JPH08265992A - Charging method and positioning unit for charger - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To simplify the charging operation regardless of the operating technique of vehicle. CONSTITUTION: A positioning unit 7 installed in a garage 5 is fixed with a power transmission coupler 6 and can move in X, Y, Z directions. The transmission coupler 6 is connected with a power supply 15 feeding a charging current or checking current for the battery in an electric automobile 1 parked in the garage 5. The electric automobile 1 is provided with a power receiving coupler 2. When the electric automobile 1 is parked in the garage 5, the transmission coupler 6 is shifted by the positioning unit 7 and abuts against the power receiving coupler 2. In this regard, a check current is fed from the power supply 15 to the transmission coupler 6 and a controller positions the transmission coupler 6 oppositely to the X-direction based on the variation in the check current.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a charging method for a charging device and a positioning device for the charging device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A charging device is indispensable to an electric vehicle, and widespread use of the charging device leads to widespread use of the electric vehicle. Therefore, a charging device that is easier to handle is desired.

Conventionally, a technique for making a charging device easier to handle is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-87136.
JP-A-3-155338 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-7934.
Various proposals have been made according to the publication No. 3 and the like.

In the charging device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-87136, a car stop is installed at a predetermined position provided in a garage or the like, and a vehicle tire is brought into contact with the car stop. The abutment of the car stop means that the power receiving electromagnetic coil on the vehicle side and the power transmitting electromagnetic coil installed on the floor of the garage face each other. Then, when the vehicle is backed and the vehicle tire is brought into contact with the car stop, the state is detected by the detection device, and the charging device is automatically driven based on the detection result. That is, the driver does not have to connect the connector for charging the charging device to the connector on the automobile side.

In the charging device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-155338, a magnetic body around which an electromagnetic coil is wound is installed on the ground side, and a magnetic body around which the electromagnetic coil is wound is installed on the automobile side. . Then, the automobile is driven so that the magnetic substance installed in the automobile comes into contact with the magnetic substance on the ground side. When both magnetic bodies come into contact with each other, the detector detects the contact. Based on this detection result, the charging device causes a current to flow through the electromagnetic coil wound around the magnetic body on the ground side to start the charging operation. Also in this case, the driver does not have to connect the connector for charging the charging device to the connector on the automobile side.

Further, in the charging device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-79343, a ground core coil is laid on the floor surface and fixed to a predetermined position of the vehicle core coil on the lower surface of the vehicle. When the vehicle stops at a predetermined position, the proximity switch installed in advance detects that it has stopped at the charging position. Based on this detection result, the charging device causes the ground core coil current to flow and starts the charging operation. Also in this case, the driver does not have to connect the connector for charging the charging device to the connector on the automobile side.

[0007]

However, in each of the above charging devices, the driver operates the steering wheel to guide the charging position, that is, the position where the ground side electromagnetic coil and the vehicle side electromagnetic coil face each other. I had to move the car by using the car, and the charging technique was very troublesome because the driving technique was required.

In addition, the determination as to whether or not the charging position has been reached is made by the detection device, which increases the cost as a charging device and the maintenance of the detection device is troublesome.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. It requires no driving technique, can be easily charged, and determines the charging position without separately providing a position detecting device for charging. It is an object of the present invention to provide a charging method for a charging device and a positioning device for the charging device.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is installed in a vehicle in which a power receiving side electromagnetic coil for generating an induced electromotive force based on the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil is wound. In order to bring the power transmitting core around which the power transmitting electromagnetic coil is wound into contact with the power receiving core, the relative position of the power receiving core is detected to detect the power fluctuation of the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil or the power receiving side electromagnetic coil due to the induced electromotive force. However, the gist of the invention is that after the power transmission core is moved, a charging current for charging the battery is passed through the power transmission side electromagnetic coil.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the power transmission core is movable in a three-dimensional direction. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the power transmission core around which the power transmission electromagnetic coil is wound contacts the power reception core around which the power receiving electromagnetic coil installed in the vehicle is wound, and a charging current is passed through the power transmission electromagnetic coil. A charging device for charging a battery mounted on a vehicle by generating an induced electromotive force in a power receiving side electromagnetic coil; moving means for reciprocating the power transmitting core; and the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil when moving the moving means. Power supply means for supplying power for position detection, and power of either the power transmission side electromagnetic coil or the power reception side electromagnetic coil due to the induced electromotive force generated in the power reception side electromagnetic coil based on the power supply from the power supply means. Position detection means for detecting fluctuations, and movement control means for stopping the power transmission core based on the position detection means at a position where the relative position to the power reception core is closest It and its gist.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the moving means includes the first moving means for reciprocating the power transmitting core in a first direction and the power transmitting core. A second moving unit that reciprocates in a second direction different from the first direction, and the power transmission core include the first and second moving units.
And a third moving means that reciprocates in a third direction different from the above direction, and specifies any one of the first to third moving means, and drives and controls the specified moving means. Then, based on the position detection means, the first movement control means for stopping the relative position of the power transmission core with respect to the power reception core and the other two movement means excluding the specified movement means. In the second aspect, there is provided a second moving unit configured to bring the power transmission core into contact with the power reception core.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the third or fourth aspect, the position detecting means detects a change in a current flowing through the electromagnetic coil on the power transmitting side as a power change due to an induced electromotive force. And

