Power transmission device, non-contact power supply system, and program

Abstract

A power transmission device (100) that supplies power in a non-contact manner to a movable power receiving device (200) is provided with: an end coil unit (120P) that includes an end resonance circuit (110P) having an end coil (112P) and an end resonance capacitor (116P), and that switches the supply of power to the end resonance circuit; an end power transmission signal reception unit (172) that receives an end power transmission request signal for starting power transmission by the end coil unit; an end power transmission control unit (174) that controls the supply of power to the end resonance circuit; an adjacent coil unit including an adjacent resonance circuit (110Q) having an adjacent coil (112Q) and an adjacent resonance capacitor (116Q), and an adjacent current switching unit (124Q) for switching power supply to the adjacent resonance circuit; and an adjacent power transmission control unit (182) that controls the ON / OFF of the power supply to the adjacent resonance circuit by the adjacent current switching unit.

Description

Citation of related applications

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-109644 filed on July 7, 2022, and the contents thereof are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a power transmission device, a contactless power supply system, and a program. Background Art

[0003] A wireless power supply system is known, which includes: a plurality of power transmission coils connected in parallel to a high-frequency power supply; and a power receiving coil installed on a mobile body (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-71719). In this wireless power supply system, a saturated inductor is configured between the high-frequency power supply and each power transmission coil, so that when the power transmission coil and the power receiving coil are in a relative state, the current flowing from the high-frequency power supply to the power transmission coil is above a threshold value, and the impedance decreases. When the power transmission coil and the power receiving coil are in a non-relative state, the current flowing from the high-frequency power supply to the power transmission coil is less than the threshold value, and the impedance increases. As a result, the power supply to the power transmission coil is suppressed. Summary of the invention

[0004] However, due to the deviation of the size and shape of the power receiving coil, the deviation of the relative position of the power receiving coil with respect to the power transmitting coil, etc., even when the power receiving coil changes from a non-relative state to a relative state with respect to the power transmitting coil, the change of the magnetic flux generated in the power transmitting coil may become small. In this case, the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil may not resonate, and the power supply from the power transmitting device to the power receiving device may not start.

[0005] The present disclosure can be implemented in the following forms.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a power transmitting device for supplying power to a movable power receiving device in a contactless manner. The power transmission device includes: an end coil unit, the end coil unit including an end resonant circuit and an end current switching unit, the end resonant circuit having an end coil and an end resonant capacitor for causing the end coil to resonate in parallel, the end current switching unit for switching on and off the power supply from a power source to the end resonant circuit; an end power transmission signal receiving unit, the end power transmission signal receiving unit receiving an end power transmission request signal for starting power transmission of the end coil unit; an end power transmission control unit, the end power transmission control unit controlling the on and off of the power supply from the power source to the end resonant circuit by the end current switching unit using the end power transmission request signal; an adjacent coil unit, the adjacent coil unit being adjacent to the end coil unit and including an adjacent resonant circuit and an adjacent current switching unit, the adjacent resonant circuit having an adjacent coil and an adjacent resonant capacitor for causing the adjacent coil to resonate in parallel, the adjacent current switching unit switching on and off the power supply from the power source to the adjacent resonant circuit; and an adjacent power transmission control unit, the adjacent power transmission control unit controlling the on and off of the power supply from the power source to the adjacent resonant circuit by the adjacent current switching unit.

[0007] According to the power transmission device of this embodiment, by receiving the end power transmission request signal, it is possible to switch the power supply to the end resonance circuit on and off, and it is possible to suppress or prevent an undesirable situation in which power supply from the power transmission device to the power receiving device does not start when the power receiving coil changes from a non-relative state to a relative state relative to the end coil. The present disclosure may also be implemented in various ways other than a power transmission device and a contactless power supply system. For example, it may be implemented in the form of a coil unit, a contactless power supply method, a control method for a power transmission device, a control method for a contactless power supply system, a computer program for implementing the control method, a non-temporary recording medium recording the computer program, and the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The above objects, other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. Figure 1 It is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the power transmission device according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 It is an explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration of a power transmission device. Figure 3 It is an explanatory diagram showing the circuit configuration of the end coil unit. Figure 4 It is an explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration of an end coil unit in another embodiment. Figure 5It is an explanatory diagram showing simulation results of current values ​​flowing through adjacent coil units. Figure 6 It is an explanatory diagram showing the switching process of the power transmission device. Figure 7 This is a flowchart showing a processing routine of a transition process of the power transmitting device to the standby state. Figure 8 1 is a flowchart showing a processing routine for transition processing of the power transmitting device to the energized state. Fig. 9 : is a flowchart showing a processing routine of the end coil energization process. Fig.10 : is a flowchart showing a processing routine of the adjacent coil energization process. Fig.11 This is a flowchart showing a processing routine for transition processing of the power transmission device to the stopped state. Fig.12 This is a first explanatory diagram showing the relationship between a traveling vehicle and a power transmission device. Fig.13 This is a second explanatory diagram showing the relationship between a traveling vehicle and the power transmission device. Fig.14 This is a third explanatory diagram showing the relationship between a traveling vehicle and the power transmission device. Fig.15 This is a fourth explanatory diagram showing the relationship between a traveling vehicle and the power transmission device. Fig.16 This is a fifth explanatory diagram showing the relationship between a traveling vehicle and the power transmission device. Fig.17 This is a sixth explanatory diagram showing the relationship between a traveling vehicle and the power transmission device. Fig.18 It is an explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration of a power transmission device according to a second embodiment. Fig.19 1 is a flowchart showing a processing routine of the end coil energization process in the second embodiment. Fig. 20 1 is a flowchart showing a processing routine of the adjacent coil energization process in the second embodiment. Fig.21 1 is a flowchart showing a processing routine of the end coil energization process in the third embodiment. Fig. 22 1 is a flowchart showing a processing routine of adjacent coil energization processing in the third embodiment. Fig.23 It is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a power transmission device according to a fourth embodiment. Fig.24 It is an explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration of an end coil unit in a fourth embodiment. Fig.25 This is a second explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration of an end coil unit in another embodiment. Fig.26 It is a third explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration of an end coil unit in another embodiment. Fig. 27 It is a fourth explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration of an end coil unit in another embodiment. Fig.28 It is a fifth explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration of an end coil unit in another embodiment. Fig.29 It is a sixth explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration of an end coil unit in another embodiment. Fig.30 It is a seventh explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration of an end coil unit in another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] A. First Implementation Method: Figure 1 The contactless power supply system includes the power transmission device 100 and the power receiving device 200 and is a system capable of supplying power from the power transmission device 100 to the power receiving device 200 in a contactless manner. Figure 1 as well as Figure 1 X, Y, and Z shown in the following figures represent three spatial axes that are orthogonal to each other. In this specification, the directions along these axes are also referred to as the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction. Figure 1 In the example, the X-axis direction coincides with the traveling direction of the vehicle CR along the lane of the vehicle travel path RS, the Y-axis direction coincides with the width direction of the vehicle travel path RS, and the Z-axis direction coincides with the gravity direction.

[0010] The power receiving device 200 can be installed in various devices that use electricity to operate, such as electronic equipment and electric vehicles. The power receiving device 200 is configured to be movable, and in this embodiment, it is installed in a vehicle CR. The vehicle CR is, for example, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle equipped with a drive motor that uses electricity as a power source. The power receiving device 200 includes a power receiving resonance circuit 210, a power receiving circuit 220, a battery 230, and a power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270.

[0011] The power receiving resonance circuit 210 includes a power receiving coil 212. The power receiving coil 212 is provided at a position on the bottom of the vehicle CR so as to be able to face the power transmitting coil included in the resonance circuit of the power transmitting device 100. Figure 2As shown on the right side of FIG. 2 , the power receiving resonance circuit 210 is a resonance circuit including a power receiving coil 212 and a power receiving resonance capacitor 216 connected in series.

