the
According to such a configuration, power is supplied only to the sector 3S where the vehicle 100 is located and one or more sectors 3S adjacent to the front of the vehicle 100 in the traveling direction. That is, in the front of the vehicle 100 in the travel direction, power is not supplied to other sectors 3S located further forward in the travel direction than the one or more sectors 3S to which power is supplied. Also. No power is supplied to the sector 3S at the rear of the vehicle 100 in the running direction. In this way, it is possible to suppress the power supplied to the power transmission electrodes 3 throughout the travel path 2.

Further, the sensor 4 and the power supply control device 6 are arranged in each sector 3S.
According to such a configuration, the signal propagation path from the sensor 4 to the vehicle 100 or the power supply control device 6 can be kept short. Thereby, delays in power supply control in each sector 3S due to delays in signal propagation can be suppressed. Therefore, even when the vehicle 100 travels on the travel path 2 at high speed, the sectors 3S that supply power can be sequentially moved forward in the travel direction at high speed in accordance with the movement of the vehicle 100.

Furthermore, when the sensor 4 detects the vehicle 100, it transmits a sensor signal M2 including identification information for identifying the sensor 4 to the vehicle 100. When the power supply control device 6 receives a power supply request signal M3 requesting power supply from the power transmission electrode 3 from the vehicle 100 that has received the sensor signal M2, the power supply control device 6 energizes the power transmission electrode 3 and supplies power from the power transmission electrode 3 to the vehicle 100. I do.
According to such a configuration, by receiving the sensor signal M2 transmitted from the sensor 4, the vehicle 100 side recognizes the sensor 4 that detected the vehicle 100 based on the identification information included in the sensor signal M2 ( specific). Thereby, the power transmission electrode 3 through which power has been supplied to the vehicle 100 can be specified. Therefore, for example, when charging is performed according to the power supplied to the power transmission electrodes 3 to the vehicle 100, charging can be performed based on (the number of) the power transmission electrodes 3 to which power has been supplied.
Furthermore, when the power supply control device 6 receives the power supply request signal M3 from the vehicle 100 that has received the sensor signal M2, the power supply control device 6 supplies power to the vehicle 100 in response to the power reception request from the vehicle 100. Can be done. That is, if there is no response from the vehicle 100 side with the power supply request signal M3 in response to the sensor signal M2 transmitted from the sensor 4 to the wheels, it is possible to prevent the vehicle 100 from being supplied with power. Thereby, for example, it is possible to prevent power from being supplied to the vehicle 100 that does not run using the power supplied by wireless power supply.

Further, the sensor 4 is a short-distance non-contact sensor whose detection range for detecting the vehicle 100 is within 1 m from the sensor 4.
According to such a configuration, only the vehicle 100 that has passed within 1 m from the sensor 4 is detected by the sensor 4. Thereby, for example, it is possible to prevent the sensor 4 from erroneously detecting the vehicle 100 traveling in another lane adjacent to the lane in which the sensor 4 is provided on the driving path 2 .

In addition, the wireless power supply method to the vehicle 100 according to the present embodiment includes, when the sensor 4 detects the vehicle 100 traveling on the driving path 2, transmitting a vehicle detection signal M1 indicating that the vehicle 100 has been detected. , receives the vehicle detection signal M1 from the sensor 4, and based on the received vehicle detection signal M1, the vehicle detection signal is selected from among the plurality of power transmission electrodes 3 arranged at intervals in the extending direction Da of the traveling path 2. This includes supplying power to the vehicle 100 in a non-contact manner from only some of the power transmission electrodes 3 associated with the sensor 4 that transmitted M1.
According to such a configuration, based on the position of the vehicle 100 detected by the sensor 4, power is supplied from only some of the power transmission electrodes 3 among the plurality of power transmission electrodes 3, so that power is supplied from other power transmission electrodes 3. There is no need to supply power. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently perform wireless power supply to the moving vehicle 100 and suppress the power supplied to the power transmission electrode 3.

(Modified example of embodiment)
Note that the wireless power supply system for a vehicle and the wireless power supply method for a vehicle of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments described with reference to the drawings, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope thereof. .

For example, in the embodiment described above, the power receiving electrodes 104 of the vehicle 100 are arranged above the wheels 107 provided on both sides of the vehicle 100 in the width direction Dw, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the power receiving electrodes 104A and 104B may be arranged at the bottom of the vehicle body of the vehicle 100 or the like. The power receiving electrodes 104A and 104B are configured to face the power transmitting electrodes 3 (first power transmitting electrode 3A, second power transmitting electrode 3B) with an interval in the vertical direction when the vehicle 100 travels on the traveling path 2. Placed. As a result, capacitance is formed between the power receiving electrodes 104A and 104B disposed on the vehicle body side and the power transmitting electrode 3 laid on the road surface side. Via this capacitance, high-frequency power is transmitted from the power transmission electrode 3 installed on the driving path 2 to the power reception electrode 104 placed on the vehicle 100 side.