[0014]

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the power transmission core around which the power transmission electromagnetic coil is wound is moved and brought into contact with the passive core. The movement of the power transmission side electromagnetic coil is performed while detecting the power fluctuation of the power reception side electromagnetic coil or the power transmission side electromagnetic coil due to the induced electromotive force, and the power transmission core is moved to the power reception core based on the power fluctuation. Abut. Then, a charging current for charging the battery is passed through the power transmission side electromagnetic coil.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the power transmission core moves in the three-dimensional direction and comes into contact with the power reception core. According to the invention of claim 3, the power transmission core is moved by the moving means. When the power transmission core is moved, the power transmission side electromagnetic coil is supplied with power for position detection from the power supply means, and the position detection means is the power transmission side electromagnetic coil or the power reception side electromagnetic coil due to the induced electromotive force generated in the power reception side electromagnetic coil. The power fluctuation of either one of the side electromagnetic coils is detected. Then, the movement control means stops the power transmission core based on the position detection means at a position where the relative position to the power reception core is closest.

According to the invention of claim 4, the power supply means supplies power to the power transmission side electromagnetic coil when the power transmission core is moving by the specified moving means. The position detection means detects the position where the relative position of the power transmission core and the power reception core moving while moving by the specified movement means comes closest based on the power fluctuation of the power transmission side electromagnetic coil or the power reception side electromagnetic coil due to the induced electromotive force. To do. Then, the first movement control means stops the power transmission core at the position closest to the power reception core based on the detection result of the position detection means. The second movement control means controls the other movement means other than the specified movement means to move the power transmission core and bring it into contact with the power reception core.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the position detecting means detects the fluctuation of the current flowing through the electromagnetic coil on the power transmission side as the power fluctuation due to the induced electromotive force.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment embodying the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a power receiving coupler 2 that constitutes a part of a vehicle-side charger for charging a battery of the electric vehicle 1 is provided at a rear portion of the electric vehicle 1. The power receiving coupler 2 includes a power receiving core 3 made of an iron core, and a power receiving side electromagnetic coil 4 wound around the power receiving core 3. The power receiving side electromagnetic coil 4 is formed such that the axis of the wound coil 4 extends in the front-rear direction. Further, the electric vehicle 1 is equipped with a vehicle-side wireless device B1.

Inside the garage 5 for parking the electric vehicle 1, there are installed a power transmission coupler 6 which constitutes a ground charger and a positioning device 7 to which the power transmission coupler 6 is attached.

The positioning device 7 is movable along a rail 8 laid on the floor of the garage 5, a pillar 10 standing on the traveling base 9, and vertically movable with respect to the pillar 10. And a slider 12 slidable with respect to the moving body 11.

The rail 8 extends in a direction (horizontal direction) perpendicular to the parking direction (front-rear direction) of the electric vehicle 1. Therefore, the traveling platform 9 travels in the left-right direction. The moving body 11 is configured to move up and down along the pillar 10. The slider 12 slides in the front-back direction. The traveling platform 9 is driven by a traveling motor M1 described later, the moving body 11 is driven by an elevating motor M2, and the slider 12 is driven by a slide motor M3. And this slider 1
The power transmission coupler 6 is attached to the tip of the wire 2.
The power transmission coupler 6 is composed of a power transmission core 13 and a power transmission side electromagnetic coil 14 wound around the power transmission core 13, and the axis of the wound coil 14 is formed to extend in the front-rear direction. There is.