[0012] When the power receiving coil 212 is in a state of being opposite to the power transmitting coil, the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil 212 are electromagnetically coupled and resonate with the resonant circuit. The power receiving resonant circuit 210 receives the AC power induced to the power receiving coil 212 from the power transmitting device 100 in a non-contact manner in a state of resonant coupling in which the power receiving coil 212 and the power transmitting coil are magnetically coupled. Figure 2 In FIG. 2 , the inductance of the power receiving coil 212 is represented by Lr, and the capacitance of the power receiving resonance capacitor 216 is represented by Cr.

[0013] The power receiving circuit 220 converts the AC power output from the power receiving resonance circuit 210 into DC power. The power receiving circuit 220 includes, for example, a filter circuit, a rectifier circuit for converting the AC power into DC power, and a power conversion circuit for converting the AC power into DC power suitable for charging the battery 230. The DC power output from the power receiving circuit 220 can be used for charging the battery 230, etc. The battery 230 is, for example, a secondary battery that outputs DC power for driving a drive motor that is a drive source of the vehicle CR. The DC power from the power receiving circuit 220 can also be used for driving the drive motor, charging an auxiliary machine battery (not shown), driving the auxiliary machine, etc.

[0014] The power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270 functions as an end power transmission request signal sending unit that sends an end power transmission request signal to the power transmitting device 100 through narrow area communication. In the present disclosure, "narrow area communication" refers to wireless communication with a communication distance of 5 meters or less. From the perspective of improving the recognition of one vehicle CR among multiple vehicles traveling, improving the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of the power transmitting device 100, and suppressing unnecessary power consumption and unnecessary magnetic flux generation in a non-opposite state with the power receiving device 200, the communication distance in narrow area communication is more preferably about 10 to 100 centimeters.

[0015] As described later, the "end power transmission request signal" is a control signal for switching the end coil unit 120P of the power transmission device 100 to a power-on state capable of supplying power. In the present embodiment, the end power transmission request signal may include the location information and ID information of the vehicle CR. The "location information of the vehicle CR included in the end power transmission request signal" includes the situation where the vehicle CR is detected to be within a predetermined distance from the end power transmission control device 170 based on the establishment of narrow-area communication between the narrow-area communication unit 270 on the power receiving side and the end power transmission control device 170. However, it is not limited to this, and the "location information of the vehicle CR included in the end power transmission request signal" may also include information on the absolute position of the vehicle CR and information on the relative position of the vehicle CR relative to the power transmission device 100.

[0016] The “ID information” refers to identification information of the power receiving device 200 or the vehicle CR equipped with the power receiving device 200. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be identification information of the power receiving coil 212 included in the power receiving device 200 or identification information of the user of the power receiving device 200. In addition, these multiple information may be combined, or various information related to these may be used.

[0017] In the present embodiment, an active RF-ID (Radio Frequency-Identification) tag using an electric wave method of the 900MHz band or the 2.45GHz band is used in the narrow-area communication unit 270 on the power receiving side. In the following description, the RF-ID tag is also referred to as an "RF tag". By using an active RF tag, the narrow-area communication unit 270 on the power receiving side can perform periodic communication per predetermined unit time and periodically send an end power transmission request signal. However, the narrow-area communication unit 270 on the power receiving side may also be a passive RF tag. Instead of the electric wave method, the narrow-area communication unit 270 on the power receiving side may also be an RF tag using an electromagnetic induction method. In addition, the narrow-area communication unit 270 on the power receiving side is not limited to the RF-ID tag, and may be, for example, a short-range wireless communication technology using a loop antenna, or a short-range wireless communication technology that applies "Wavelet OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing)" as an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing method to a communication method using a magnetic field. In addition, wireless communication using a two-way wireless communication method using a 5.8 GHz frequency band such as DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) may also be used.

[0018] like Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the vehicle CR also includes a vehicle information acquisition unit 260, a vehicle control unit 280, and a power receiving side wide area communication unit 290. The vehicle control unit 280 is a circuit including a CPU and a memory. The vehicle control unit 280 controls the power receiving device 200 and each part of the vehicle CR in general. The vehicle control unit 280 performs various controls for driving the vehicle CR, and is used in both automatic driving and manual driving. Various programs for realizing the functions provided in this embodiment are stored in the memory, and the vehicle control unit 280 realizes the functions of the vehicle information acquisition unit 260 and the vehicle control unit 280 respectively by executing the computer programs stored in the memory by the CPU. In addition, part of the functions of the vehicle control unit 280 can also be realized by a hardware circuit.

[0019] The vehicle information acquisition unit 260 acquires various auxiliary information related to the contactless power supply system and the driving of the vehicle CR. The vehicle information acquisition unit 260 includes a GNSS receiver 262 and a navigation device 264. The GNSS receiver 262 locates the current position (longitude, latitude) of the vehicle CR based on the navigation signal received from the artificial satellite constituting the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). The navigation device 264 has a function of determining a planned driving route based on the destination and the position of the vehicle detected by the GNSS receiver 262. In addition to the GNSS receiver 262, other sensors such as a gyroscope can also be used to determine or correct the planned driving route.

[0020] The wide area communication unit 290 on the receiving side performs wide area communication for applying for a reservation for use of the power transmission device 100. "Wide area communication" refers to wireless communication with a communication distance wider than the communication distance of the narrow area communication described later. Wide area communication can be achieved, for example, through mobile communication systems such as the fifth generation mobile communication system (5G, Local 5G), the fourth generation mobile communication system (LTE-Advanced, 4G), LTE, a wireless local area network (LAN) that complies with the IEEE 802.11 standard, and wireless communication using Bluetooth (Bluetooth, registered trademark). In the wireless communication with the power transmission device 100, indirect wireless communication with the power transmission device 100 is included via a base station or a server.

[0021] In the application for the use reservation, the power receiving side wide area communication unit 290 transmits information required for applying for the use reservation of the power transmitting device 100, such as the vehicle position of the vehicle CR, the planned travel route, and the ID information of the vehicle CR, to the power transmitting device 100. The ID information of the vehicle CR is the same as the ID information transmitted by the power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270, and is used for verification.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the power transmission device 100 includes a plurality of coil units 120P, 120Q, a power transmission circuit 130, and a power supply circuit 140. In the present embodiment, the plurality of coil units 120P, 120Q, the power transmission circuit 130, and the power supply circuit 140 are buried inside the vehicle travel path RS. In addition, the plurality of coil units 120P, 120Q, the power transmission circuit 130, and the power supply circuit 140 are not limited to the inside of the vehicle travel path RS, but may also be exposed on the vehicle travel path RS. The power transmission circuit 130 and the power supply circuit 140 may be arranged, for example, on a side road, or may be arranged on the vehicle travel path RS at a position that does not affect the travel of the vehicle CR.

[0023] The power supply circuit 140 is, for example, an AC / DC conversion circuit, which converts AC power from an AC power source such as a system power supply into DC power and supplies it to the power transmission circuit 130. The power transmission circuit 130 is a device including an inverter, etc., which converts the DC power supplied from the power supply circuit 140 into AC power of an operating frequency and supplies it to the plurality of coil units 120P and 120Q. The power transmission circuit 130 may also include a rectifier circuit, a filter circuit, etc.

[0024] The plurality of coil units 120P and 120Q and the one power transmission circuit 130 form a substantially linear power transmission area SC1 along the vehicle travel path RS. Figure 1 In the example of , a power transmission area SC2 having the same structure as the power transmission area SC1 is further provided at a predetermined distance from the power transmission area SC1. Figure 1 In the example shown in FIG. 1 , one power supply circuit 140 is provided in the power transmission capable area SC1 and the power transmission capable area SC2 . However, different power supply circuits 140 may be provided in the power transmission capable area SC1 and the power transmission capable area SC2 , respectively.