Further, in the above embodiment, an optical sensor using a laser beam is shown as the sensor body 41, but as the sensor body 41, for example, another short-distance non-contact sensor such as a weak GPS or a beacon may be used. be able to.
For example, when a weak GPS is used as the sensor body 41, the sensor body 41 transmits a GPS signal (pseudo GPS signal). In the car navigation system on the vehicle 100 side, a GPS signal transmitted from the sensor body 41 is received by a GPS signal receiver. On the vehicle 100 side, the position of the vehicle 100 can be specified based on the received GPS signal.
Further, when a beacon, which is a short-distance non-contact sensor, is used as the sensor body 41, the beacon transmits radio waves of a predetermined frequency and a beacon ID as the above-mentioned identification information. A beacon receiver is provided on the vehicle 100 side, and the beacon receiver receives a beacon ID and a beacon radio wave. The beacon receiver detects the radio field strength of the received beacon. On the vehicle 100 side, by setting a threshold value for the radio wave intensity of the detected beacon, the range in which the beacon (sensor body 41) is detected on the vehicle 100 side is limited. When the radio wave intensity of the beacon detected on the vehicle 100 side is equal to or higher than the threshold value, processing is performed on the assumption that a beacon signal has been received. The beacon ID is associated with information on the location (latitude and longitude) of the buried beacon transmitter, and the location of the vehicle 100 is specified by the receiver receiving the information on the beacon ID.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the sensor 4 detects the vehicle 100, the sensor signal M2 is transmitted from the sensor 4 to the vehicle 100, but the present invention is not limited to this. The sensor signal M2 may be transmitted to the vehicle 100 from the power supply control device 6, for example.
Further, in the above embodiment, the identification information of the sensor main body 41 is transmitted from the sensor 4 to the vehicle 100 side, but the present invention is not limited to this. A radio wave containing individual identification information (ID information) may be transmitted from the vehicle 100 side, and the identification information of the vehicle 100 may be received by the sensor 4 or another receiver provided on the traveling road 2 side. .
Further, the detailed conditions, processing order, etc. of the processing in the sensor 4, vehicle 100, and power supply control device 6 shown in the above embodiment can be changed as appropriate.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the vehicle 100 to which power is supplied is not limited to an electric vehicle, and may be, for example, an AGV, a vehicle for a new urban transportation system, a robot for transporting goods, or the like. Further, the running route 2 is not limited to a road, but may also be a running track for an AGV, a track for a new urban transportation system, a track for a robot, or the like.
In addition to this, it is possible to select the configurations mentioned in the above embodiments or to change them to other configurations as appropriate, without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 Vehicle wireless power supply system 2 Running path 3 Power transmission electrodes 3S, 3SA, 3SB, 3SC Sector 4 Sensor 6 Power supply control device 100 Vehicle Da Extension direction Dr Running direction M1 Vehicle detection signal M2 Sensor signal M3 Power supply request signal

Claims (6)

a plurality of power transmission electrodes arranged at intervals in an extension direction of a travel path of a vehicle, divided into a plurality of sectors along the extension direction of the travel path, and configured to supply power to the vehicle in a non-contact manner;
A plurality of sensors are arranged at intervals in an extension direction of the travel path, each of which detects the vehicle traveling on the travel path;
a power supply control device that supplies power to the vehicle from only a part of the power transmission electrodes associated with the sensor that detects the vehicle, among the plurality of power transmission electrodes ;
The power supply control device includes:
A pre-power supply command signal is received from the sector adjacent to the rear of the vehicle in the traveling direction, and power is supplied from the power transmitting electrode to the vehicle only in one or more of the sectors including the sector in which the vehicle is located.
A wireless power supply system for a vehicle. The power supply control device supplies power to the vehicle in the sector associated with the sensor that detected the vehicle and in one or more other sectors adjacent to the sector associated with the sensor and ahead in a traveling direction of the vehicle.
2. The wireless power supply system for a vehicle according to claim 1 . The sensor and the power supply control device are arranged in each of the sectors,
The vehicle wireless power supply system according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that: When the sensor detects the vehicle, the sensor transmits a sensor signal including identification information for identifying the sensor to the vehicle,
The power supply control device supplies power from the power transmission electrode to the vehicle when receiving a power supply request signal requesting power supply from the power transmission electrode from the vehicle that has received the sensor signal.
The vehicle wireless power supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The sensor is a short-distance non-contact sensor whose detection range for detecting the vehicle is within 1 m from the sensor.
5. The wireless power supply system for a vehicle according to claim 1. When the sensor detects a vehicle traveling on a travel path, transmitting a vehicle detection signal indicating that the vehicle has been detected;
receiving the vehicle detection signal from the sensor;
Based on the received vehicle detection signal, one of the plurality of power transmission electrodes arranged at intervals in the extending direction of the traveling path and divided into a plurality of sectors along the extending direction of the traveling path receives the vehicle detection signal. A preliminary power supply command signal is transmitted from the sector adjacent to the rear in the running direction of the vehicle, the vehicle being powered only from some power transmission electrodes associated with the sensor that has transmitted the power supply, and the advance power supply command signal is transmitted from the sector adjacent to the rear in the traveling direction of the vehicle. and supplying power from the power transmission electrode to the vehicle in a non-contact manner only in one or more of the sectors including the sector in which the vehicle is located.
A wireless power supply method to a vehicle characterized by the following.

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