At a position adjacent to the positioning device 7,
Power supply device 15 and operation device 16 that constitute the ground charger
Is provided. This power supply device 15 is a power transmission coupler 6
It is designed to supply power to. The operation device 16 is connected to an operation panel 17 including various switches for operating the positioning device 7 and a display 18 for displaying an operation state of the positioning device 7. That is,
The positioning device 7 is controlled based on the operation of the operation panel 17. In this embodiment, the left-right direction is defined as the X direction, the front-back direction is defined as the Y direction, and the up-down direction is defined as the Z direction.

By using the positioning device 7 configured as described above, the power transmission coupler 6 is positioned at a position directly facing the vehicle-side charger 2, and both couplers 6, 2 are brought into contact with each other at the directly facing position. The charging work is performed by. The facing position is a position where the axis of the power transmission side electromagnetic coil 14 of the power transmission coupler 6 and the axis of the power receiving side electromagnetic coil 4 of the power receiving coupler 2 match, and the axes of the coils 14 and 4 match. Then, the charging operation is performed in a state where the power transmission core 13 and the power reception core 3 are in contact with each other.

Next, the electrical configuration of the system for controlling the positioning device 7 described above will be described. The operation device 16 is provided with a controller 21 as movement control means and first and second movement control means. The controller 21 is provided with a memory 21a, and the controller 21 can store various data in the memory 21a. The controller 21 includes the operation panel 1
7 and the display 18 are connected. Further, the controller 21 is connected to a ground side wireless device B2 capable of communicating with the vehicle side wireless device B1. Further, the controller 21 includes a traveling motor M1, a lifting motor M2, and a slide motor M3.
Is connected. That is, the controller 21 drives and controls the traveling motor M1, the lifting motor M2, and the slide motor M3 based on the operation of the operation panel 17 or the like. An encoder 22 that detects the rotation angle of the traveling motor M1 is connected to the controller 21. Then, the controller 21 determines the traveling position x of the traveling platform 9 based on the count signal indicating the rotation angle from the encoder 22.
Is calculated.

A power supply unit 15 is connected to the controller 21. The power transmission coupler 6 is connected to the power supply device 15. The power supply device 15 is a power supply circuit 23 as a power supply means for supplying a current for charging and position detection to the electromagnetic coil 14 of the power transmission coupler 6, and position detection means for detecting the value of the current output from the power supply circuit 23. And a discrimination signal for discriminating whether or not a current having a reference value I ₀ or more preset based on the current detection value by the current detection circuit 24 is outputted from the power supply circuit 23. And a discriminating circuit 25 for That is, the current detection circuit 24 is connected to the power supply circuit 23, the discrimination circuit 25 is connected to the current detection circuit 24, and
Each power supply circuit 23, current detection circuit 24, and determination circuit 25 are connected to the controller 21, respectively.

The power supply circuit 23 includes a charging current composed of an AC power supply for charging the vehicle side charger and the vehicle side charger 2.
It is possible to supply two types of currents to the electromagnetic coil 14 of the power transmission coupler 6 such as a check current that is output from an AC power supply for identifying the position of. Then, each of these power supplies is selected based on a command signal from the controller 21.

The current detection circuit 24 detects the current value (current value) I _RMS output from the power supply circuit 23 as shown in FIG. 4, and outputs a signal indicating the current value I _RMS to the controller 2
1 and the discriminating circuit 25. The determination circuit 25 is driven only at the time of the check current, and when the current value I _RMS detected by the current detection circuit 24 is equal to or greater than the reference value I ₀ , it outputs an H level signal and the reference value I _0.
If the value is smaller than the above value, an L level signal is output. The H and L level discrimination signals are output to the controller 21.