[0025] The plurality of coil units 120P and 120Q include an end coil unit 120P and an adjacent coil unit 120Q located at the end of the power transmission area SC1. The "coil unit located at the end of the power transmission area SC1" refers to a coil unit located at the end of the arrangement of the plurality of coil units forming the power transmission area SC1, which is the first coil unit to be in a state of facing the power receiving coil 212 when the power receiving device 200 enters the power transmission area SC1. Figure 1 In the example of , among the four coil units included in the power transmission area SC1, when the vehicle CR traveling along the X-axis direction travels on the vehicle travel path RS and enters the power transmission area SC1, the coil unit that first becomes relative to the power receiving device 200 is only the end coil unit 120P. However, the coil unit located at the end of the power transmission area SC1 is not limited to one coil unit among the coil units included in the power transmission area SC1, and may also be a plurality of coil units. For example, in the case where the power transmission area SC1 is arranged at an intersection or the like and the power receiving device 200 can enter the power transmission area SC1 from multiple directions, the "coil unit located at the end of the power transmission area SC1" includes each coil unit that can first become relative in each entry direction when the power receiving device 200 enters from each direction.

[0026] The adjacent coil unit 120Q is a coil unit adjacent to the end coil unit 120P. In the case where the power transmission area SC1 includes a plurality of coil units, the "coil unit adjacent to the end coil unit 120P" includes a coil unit directly adjacent to the end coil unit 120P and a coil unit that is continuously arranged with the coil unit directly adjacent to the end coil unit 120P. Figure 1 In the example of , in the power transmittable area SC1 , all the coil units 120P other than the end coil unit 120P at the left end correspond to the adjacent coil unit 120Q.

[0027] exist Figure 1 In the example of the embodiment, the end coil 112P and the plurality of adjacent coils 112Q are arranged in contact with each other, but they do not necessarily need to contact with each other and may be separated from each other. However, in order to smoothly supply power to the power receiving coil 212 during the travel of the vehicle CR, it is preferred that the end coil 112P and the plurality of adjacent coils 112Q contact with each other. When the end coil 112P and the plurality of adjacent coils 112Q are separated from each other, the separation distance is preferably less than half the width of the end coil 112P and the plurality of adjacent coils 112Q (or the radius thereof if they are circular), for example.

[0028] like Figure 2 As shown, the end coil unit 120P includes an end resonant circuit 110P, an end current sensor 122P, and an end current switching unit 124P. The end current switching unit 124P is provided between the power transmission circuit 130 and the end resonant circuit 110P, and switches the on and off of the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the end resonant circuit 110P. The end current sensor 122P detects the current value of the power supplied from the power transmission circuit 130 to the end resonant circuit 110P (hereinafter also referred to as the "end current value"). The end current sensor 122P may be replaced by or configured with a small inductance such as a shunt resistor or wiring inductance, and the voltage generated by the current flow may be detected instead of or in combination with the current value.

[0029] The end resonant circuit 110P includes an end coil 112P and an end resonant capacitor 116P functioning as a resonant capacitor. The end resonant circuit 110P transmits AC power induced by the end coil 112P to the power receiving resonant circuit 210 using electromagnetic induction.

[0030] like Figure 2As shown, the end resonant circuit 110P is a parallel resonant circuit in which the end coil 112P and the end resonant capacitor 116P are connected in parallel. In this embodiment, a primary parallel and secondary series method (also referred to as a "PS method") is applied to the end resonant circuit 110P. The end resonant capacitor 116P is a resonant capacitor for resonating the power supplied to the end coil 112P. Figure 2 The diagram shows a state in which the end coil 112P and the power receiving coil 212 provided in the power receiving device 200 face each other. In the facing state, the power receiving coil 212 is electromagnetically coupled to the end coil 112P.

[0031] In the facing state, the capacitance Ct of the end resonance capacitor 116P and the inductance Lt of the end coil 112P are set so that the end resonance circuit 110P resonates in parallel. In the facing state, the end resonance circuit 110P and the power receiving resonance circuit 210 are in an electromagnetically coupled state, and the battery 230 as a secondary-side load in the equivalent circuit is connected in parallel to the end resonance circuit 110P, and the input impedance Z1 of the end resonance circuit 110P viewed from the power supply becomes smaller than that in the non-resonant state. As a result, AC power is supplied from the power transmission circuit 130 to the end coil 112P, and AC power is supplied to the power receiving device 200 via the power receiving coil 212.

[0032] In the present embodiment, the end coil unit 120P further includes an end resonance switching unit 126P and an end power transmission control device 170 described later. The end resonance switching unit 126P is controlled by the end power transmission control device 170. The end resonance switching unit 126P switches the resonant state and the non-resonant state of the end coil 112P and the end resonance capacitor 116P by changing the impedance of the end coil 112P and the end resonance capacitor 116P.

[0033] The adjacent coil unit 120Q includes an adjacent resonant circuit 110Q and an adjacent current switching unit 124Q. The adjacent current switching unit 124Q is provided between the power transmission circuit 130 and the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q, and switches the on and off of the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q. The adjacent current sensor 122Q detects the current value of the power supplied from the power transmission circuit 130 to the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q (hereinafter also referred to as the "adjacent current value"). The structure of the adjacent current sensor 122Q is configured in the same manner as the end current sensor 122P. It is also possible to replace the adjacent current sensor 122Q, or configure a smaller inductance such as a shunt resistor or wiring inductance together with it, or to replace the current value, or detect the voltage generated by the current flow together with it.

[0034] The adjacent resonant circuit 110Q includes an adjacent coil 112Q and an adjacent resonant capacitor 116Q functioning as a resonant capacitor. The adjacent resonant circuit 110Q transmits AC power induced by the adjacent coil 112Q to the power receiving resonant circuit 210 by electromagnetic induction. Figure 1 As shown, the end resonance circuit 110P and the plurality of adjacent resonance circuits 110Q are continuously laid out in a straight line along the traveling direction (X-axis direction) of the vehicle CR in the vehicle travel path RS.

[0035] Figure 2 Indicates a non-opposite state in which the adjacent coil 112Q and the power receiving coil 212 are not opposite to each other. In the non-opposite state, the power receiving coil 212 is not electromagnetically coupled to the adjacent coil 112Q, and the resonance state of the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q is broken. As a result, the input impedance Z1 of the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q becomes a high impedance state of substantially infinite magnitude, and the input current I1 of the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q can be made close to zero. In this way, according to the end resonant circuit 110P and the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q using a parallel resonant circuit, the current from the power transmission circuit 130, that is, the standby power can be suppressed compared to the resonant circuit using a series resonant circuit.

[0036] In the present embodiment, the adjacent coil unit 120Q further includes an adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q and an adjacent power transmission control device 180. The adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q is controlled by the adjacent power transmission control device 180. The adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q switches the resonant state and the non-resonant state of the adjacent coil 112Q and the adjacent resonance capacitor 116Q by changing the impedance of the adjacent coil 112Q and the adjacent resonance capacitor 116Q.

[0037] The adjacent power transmission control device 180 includes an adjacent power transmission control unit 182 and an adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184. The adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 detects the electrical characteristic value of the adjacent coil 112Q. The “electrical characteristic value of the adjacent coil 112Q” includes, for example, a voltage applied to the adjacent coil 112Q, a current flowing through the adjacent coil 112Q, and a magnetic field generated in the adjacent coil 112Q. In this embodiment, Figure 2 As shown, the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 is a current sensor for measuring the value of the current flowing through the adjacent coil 112Q as an electrical characteristic value.

[0038] The adjacent power transmission control unit 182 has a CPU and a memory, and controls the on / off of the adjacent current switching unit 124Q and the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q. In the present embodiment, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 uses the electrical characteristic value (current value in the present embodiment) of the adjacent coil 112Q acquired by the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 to control the on / off of the adjacent current switching unit 124Q and the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q.

[0039] like Figure 3 As shown, the end current switching unit 124P and the end resonance switching unit 126P are semiconductor elements for controlling current, such as IGBT, MOSFET or FET. Here, since the saturated reactor needs to increase the inductance in order to increase the impedance, there is a problem of increasing the size of the end current switching unit 124P. In addition, since the saturated reactor will become a large inductance component in order to increase the impedance, the inductance component of the saturated reactor dominates the load observed from the power transmission circuit 130. Therefore, it is considered that the resonance characteristics of the end resonance circuit 110P are reduced. According to the power transmission device 100 of this embodiment, by using a semiconductor element in the end current switching unit 124P, the resonance characteristics of the end resonance circuit 110P can be improved compared with the case of using a saturated reactor.

[0040] like Figure 3 As shown, the end current switching unit 124P and the end resonance switching unit 126P are composed of a bidirectional switch using a semiconductor element of AC power. The end resonance switching unit 126P is arranged between the end resonance capacitor 116P and the end coil 112P, and is connected in parallel with the end coil 112P. The end power transmission control unit 174 puts the end coil 112P and the end resonance capacitor 116P into a non-resonant state by short-circuiting (turning on) the end resonance switching unit 126P, and puts the end coil 112P and the end resonance capacitor 116P into a resonant state capable of resonance by opening (disconnecting) the end resonance switching unit 126P. In addition, in Figure 3 In the description, the end current switching unit 124P and the end resonance switching unit 126P are taken as examples, but the adjacent current switching unit 124Q and the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q are configured in the same manner as the end current switching unit 124P and the end resonance switching unit 126P, except that they are controlled by the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 instead of the end power transmission control unit 174, so the description is omitted.

[0041] The end power transmission control unit 174 turns on the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the end resonance circuit 110P by short-circuiting (turning on) the end current switching unit 124P, and turns off the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the end resonance circuit 110P by opening (turning off) the end current switching unit 124P. Figure 3 In the example of FIG. 1 , the bidirectional switch as the end current switching unit 124P is arranged only on the positive side between the power transmission circuit 130 and the end resonance circuit 110P. Figure 4As shown in the end coil unit 120P2, an end current switching unit 124P2 is used in which a bidirectional switch is divided into a positive side and a negative side. According to the power transmission device 100 configured in this way, by dividing the cut-off point of the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the end resonance circuit 110P into a positive side and a negative side, it is possible to suppress or prevent the so-called common mode noise generated on the positive side and the negative side.

[0042] like Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the power transmission device 100 further includes a power transmission side wide area communication unit 190, a power transmission circuit control unit 192, and an end power transmission control device 170. The power transmission side wide area communication unit 190 receives a request for a use reservation from the vehicle CR through wide area communication. The information acquired by the power transmission side wide area communication unit 190 is output to the power transmission circuit control unit 192. The power transmission circuit control unit 192 is a circuit including a CPU and a memory. The power transmission circuit control unit 192 controls the power transmission circuit 130 based on the information received from the vehicle CR via the power transmission side wide area communication unit 190, and switches the stop state and the standby state of the power transmission device 100. The "stop state of the power transmission device 100" refers to a state in which the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the end resonance circuit 110P is stopped by stopping the driving of the power transmission circuit 130. The "standby state of the power transmission device 100" refers to a state in which the power transmission circuit 130 is driven but the power supply to the power receiving device 200 is not performed.

[0043] The end power transmission control device 170 receives the end power transmission request signal transmitted from the power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270 through narrow area communication, and changes the input impedance Z1 of the end resonance circuit 110P based on the received end power transmission request signal. Figure 2 As shown, the end power transmission control device 170 includes an end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 and an end power transmission control unit 174 .

[0044] The end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 obtains the end power transmission request signal and the like transmitted from the power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270. The end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 can use, for example, a receiver or reader corresponding to the wireless communication method used in the power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270. In the present embodiment, the end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 uses an RF reader capable of identifying an RF tag. However, the end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 may also be a receiver corresponding to the communication method using a magnetic field using the above-mentioned loop antenna.

[0045] The end power transmission control unit 174 is a circuit for switching the current value flowing through the end resonance circuit 110P. Specifically, when the end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 obtains the power transmission request signal from the power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270, the end power transmission control unit 174 changes the input impedance Z1 of the end resonance circuit 110P by switching the end current switching unit 124P and the end resonance switching unit 126P provided in the end resonance circuit 110P, and switches the current value flowing through the end coil 112P to a current value that can supply power to the power receiving device 200. In the present embodiment, the end power transmission control unit 174 is, for example, arranged at the coil center of the end coil 112P and is provided integrally with the end coil 112P.

[0046] like Figure 2 As shown, in the present embodiment, the end power transmission control device 170 is included in the end coil unit 120P of the power transmission area SC1. However, it is sufficient that the end power transmission control device 170 is included in the power transmission device 100, and it may be a part of the adjacent coil unit 120Q, or it may be arranged at any position different from the end coil unit 120P or the adjacent coil unit 120Q, for example, it may be arranged inside the vehicle travel path RS, or it may be arranged on the vehicle travel path RS. From the viewpoint of improving the recognition of the vehicle CR and improving the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of the power transmission device 100, it is preferable to be able to detect the approach of the vehicle CR to the end coil 112P with high accuracy. Therefore, the end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 is preferably arranged at a position close to the end coil 112P, for example, the end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 is arranged in the coil plane of the end coil 112P, and more preferably, the coordinates of the end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 and the end coil 112P overlap each other in a plan view.

[0047] Figure 5 The simulation results of the contactless power supply system using the present embodiment are shown. More specifically, the adjacent current value when the adjacent current switching unit 124Q and the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q are short-circuited (on) or open (off) when the end coil 112P and the power receiving coil 212 are in a relative state and the adjacent coil 112Q is in a non-relative state, and the current value of the coil current (hereinafter also referred to as "adjacent coil current") flowing through the adjacent coil 112Q are shown. Figure 5As shown on the left side of , when the end coil 112P is in the relative state, the end current switching unit 124P becomes short-circuited (on), the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the end coil unit 120P becomes on, and the end resonance switching unit 126P becomes open (off), and the end coil 112P and the end resonance capacitor 116P become resonant. According to the simulation results, at this time, the end current value is about 60A, and the current value of the coil current flowing through the end coil (hereinafter also referred to as "end coil current") is about 100A.

[0048] like Figure 5 As shown on the right side of column #1 in the upper portion of , when the adjacent current switching unit 124Q is short-circuited (on) and the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the adjacent coil unit 120Q is on, and the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q is open (off) and the adjacent coil 112Q and the adjacent resonance capacitor 116Q are in a resonant state, the adjacent current value is 10A and the adjacent coil current is 200A. It can be understood from this that even in a state where the adjacent coil unit 120Q does not contribute to the transmission of power to the power receiving device 200, when the power supply to the adjacent coil unit 120Q is on and in a resonant state, current flows from the power transmission circuit 130 to the adjacent coil unit 120Q, and the coil current in the non-relative state (hereinafter also referred to as "standby current") flows, resulting in additional power loss.

[0049] like Figure 5 As shown on the right side of the column #2 in the middle section of , when the adjacent current switching section 124Q is open (disconnected) and the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the adjacent coil unit 120Q is disconnected, and the adjacent resonance switching section 126Q is open (disconnected) and the adjacent coil 112Q and the adjacent resonance capacitor 116Q are in a resonant state, the adjacent current value is approximately 0 A, and the adjacent coil current is approximately 50 A. According to the simulation results, compared with the results of the column #1 in the upper section, it can be understood that by disconnecting the adjacent current switching section 124Q, the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the adjacent coil unit 120Q can be made substantially zero, and the standby current can be reduced.

[0050] like Figure 5As shown on the right side of column #3 in the lower section of , when the adjacent current switching section 124Q is open (disconnected) and the power supply to the adjacent coil unit 120Q is disconnected, and the adjacent resonance switching section 126Q is short-circuited (connected) and the adjacent coil 112Q and the adjacent resonance capacitor 116Q are in a non-resonant state, the adjacent current value and the adjacent coil current are approximately 0 A. According to the simulation results, it can be understood that in a non-relative state, if the adjacent current switching section 124Q is open (disconnected) and the adjacent resonance switching section 126Q is short-circuited (connected), the power supply to the adjacent coil unit 120Q and the standby current can be made approximately zero.