Next, the operation and effect of the charging device configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the electric vehicle 1 is normally parked in the garage 5,
The vehicle-side wireless device B1 of the electric vehicle 1 transmits an ID signal indicating an ID number for identifying the vehicle 1. Then, the ground side wireless device B2 receives the ID signal and outputs the ID signal to the controller 21. The controller 21 stores the ID stored in the memory 21a based on the ID signal.
It is determined whether or not the electric vehicle 1 that has output the ID signal is a pre-registered electric vehicle 1 by comparing with the number.
If the electric vehicle 1 being parked is the electric vehicle 1 that is not registered in advance, the controller 21 does not drive the positioning device 7. At this time, the traveling platform 9 is at the leftmost home position, the moving body 11 is at the lowermost home position, and the slider 12 is at the rearmost home position.

When it is determined that the parked electric vehicle 1 is the pre-registered electric vehicle 1, the controller 21 enters the positioning mode, and first, the traveling motor M1 is automatically driven to drive the parked electric vehicle 1. The traveling platform 9 located on the left side is moved to the right direction at a constant speed.

The controller 21 also outputs a positioning mode signal to the power supply circuit 23. And the power supply circuit 23
Supplies a check current to the power transmission coupler 6. The current detection circuit 24 outputs the current detection signal to the controller 21, and the determination circuit 25 outputs the determination signal to the controller 2.
It outputs to 1.

When the traveling platform 9 moves to the right, the distance between the power transmission coupler 6 and the power reception coupler 2 becomes closer to each other. As the power transmission coupler 6 and the power reception coupler 2 approach each other, electromagnetic induction occurs between the power transmission coupler 6 and the power reception coupler 2, and an induced electromotive force is generated in the power reception coupler 2. This induced electromotive force increases as the power transmission coupler 6 approaches the power reception coupler 2.

FIG. 4 is changed by the influence of the electromagnetic induction.
Current of the current flowing through the electromagnetic coil 14 of the power transmission coupler 6
Value I_RMSIs shown. That is, the power change due to the induced electromotive force
Value I of the current flowing through the electromagnetic coil 14_RMS
Is shown. As described above, according to the movement of the carriage 9.
As the power transmission coupler 6 approaches the power reception coupler 2, electromagnetic waves are generated.
The induced electromotive force due to induction increases. Then, the power transmission
Current value I flowing through the electromagnetic coil 14 of the plastic 6_RMSReceived
It becomes smaller by the amount guided to the coupler 2 side. And
After the power transmission coupler 6 comes closest to the charging coupler 2,
As the carriage 9 moves away from the power receiving coupler 2,
As a result, the induced electromotive force due to electromagnetic induction decreases and the current value
I_RMSGrows. That is, the maximum induced electromotive force
Position, that is, current value I_RMSThe position with the smallest
At the position where the plastic 6 and the power receiving coupler 2 are closest to each other,
The position is directly opposite in the X direction. In this case, the current value
I _RMSIs the distance between the power transmission coupler 6 and the power reception coupler 2.
Since it is a function of_RMSThe waveform of is the opposite position
The waveform is symmetrical with respect to.

Then, the controller 21 calculates the directly facing position in the X direction based on the discrimination signal from the discrimination circuit 25. In the process in which the traveling platform 9 moves, the controller 21 determines, based on the count number of the encoder 22 at the time when the determination signal from the determination circuit 25 changes from the H level to the L level (the rising point of the H level).
The position x ₁ at that time is calculated, and the position x ₁ is stored in the memory 21a. Next, the controller 21 calculates the position x ₂ at that time based on the count number of the encoder 22 at the time when the determination signal returns from the L level to the H level (falling time of the H level), and calculates the position x _2. Position x
₂ is stored in the memory 21a.

Further, the controller 21 is a power transmission coupler.
6 is a predetermined area on the right side of the predetermined power receiving coupler 2.
When moved to the position, the position stored in the memory 21a
x₁, X ₂In the X direction.
Position x_AIs calculated according to the following equation.

X _A = (x ₁ + x ₂ ) / 2 ... Then, when the facing position x _A in the X direction is obtained,
Based on the position x _A , the controller 21 calculates the count number (correction count number) of the encoder 22 for positioning the power transmission coupler 6 at the position x _A that directly opposes, and stores the confrontation count number in the memory 21 a. Let

After calculating the facing count number, the controller 21 drives the traveling motor M1 to move the traveling table 9 leftward. Then, the controller 21 sequentially compares the facing count number with the count number output from the encoder 21, and stops driving the traveling motor M1 when the facing count number and the count number from the encoder 21 match. To do. At this time, the power transmission coupler 6 is the power reception coupler 2
It is positioned at a position x _A directly opposite to.