[0051] use Figures 6 to 17 , the power supply process performed by the power transmission device 100 of this embodiment is described. Figures 12 to 17 , a situation is shown in which the vehicle CR equipped with the power receiving device 200 travels toward the power transmission area SC1 of the power transmission device 100 and passes through the power transmission area SC1. Figures 12 to 17 In FIG. 1 , for the sake of convenience, the end power transmission control device 170 and the end coil 112P are shown separately, but in fact, the coordinates of the end coil 112P and the end power transmission control device 170 coincide with each other when viewed from above. Figures 12 to 17 In order to make the technology easier to understand, the parts where the functions are activated are shaded. Figures 12 to 17 In the figure, for the convenience of illustration, the names of some components are omitted.

[0052] exist Figures 12 to 17 , the energization start distance DT2 from the end coil 112P of the power transmission device 100 and the preparation distance DT1 from the end coil 112P are schematically shown. The energization start distance DT2 can be set, for example, using the distance at which the power request signal can be sent and received between the power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270 and the end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 of the end power transmission control device 170. In the present embodiment, the energization start distance DT2 is set to 100 cm, which is the communication distance of the power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270. The preparation distance DT1 is a distance longer than the energization start distance DT2, and defines an area for transferring the power transmission device 100 to the preparation state according to the entry of the vehicle CR. The preparation distance DT1 only needs to be sufficient as long as the power transmission circuit 130 can be transferred to the standby state during the period when the vehicle CR travels the distance (DT1-DT2) obtained by subtracting the power-on start distance DT2 from the preparation distance DT1. For example, it can be derived based on the time required to transfer the power transmission circuit 130 to the preparation state, the separation distance between the vehicle CR and the power transmission device 100, and the driving speed of the vehicle CR.

[0053] like Figure 6As shown, in the power supply process from the power transmission device 100 to the power receiving device 200, in step S10, the power transmission device 100 in the stopped state is transferred to the standby state. In the standby state and the stopped state of the power transmission device 100, the end current switching unit 124P and the adjacent current switching unit 124Q are open (disconnected), and the end resonance switching unit 126P and the end resonance switching unit 126P are in a short-circuited (connected) state.

[0054] like Figure 7 As shown, in step S110, the vehicle CR starts to apply for a reservation for use of the power transmission device 100. The reservation for use of the power transmission device 100 refers to applying to the power transmission device 100 or the manager of the power transmission device 100 for the power transmission device 100 to supply power to the power receiving device 200. The reservation for use of the power transmission device 100 may be made, for example, by the vehicle control unit 280 or manually by the user of the vehicle CR. The vehicle control unit 280, for example, applies for a reservation for use of the power transmission device 100 when it obtains information from the vehicle information acquisition unit 260 that the power transmission area SC1 is included in the planned travel route generated by the navigation device 264. Alternatively, regardless of whether there is a request for reservation for use from the vehicle CR, the power transmission device 100 may accept a reservation for use when it is detected that the vehicle CR is within a predetermined range from the power transmission device 100 based on the position information of the vehicle CR transmitted from the vehicle CR to the power transmission device 100 via the power receiving side wide area communication unit 290. For example, vehicle control unit 280 may determine that the SOC of battery 230 is low, and apply for a reservation for use of power transmission device 100 based on the charge state of battery 230 .

[0055] When the application for the reservation of the use of the power transmission device 100 is started, Fig.12 As shown, in step S120, the vehicle control unit 280 of the vehicle CR sends the location information of the vehicle CR and the ID information of the vehicle CR together with the application for using the reservation to the wide area communication unit 190 on the power transmitting side via the wide area communication unit 290 on the power receiving side. This information can also be sent periodically at specified intervals after the application is started. The location information of the vehicle CR sent through the wide area communication is the current location information of the vehicle CR acquired by the GNSS receiver 262 or the navigation device 264. However, it is not limited to this. The location information of the vehicle CR sent through the wide area communication is not limited to location information such as coordinates, but may also include: based on the establishment of wide area communication based on the communicable distance between the wide area communication unit 290 on the power receiving side and the wide area communication unit 190 on the power transmitting side, the vehicle CR is detected within the communicable distance of the wide area communication unit 190 on the power transmitting side.

[0056] In step S130, when the power transmission side wide area communication unit 190 of the power transmission device 100 obtains the current position information of the vehicle CR and the ID information of the vehicle CR, the power transmission circuit control unit 192 accepts the application for reservation for use of the power transmission device 100 made by the vehicle CR, and stores the obtained ID information of the vehicle CR in, for example, the memory of the end power transmission control unit 174.

[0057] In step S140, the power transmission circuit control unit 192 uses the acquired current position information of the vehicle CR to determine whether the vehicle CR has reached the range from the end coil 112P to the preparation distance DT1. When the distance from the end coil 112P to the vehicle CR is greater than the preparation distance DT1 (S140: No), the power transmission circuit control unit 192 continues to acquire the current position information of the vehicle CR and waits until the vehicle CR reaches the range from the end coil 112P to the preparation distance DT1. When the distance from the end coil 112P is shorter than the preparation distance DT1 (S140: Yes), the power transmission circuit control unit 192 transfers to step S150. Fig.13 As shown, the power transmission circuit 130 is driven, the power transmission device 100 is switched from the stop state to the standby state, and the process is terminated.

[0058] Back to Figure 6 In step S20, the power transmission device 100 in the standby state is transferred to the power-on state. More specifically, Figure 8 As shown, in step S22, the end coil is energized, and in step S24, the adjacent coil is energized. Fig. 9 As shown, in the end coil energization process, in step S220, the end power transmission control unit 174 uses the acquired current position information of the vehicle CR to determine whether the vehicle CR has reached the range from the end coil 112P to the energization start distance DT2. When the distance from the end coil 112P to the vehicle CR is greater than the energization start distance DT2 (S220: No), the end power transmission control unit 174 continues to acquire the current position information of the vehicle CR and waits until the vehicle CR reaches the range from the end coil 112P to the energization start distance DT2. When the distance from the end coil 112P is shorter than the energization start distance DT2 (S220: Yes), the end power transmission control unit 174 transfers to step S222.

[0059] In step S222, the vehicle control unit 280 starts requesting the power transmission device 100 to start power supply. The vehicle control unit 280 starts requesting the start of power supply when the current position of the vehicle CR reaches the range up to the power supply start distance DT2, and transmits the position information of the vehicle CR and the ID information of the vehicle CR by the narrow area communication of the power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270.

[0060] In step S224, the end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 acquires the position information of the vehicle CR and the ID information of the vehicle CR transmitted from the power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270. The end power transmission control unit 174 checks the ID information of the vehicle CR stored in the memory in the application for the use reservation of the power transmission device 100 with the ID information of the vehicle CR acquired via the power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270. When the ID information of the vehicle CR is consistent with each other, the end power transmission control unit 174 permits the application for starting power supply and moves to step S226.

[0061] like Fig.14 As shown, when the vehicle CR moves along the X-axis direction as the traveling direction, the vehicle CR first reaches the end coil unit 120P in the power transmission area SC1. The vehicle CR transmits the position information of the vehicle CR, that is, the information that the vehicle CR is close to the end coil unit 120P, to the power transmission device 100 via the power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270, and completes the power supply start application using the ID information.

[0062] In step S226, the end power transmission control unit 174 performs end power transmission control to shift the end resonance circuit 110P from the standby state to the energized state. Specifically, the end power transmission control unit 174 short-circuits (turns on) the end current switching unit 124P to switch on the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the end resonance circuit 110P, and opens (disconnects) the end resonance switching unit 126P to switch the end coils 112P and 114P to the resonance state. As a result, the input impedance Z1 of the end resonance circuit 110P becomes a small value, and a large current for power supply flows through the end coil 112P.

[0063] In step S228, the end power transmission control unit 174 obtains the end current value from the end current sensor 122P, and compares the end current value with the threshold value TH1. The threshold value TH1 is a threshold value for determining whether the power receiving coil 212 changes from the relative state to the end coil 112P to the non-relative state. The threshold value TH1 can be arbitrarily set using a value lower than the end current value flowing when power is supplied from the end coil 112P to the power receiving coil 212. When the end power transmission control unit 174 confirms that the end current value is less than the threshold value TH1, it moves to step S230.

[0064] In step S230, the end power transmission control unit 174 performs end power transmission stop control to shift the end resonance circuit 110P from the energized state to the standby state. Specifically, the end power transmission control unit 174 opens (disconnects) the end current switch 124P to disconnect the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the end resonance circuit 110P, and short-circuits (connects) the end resonance switch 126P to switch the end coil 112P and the end resonance capacitor 116P to a non-resonant state. As a result, the input impedance Z1 of the end resonance circuit 110P becomes a high impedance state of substantially infinite magnitude, and the end coil current of the end coil 112P hardly flows.

[0065] Here, for example, if the end resonance switching unit 126P is short-circuited before the end current switching unit 124P is opened, a short-circuit current may flow through the end coil unit 120P. In the present embodiment, the end power transmission control unit 174 first opens (disconnects) the end current switching unit 124P in the above-mentioned end power transmission stop control, and then short-circuits (turns on) the end resonance switching unit 126P. By configuring in this way, it is possible to suppress or prevent the end coil unit 120P from generating a short-circuit current. However, in a case where the short-circuit current is not a problem, the short-circuit of the end resonance switching unit 126P and the opening of the end current switching unit 124P may be performed simultaneously or in any order.

[0066] like Fig.15 As shown, the vehicle CR ends the power supply start application while traveling, and reaches the end coil 112P in a state where the power supply current is flowing. When the power receiving coil 212 approaches the end coil 112P and becomes opposed to it, the magnetic flux G2 generated by the end coil 112P induces the magnetic flux G1 of the power receiving coil 212 by resonance, thereby magnetically coupling. As a result, power is supplied from the power transmitting device 100 to the power receiving device 200.

[0067] like Fig.10As shown, in the adjacent coil energization process, in step S240, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 obtains the adjacent coil current value from the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184, and compares the adjacent coil current value with the first characteristic value CV1. The first characteristic value CV1 is a threshold value for determining whether the adjacent coil 112Q is in a state where it can be magnetically coupled with the power receiving coil 212. The first characteristic value CV1 is set using a value smaller than the second characteristic value CV2 described later, and can be set using, for example, a value smaller than the adjacent coil current value in the opposing state. Here, when the end coil 112P becomes opposed to the power receiving coil 212 and magnetically couples to start power supply, even before the opposing state is reached, the adjacent coil current starts to flow through the adjacent coil 112Q due to the magnetic flux generated by the power receiving coil 212. The first characteristic value CV1 is a threshold value for detecting that the adjacent coil 112Q starts to generate the adjacent coil current. In other words, it can be said that it is a threshold value for determining whether the power receiving coil 212 is close to the adjacent coil 112Q and is in a state where it can be opposed.

[0068] If the adjacent coil current value detected by the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 is greater than the first characteristic value CV1 (S240: Yes), the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 transfers to step S242, controls the adjacent current switching unit 124Q, and switches the adjacent coil 112Q to the energized state. More specifically, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 performs adjacent power transmission control to switch the adjacent current switching unit 124Q to short circuit (on) and switch the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q to open (off).

[0069] In step S244, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 compares the adjacent coil current value and the second characteristic value CV2. The second characteristic value CV2 is a threshold value for determining whether a large adjacent coil current value for power supply to the power receiving coil 212 flows through the adjacent coil 112Q, in other words, a threshold value for determining whether the adjacent coil 112Q is in a state of facing the power receiving coil 212. The second characteristic value CV2 can be set, for example, using an average value, a lower limit value, a lower specification limit, or the like of the current value flowing through the adjacent coil 112Q when power is supplied to the power receiving coil 212.

[0070] If the adjacent coil current value detected by the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 is greater than the second characteristic value CV2 (S244: Yes), the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 transfers to step S246. In step S246, when the adjacent coil current value is confirmed to be less than the threshold value TH2, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 transfers to step S250. The threshold value TH2 is a threshold value for detecting that the adjacent coil current no longer flows through the adjacent coil 112Q. In other words, it is a threshold value for determining whether the power receiving coil 212 is separated from the adjacent coil 112Q and changes from the relative state to the non-relative state. The threshold value TH2 can be set in the same manner as the above-mentioned threshold value TH1, for example.

[0071] In step S250, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 performs adjacent power transmission stop control in order to transfer the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q from the power-on state to the standby state. Specifically, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 opens (disconnects) the adjacent current switching unit 124Q, switches the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q to disconnect, and short-circuits (connects) the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q, switching the adjacent coil 112Q and the adjacent resonant capacitor 116Q to a non-resonant state. As a result, the input impedance Z1 of the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q becomes a high impedance state of approximately infinite value, and the coil current of the adjacent coil 112Q does not flow.

[0072] Here, for example, if the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q is first short-circuited (turned on), a short-circuit current may flow through the adjacent coil unit 120Q. In the present embodiment, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 first opens (disconnects) the adjacent current switching unit 124Q in the above-mentioned adjacent power transmission stop control, and then short-circuits (turns on) the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q. By configuring in this way, it is possible to suppress or prevent the adjacent coil unit 120Q from generating a short-circuit current. However, in a case where the short-circuit current is not a problem, the short-circuit of the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q and the opening of the adjacent current switching unit 124Q may be performed in any order.

[0073] In step S244, when the adjacent coil current value is less than the second characteristic value CV2 (S244: No), the process proceeds to step S248, where the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 confirms whether a specified time has passed since the time when the adjacent power transmission control is executed. In addition, "the time when the adjacent power transmission control is executed" includes the time when the adjacent coil current value is confirmed to be greater than the first characteristic value CV1 in step S240. If the specified time has not passed (S248: No), the process returns to step S244. In addition, the processes of step S244 and step S248 can also be applied to the end coil energization process. Specifically, for example, Fig. 9 The processing of step S244 and step S248 is applied between step S226 and step S228 shown.

[0074] When the adjacent coil current value is not greater than the second characteristic value CV2 and a predetermined time has passed (S248: Yes), the process proceeds to step S250, and the adjacent power transmission stop control is performed as described later. With such a configuration, the power receiving coil 212 passes over the end coil 112P and switches the adjacent coil 112Q to the energized state. However, if the adjacent coil 112Q is not in the relative state due to a lane change or a stop of the vehicle CR passing over the end coil 112P, for example, the adjacent coil 112Q is switched to the standby state, and unnecessary energization of the adjacent coil 112Q can be suppressed or prevented.

[0075] like Fig.16 As shown, when the vehicle CR changes from Fig.15 When the power receiving coil 212 and the end coil 112P shown in the figure continue to move forward in the relative state, a current flows through the adjacent coil 112Q by the magnetic flux G3 generated in the power receiving coil 212. The adjacent power transmission control unit 182 detects that the adjacent coil current of the adjacent coil 112Q detected by the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 becomes equal to or greater than the first characteristic value CV1, and performs adjacent power transmission control of the adjacent resonance circuit 110Q. As a result, the input impedance Z1 of the adjacent resonance circuit 110Q becomes a small value, and a large current for power supply flows through the adjacent coil 112Q. When the vehicle CR moves and the power receiving coil 212 and the adjacent coil 112Q further become in the relative state, power supply based on the magnetic coupling between the adjacent coil 112Q and the power receiving coil 212 is started. By starting power supply, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 detects that the adjacent coil current of the adjacent coil 112Q is equal to or greater than the second characteristic value CV2. As described above, in the power transmittable area SC1 , after power supply to the end coil 112P starts, the adjacent coil 112Q adjacent to the end coil 112P and the adjacent coil 112Q continuous therewith can start power supply without using narrow area communication.