As described above, when the power transmission coupler 6 is positioned at the position x _A facing the power reception coupler 2 in the X direction, the operator operates the operation panel 17 to perform the Z direction positioning. That is, the elevating motor M2 is operated to raise the power transmission coupler 6 to a position directly facing the power reception coupler 2 in the Z direction.

When both couplers 6 and 2 face each other in the Z direction, the operator operates the operation panel 17 to perform positioning in the Y direction. Since the X and Z directions face each other, it is not necessary to detect the position in the Y direction, and the controller 21 drives the slide motor M3 to move the power transmission coupler 6 forward to a position where the power transmission coupler 6 contacts the power reception coupler 2. The contact may be detected and stopped. When the couplers 6 and 2 come into contact with each other, the automatic positioning mode ends.

In this contact state, the operator operates the operation panel 17 to select the charging mode. Then, the power supply circuit 23 supplies the charging current to the power transmission coupler 6. Then, a dielectric electromotive force is generated in the power receiving coupler 2 via the power transmission coupler 6, and the electromotive force is supplied to the battery of the electric vehicle 1 to charge the battery.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the electric vehicle 1
After parking the vehicle, the positioning device 7 is driven to drive the power transmission coupler 6
Is moved to position the electric vehicle 1 at a position directly facing the power receiving coupler 2, so that no driving technique is required and the charging operation can be easily performed. Further, since the current detection circuit 24 and the determination circuit 25 for detecting the current value I _RMS flowing in the power transmission coupler 6 can generally use the current detection circuit 24 and the determination circuit 25 for charging which are built in the power supply device 15, Special power receiving coupler 2
A sensor for detecting the position of is not required, and the configuration of the positioning device 7 can be simplified.

Further, the opposing position x _A is the reference value I
_A simple calculation can be obtained by adding the position x ₁ at the time of ₀ or more and the position x ₂ at the time of becoming smaller than the reference value I ₀ and dividing by 2. Then, the traveling motor M1 can be easily positioned at the facing position x _A by rotating the traveling motor M1 until the facing count number indicating the facing position x _A calculated.

Since the discriminating circuit 25 outputs discriminating signals of H level and L level to the controller 21, the controller 21 can easily detect the position by discriminating the rising time and the falling time of the H level discriminating signal. It is possible to distinguish x ₁ and x ₂ .

A signal indicating the current value of the current flowing through the power supply circuit 23 is output from the current detection circuit 24 to the controller 21. Therefore, the operator operates the operation panel 17 to display the current value I on the display 18 during positioning work.
It is possible to display the _RMS and the current value during charging. Therefore, the operator can surely perform the positioning work and the charging work by checking the current value I _RMS during the positioning work displayed on the display 18 and the current value during the charging.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and may be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the spirit of the invention. (1) In the above-described embodiment, the traveling base 9, the moving body 11 and the slider 12 of the positioning device 7 are manually driven while operating the operation panel 17 to move the power transmission coupler 6 to X, Y, Z.
May be moved in each axial direction.

(2) In the above embodiment, also when positioning the power transmission coupler 6 at the position facing in the Z direction, the same method as when positioning the power transmission coupler 6 at the position facing in the X direction is used. Controller 2
It is also possible that 1 determines the position facing in the Z direction based on the discrimination signal from the discrimination circuit 25 and automatically positions at that position.

In addition, the positioning of the power transmission coupler 6 at the position facing in the X direction and the positioning at the position facing in the Z direction are both performed by the controller 21 in the same manner as described above.
May be done automatically by. In this case, for example, after the positioning in the facing position in the X direction, the positioning in the facing position in the Z direction is performed.

(3) In the above embodiment, the controller 21 is made to store the reference value I ₀ in advance. Then, the controller 21 compares the current value I _RMS detected by the current detection circuit 24 with the reference value I _0, and the position x ₁ at the time when the current value I _RMS becomes the reference value I ₀ or less and the reference value I ₀ or more It is also possible to find the position x ₂ at the time point where and the position x _A facing directly is found based on the positions x ₁ and x ₂ .

(4) In the above embodiment, the height of the power receiving coupler 2 of the electric vehicle 1 is stored in advance in the memory 21a of the controller 21 together with the ID number of the electric vehicle 1 that can be parked in the garage 5. You may stay. In this case, the controller 21 can easily set the power transmission coupler 6 and the power receiving coupler 2 at the same height by driving the lifting motor M2 based on the stored height of the power receiving coupler 21. The contact work between the power transmission coupler 6 and the power reception coupler 2 can be easily performed.

(5) In the above embodiment, the traveling motor M
The pulse motor is used for 1, and the traveling motor M1 is used for traveling.
A counter that counts the pulses output from the motor M1
The controller 21 and the controller 21 counts the pulse.
Position x based on₁, X ₂Etc. may be judged.

(6) In the above embodiment, the controller 21 compares the current value I _RMS from the current detection circuit 24 to determine the minimum value of the current value I _RMS , and directly _faces the position of the minimum value. The position x _A may be determined.

(7) In the above-described embodiment, the amount of the current I _RMS flowing through the power transmission coupler 6 is detected to detect the position x _A facing directly. As shown in FIG. 5, this is the voltage V _RMS due to the induced electromotive force generated in the power receiving coupler 2 by electromagnetic induction.
It may be configured to calculate the position x _A facing directly by measuring. That is, a voltage detector that measures the voltage V _RMS applied to the power receiving coupler 2 is connected to the power receiving coupler 2, and whether or not the detected voltage V _RMS is equal to or greater than the reference value V ₀ is connected to the voltage detector. A determination circuit for determining whether or not it is connected. The H-level signal when discriminating circuit voltage V _RMS detected is the reference value greater than or equal _to V _0, in the case of less than the reference value V ₀ to the controller 21 by the L-level signal via the radio B1, B2, etc. Output. And the controller 21
Is similar to the case where the facing position x _A is calculated based on the current I _RMS of the power transmission coupler 6, the voltage V _RMS becomes the reference value V ₀ or more based on the H level signal and the L level signal. The position x ₁ at the time point and the position x ₂ at the time when the reference value is V ₀ or less are obtained, and the facing position x _A is calculated based on these positions x ₁ and x ₂ .

Further, the controller 21 is preset to the reference value V₀To
It is stored in the controller 21 from the voltage detector to the wireless device B.
Voltage V via 1, B2_RMSDirectly communicate the signal indicating the value of
The controller 21_RMSValue and reference value V₀When
And the position x₁, X ₂Position x
_AMay be calculated.

(8) In the above-described embodiment, a check current is passed through the power receiving coupler 2 to find the position x _A which is directly facing based on the fluctuation of the voltage applied to the power transmitting coupler 6 as the fluctuation of the power due to the induced electromotive force. Good. Also, the power receiving coupler 2
Alternatively, a check current may be applied to the position _A, and the facing position x _A may be obtained based on the fluctuation of the current flowing through the power receiving coupler 2 as the power fluctuation due to the induced electromotive force. In this case, the electric vehicle 1 is equipped with a check power supply for supplying a check current.

(9) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the power transmission coupler 6 and the power reception coupler 2 are arranged so that the axis of the power transmission side electromagnetic coil 14 and the axis of the power reception side electromagnetic coil 4 are oriented vertically. You may arrange. In this case, the power receiving coupler 2 is placed on the upper side and the power transmitting coupler 6 is placed on the lower side, and they are brought into contact with each other.

The technical ideas other than the claims that can be understood from the above-described embodiments will be described below along with their effects. (1) In the invention according to claim 5, the controller 21
Is the current value I _RMS from the current detection circuit 24 and the reference value I
Based on ₀ , the position x ₁ at the time when the current value I _RMS becomes the reference value I ₀ or more and the position x ₂ at the time when the current value I _RMS becomes smaller than the reference value I ₀ are obtained, and based on the respective positions x ₁ and x _{2. A} positioning device for a charging device that calculates the facing position x _A. According to this positioning device, the facing position x _A can be easily obtained by a simple calculation.