[0076] Back to Figure 6 In step S30, the power transmission device 100 in the energized state is transferred to the stopped state, and the process ends. Fig.11 As shown, in step S310, the power transmission circuit control unit 192 confirms that the power supply to the power transmission capable area SC1 has ended, that is, the power transmission device 100 is in a state of switching from the power-on state to the standby state. Fig.17 In the example of , the power transmission circuit control unit 192 confirms that the power supply of all the power transmission resonance circuits included in the power transmission area SC1 has been completed. More specifically, the power transmission circuit control unit 192 confirms that the power supply of the power transmission area SC1 has been completed by confirming that the end coil current value of the end coil 112P is less than the threshold value TH1 and the adjacent coil current value of all the adjacent coils 112Q is less than the threshold value TH2.

[0077] When the power receiving device 200 moves away from the power transmitting device 100 to a position farther than the communication distance between the end power transmission control device 170 and the power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270 due to the travel of the vehicle CR, the end power transmission control device 170 cannot receive the power transmission request signal from the vehicle CR. Therefore, instead of or in addition to the method of using the current flowing through the coil unit, it is also possible to detect that the end power transmission control device 170 cannot receive the power transmission request signal, or to determine that the power supply is terminated based on the passage of a predetermined time when the vehicle CR can pass through the power transmission area SC1. According to the power transmitting device 100 configured in this way, the end current sensor 122P and the adjacent current sensor 122Q can be omitted, and the increase in the number of components can be suppressed.

[0078] In step S320, the power transmission circuit control unit 192 starts timing from the time when the power transmission device 100 is switched to the standby state, and waits until the predetermined standby time has passed. By waiting in the standby state before transitioning to the stop state, the transition period to the energized state when the next vehicle enters the power transmission area SC1 can be shortened. When the standby time has passed, in step S330, the power transmission circuit control unit 192 stops driving the power transmission circuit 130, switches the power transmission device 100 to the stop state, and ends the process. In addition, the wide area communication interruption between the power receiving side wide area communication unit 290 and the power transmitting side wide area communication unit 190 can be detected and the process can be ended.

[0079] As described above, the power transmission device 100 according to the present embodiment includes: the end coil unit 120P; the adjacent coil unit 120Q adjacent to the end coil unit 120P; the end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 that receives the end power transmission request signal for starting power transmission of the end coil unit 120P; the end power transmission control unit 174 that controls the on / off of the power supply from the power supply to the end resonant circuit 110P by the end current switching unit 124P using the end power transmission request signal; and the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 that controls the on / off of the power supply from the power supply to the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q by the adjacent current switching unit 124Q. The end coil unit 120P includes: the end resonant circuit 110P including the end coil 112P and the end resonant capacitor 116P; and the end current switching unit 124P for switching on / off the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the end resonant circuit 110P. The adjacent coil unit 120Q includes an adjacent resonant circuit 110Q having an adjacent coil 112Q and an adjacent resonant capacitor 116Q, and an adjacent current switch 124Q for switching on and off the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q. The end power transmission control unit 174 can switch on and off the power supply to the end resonant circuit 110P by receiving the end power transmission request signal from the power receiving device 200. Therefore, compared with the case where the power supply is switched on and off using the electrical characteristic value of the end coil 112P such as the current value or the magnetic flux, the end coil unit 120P and even the power transmission device 100 can be reliably switched to a state where power can be supplied. Therefore, it is possible to suppress or prevent a problem that the power supply from the power transmission device 100 to the power receiving device 200 does not start when the power receiving coil 212 changes from a non-relative state to a relative state with respect to the end coil 112P. According to the power transmission device 100 of this embodiment, the end coil unit 120P includes the end current switching unit 124P, which can suppress or prevent the end coil unit 120P from flowing an unnecessary standby current. In addition, the adjacent coil unit 120Q includes the adjacent current switching unit 124Q, which can suppress the flow of an unnecessary standby current when the adjacent coil 112Q is in a non-opposite state.

[0080] According to the power transmission device 100 of the present embodiment, the end coil unit 120P includes an end resonance switching unit 126P, which switches the resonant state and non-resonant state of the end coil 112P and the end resonance capacitor 116P by changing the impedance of the end coil 112P and the end resonance capacitor 116P. The end power transmission control unit 174 also controls the switching of the resonant state and non-resonant state of the end coil 112P and the end resonance capacitor 116P by the end resonance switching unit 126P using the end power transmission request signal. Since the resonant state and non-resonant state of the end resonance circuit 110P as a parallel resonance circuit can be switched by the end resonance switching unit 126P, compared with the case where the end coil unit 120P is a series resonance circuit, the standby current in the state where the end coil 112P does not contribute to power transmission, such as the non-opposite state, can be reduced, and the power loss can be reduced.

[0081] According to the power transmission device 100 of the present embodiment, when the end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 receives the end power transmission request signal, the end power transmission control unit 174 controls the end current switching unit 124P to supply power from the power supply to the end resonance circuit 110P, and controls the end resonance switching unit 126P to perform end power transmission control to put the end coil 112P and the end resonance capacitor 116P into a resonance state. By using the simple control of the end current switching unit 124P and the end resonance switching unit 126P, it is possible to switch between the standby state and the power-on state.

[0082] According to the power transmission device 100 of the present embodiment, the end coil unit 120P further includes an end current sensor 122P for detecting the end current value of the power supplied from the power supply to the end resonant circuit 110P. When the end current value is less than a predetermined threshold value TH1, the end power transmission control unit 174 controls the end current switching unit 124P to stop the power supply from the power supply to the end resonant circuit 110P, and controls the end resonance switching unit 126P to perform the end power transmission stop control to make the end coil 112P and the end resonant capacitor 116P in a non-resonant state. The standby state and the energized state can be switched by the detection value of the current sensor and simple control using the end current switching unit 124P and the end resonance switching unit 126P.

[0083] According to the power transmission device 100 of the present embodiment, the end power transmission control unit 174 controls the end current switching unit 124P to stop the power supply from the power supply to the end resonant circuit 110P, and then controls the end resonance switching unit 126P to make the end coil 112P and the end resonant capacitor 116P in a non-resonant state. Therefore, it is possible to suppress or prevent the generation of a short-circuit current in the end coil unit 120P.

[0084] According to the power transmission device 100 of the present embodiment, the adjacent coil unit 120Q includes an adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q controlled by the adjacent power transmission control unit 182. The adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q switches the resonant state and the non-resonant state of the adjacent coil 112Q and the adjacent resonance capacitor 116Q by changing the impedance of the adjacent coil 112Q and the adjacent resonance capacitor 116Q. Since the resonant state and the non-resonant state of the adjacent resonance circuit 110Q as a parallel resonance circuit can be switched by the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q, compared with the case where the adjacent coil unit 120Q is a series resonance circuit, the standby current in the state where the adjacent coil 112Q does not contribute to power transmission, such as the non-relative state, can be reduced, and the power loss can be reduced.

[0085] The power transmission device 100 of this embodiment further includes an adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 that detects an electrical characteristic value of the adjacent coil 112Q, which is any one of a voltage applied to the adjacent coil 112Q, a current flowing through the adjacent coil 112Q, and a magnetic field generated in the adjacent coil 112Q. When the electrical characteristic value is equal to or greater than a predetermined first characteristic value CV1, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 performs adjacent power transmission control: controls the adjacent current switching unit 124Q to supply power from the power supply to the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q, and controls the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q to bring the adjacent coil 112Q and the adjacent resonant capacitor 116Q into a resonant state. By using the electrical characteristic value of the adjacent coil 112Q, the relative state of the adjacent coil 112Q and the power receiving coil 212 can be determined by a simple method without performing communication with the power receiving device 200.

[0086] According to the power transmission device 100 of the present embodiment, the adjacent coil unit 120Q further includes an adjacent current sensor 122Q, which is used to detect the adjacent current value of the power supplied from the power supply to the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q. When the adjacent current value becomes less than the predetermined threshold value TH2, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 performs the adjacent power transmission stop control: the adjacent current switching unit 124Q is controlled to stop the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q, and the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q is controlled to make the adjacent coil 112Q and the adjacent resonant capacitor 116Q into a non-resonant state. The standby state and the power-on state can be switched by the detection value of the current sensor and the simple control using the adjacent current switching unit 124Q and the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q.