[0056]

As described above in detail, according to the invention of claim 1, the power receiving core of the power receiving core is detected by detecting the fluctuation of the electric power due to the dielectric electromotive force without using a special position detecting sensor. Since the relative position can be determined and the power transmission core can be brought into contact with the power reception core, it is not necessary to dispose the power reception core with high precision, and a vehicle equipped with the power reception core can be easily parked. According to the invention of claim 2, the power transmission core is three.
Since it can move in the dimensional direction, the power transmission core can be more reliably brought into contact with the power reception core according to the position. According to the invention described in claim 3, the relative position of the power receiving core is determined based on the change in power due to the induced electromotive force without using a special sensor for position detection, and the power transmitting core is applied to the power receiving core. Since they are in contact with each other, it is not necessary to accurately arrange the power receiving core, and the vehicle equipped with the power receiving core can be easily parked. According to the invention described in claim 4, by moving the power transmission core in the three-dimensional direction, the power transmission core can be more reliably brought into contact with the charging core in accordance with the position of the power reception core. According to the invention of claim 5, the power transmission side electromagnetic coil can be easily brought into contact with the power reception side electromagnetic coil based on the fluctuation of the current flowing through the power transmission side electromagnetic coil.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a positioning device installed in a garage for parking an electric vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a positioning device installed in a garage for parking an electric vehicle.

FIG. 3 is an electrical block diagram for controlling the positioning device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing current values output from a power supply device and signals output to a controller during positioning.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing changes in the voltage of the vehicle-side charger and signals output to the controller during positioning in another example.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a positioning device in another example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Electric vehicle, 2 ... Power receiving coupler, 3 ... Power receiving core,
4 ... Power receiving side electromagnetic coil, 6 ... Power transmission coupler, 7 ... Positioning device, 13 ... Power transmission core, 14 ... Power transmission side electromagnetic coil,
21 ... Controllers as movement control means and first and second movement control means, 23 ... Power supply circuit as power supply means, 24 ... Current detection circuit as position detection means, M1 ...
Traveling motor as moving means and first moving means, M2
... Lifting motor as moving means and second moving means, M
3 ... A slide motor as a moving means and a third moving means.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A power transmission core wound around the power transmission side electromagnetic coil is brought into contact with a power reception core installed in a vehicle around which a power receiving side electromagnetic coil for generating an induced electromotive force based on the power transmission side electromagnetic coil is wound. In order to make the relative position of the power receiving core move the power transmitting core while detecting the power fluctuation of the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil or the power receiving side electromagnetic coil due to the induced electromotive force, the battery is placed in the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil. A charging method for a charging device in which a charging current for charging is supplied. 2. The charging method for a charging device according to claim 1, wherein the power transmission core is movable in a three-dimensional direction. 3. A power transmission core around which a power transmission electromagnetic coil is wound is brought into contact with a power reception core around which a power receiving electromagnetic coil installed on a vehicle is wound, and a charging current is passed through the power transmission electromagnetic coil to receive power. In a charging device for charging a battery mounted on a vehicle by generating an induced electromotive force in an electromagnetic coil, a moving unit that reciprocates the power transmission core, and a position detection unit that detects a position in the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil when the moving unit moves. Power supply means for supplying power for detecting the power fluctuation of either the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil or the power receiving side electromagnetic coil due to the induced electromotive force generated in the power receiving side electromagnetic coil based on the power supply from the power source supplying means. And a movement control means for stopping the power transmission core at a position where the relative position to the power reception core is closest to the position detection means based on the position detection means. Location of the positioning device. 4. The moving means includes first moving means for reciprocating the power transmission core in a first direction, and reciprocating the power transmission core in a second direction different from the first direction. And a third moving unit that reciprocates the power transmission core in a third direction different from the first and second directions, the first to third moving units. At least any one of the moving means is specified, and the specified moving means is drive-controlled to be stopped at a position where the relative position of the power transmission core to the power receiving core is closest based on the position detection means. 4. A first movement control means, and a second movement control means configured to bring the power transmission core into contact with the power reception core by a movement means other than the specified movement means. Battery charger positioning device. 5. The positioning device for a charging device according to claim 3, wherein the position detecting means detects a fluctuation of a current flowing through the power transmission side electromagnetic coil as a power fluctuation due to an induced electromotive force.