[0087] According to the power transmission device 100 of the present embodiment, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 controls the adjacent current switching unit 124Q to stop the power supply from the power transmission circuit 130 to the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q, and then controls the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q to make the adjacent coil 112Q and the adjacent resonant capacitor 116Q in a non-resonant state. Therefore, it is possible to suppress or prevent the generation of a short-circuit current in the adjacent coil unit 120Q.

[0088] According to the power transmission device 100 of the present embodiment, after executing the adjacent power transmission control, when the electrical characteristic value is greater than a predetermined second characteristic value CV2 higher than the first characteristic value CV1, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 executes the adjacent power transmission stop control. After executing the adjacent power transmission control, when the electrical characteristic value is less than the second characteristic value CV2, the adjacent power transmission stop control is executed at a time point after a predetermined period of time has passed since the time point when the adjacent power transmission control was executed. According to the power transmission device 100 of this mode, although the adjacent coil 112Q is switched to a state where electricity can be supplied, when the adjacent coil 112Q is not in a relative state, etc., it is possible to suppress or prevent unnecessary electricity from being supplied to the adjacent coil 112Q.

[0089] According to the power transmission device 100 of the present embodiment, the end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 receives a narrow area communication signal with a communication distance of 5 meters or less as an end power transmission request signal. Therefore, by using the communication distance of the narrow area communication to narrow the detection range of the vehicle as the power transmission target, the recognition of one vehicle among the multiple vehicles that can use the power transmission device 100 can be improved. In addition, the on and off of power transmission can be controlled at a short distance, the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of the power transmission device 100 can be improved, and unnecessary power consumption and unnecessary magnetic flux generation in a non-opposite state with the power receiving device 200 can be suppressed.

[0090] The power transmission device 100 of the present embodiment further includes: a power transmission circuit 130 for supplying AC power to the end coil unit 120P and the adjacent coil unit 120Q; a power transmission circuit control unit 192 that can drive the power transmission circuit 130; and a power transmission side wide area communication unit 190 for receiving a wide area communication signal having a communication distance longer than 5 meters. The power transmission circuit control unit 192 drives the power transmission circuit 130 when the power transmission side wide area communication unit 190 receives the wide area communication signal. Therefore, the power transmission device 100 can be set to a standby state in advance before power supply starts, and the time until switching to a power-on state when the power receiving device 200 approaches can be shortened.

[0091] B. Second Implementation Method: like Fig.18As shown, the power transmission device 100b of the second embodiment is different from the power transmission device 100 of the first embodiment in that it includes an end coil unit 120Pb instead of the end coil unit 120P and includes an adjacent coil unit 120Qb instead of the adjacent coil unit 120Q. The other structures are the same. In this embodiment, the end coil unit 120Pb and the adjacent coil unit 120Qb are configured to communicate with each other. In addition, Fig.18 Although the power receiving device 200 is not shown in the figure, the power receiving coil 212 and the end coil 112P are facing each other.

[0092] The end coil unit 120Pb is different from the end coil unit 120P in that it includes an end power transmission control device 170b instead of the end power transmission control device 170, and the other structures are the same. The adjacent coil unit 120Qb is different from the adjacent coil unit 120Q in that it includes an adjacent power transmission control device 180b instead of the adjacent power transmission control device 180, and the other structures are the same.

[0093] The adjacent power transmission control device 180b includes an adjacent communication unit 186 instead of the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184. The end power transmission control device 170b also includes an end communication unit 176. The end communication unit 176 and the adjacent communication unit 186 are connected to each other by wire, and are configured to be able to communicate in both directions. In addition, the end communication unit 176 and the adjacent communication unit 186 can also be connected to each other wirelessly. The end power transmission control device 170b only needs to be able to switch the end current switching unit 124P and the end resonance switching unit 126P of the end resonance circuit 110P, and may not be included in the end coil unit 120Pb. Similarly, the adjacent power transmission control device 180b only needs to be able to switch the adjacent current switching unit 124Q and the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q of the adjacent resonance circuit 110Q, and may not be included in the adjacent coil unit 120Qb. In addition, the adjacent power transmission control device 180b may also include the adjacent communication unit 186 and the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 such as a current sensor.

[0094] In the present embodiment, the end communication unit 176 functions as an adjacent power transmission signal sending unit that sends an adjacent power transmission request signal for starting power transmission of the adjacent coil unit 120Q, and the adjacent communication unit 186 functions as an adjacent power transmission signal receiving unit that receives the adjacent power transmission request signal. In addition, in the present embodiment, the adjacent communication unit 186, under the control of the adjacent power transmission control unit 182, can further send an adjacent power transmission supply signal for starting power transmission of other adjacent coil units 120Q. Under the control of the end power transmission control unit 174, the end communication unit 176 sends the adjacent power transmission request signal to the adjacent power transmission signal receiving unit when the end coil unit 120P starts to transmit power to the power receiving device 200. When the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 receives the adjacent power transmission request signal, it executes the adjacent power transmission control. In addition, the adjacent power transmission request signal can also be sent from a structure other than the end communication unit 176, such as the power transmission circuit control unit 192.

[0095] like Fig.19 As shown, in the end coil energization process of this embodiment, step S227b is further executed after step S226, which is different from the end coil energization process of the first embodiment, and the structure is the same as that of the end coil energization process. After the end power transmission control unit 174 performs the end power transmission control to transfer the end resonance circuit 110P from the standby state to the energized state in step S226, it transfers to step S227b and controls the end communication unit 176 to send the adjacent power transmission request signal to the adjacent communication unit 186.

[0096] like Fig. 20 As shown, in the adjacent coil energization process of this embodiment, step S240b is included instead of step S240, and step S245b is further performed after step S244, which is different from the adjacent coil energization process of the first embodiment, and the structure is the same as that of the adjacent coil energization process. In step S240b, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 waits until receiving the adjacent power transmission request signal. When the adjacent communication unit 186 receives the adjacent power transmission request signal (S240b: Yes), the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 transfers to step S242 and performs the adjacent power transmission control.

[0097] In step S244, if the adjacent coil current value detected by the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 is greater than the second characteristic value CV2 (S244: Yes), the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 transfers to step S245b. In step S245b, the adjacent communication unit 186, under the control of the adjacent power transmission control unit 182, further transmits an adjacent power transmission supply signal for starting power transmission of other adjacent coil units 120Q. In the present embodiment, the adjacent communication unit 186 transmits the adjacent power transmission supply signal to the adjacent coil unit 120Q adjacent to the adjacent coil unit 120Q for which the adjacent power transmission control is executed by this process. Thus, the other adjacent coil units 120Q can also be switched to a state in which power can be transmitted. "The adjacent coil unit 120Q adjacent to the adjacent coil unit 120Q" refers to the adjacent coil unit 120Q that can be in a relative state with the power receiving coil 212 next according to the direction of travel of the vehicle CR. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and the adjacent power transmission supply signal may be transmitted from the adjacent coil unit 120Q that has executed the adjacent power transmission control to all adjacent coil units 120Q.

[0098] The power transmission device 100b of the present embodiment also includes an adjacent communication unit 186 as an adjacent power transmission signal receiving unit that receives an adjacent power transmission request signal for starting power transmission of the adjacent coil unit 120Q. When the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 receives the adjacent power transmission request signal, it controls the adjacent current switching unit 124Q to perform adjacent power transmission control. Therefore, compared with a power transmission device that uses an electrical characteristic value of the end coil 112P such as a current value or a magnetic flux to switch the on and off of the power supply, the adjacent coil unit 120Q can be reliably switched to a state where power can be supplied. In addition, the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 can be omitted, and the number of components of the adjacent coil unit 120Q can be reduced.

[0099] The power transmission device 100b of this embodiment further includes an end communication unit 176 as an adjacent power transmission signal transmitting unit that transmits an adjacent power transmission request signal. The end communication unit 176 transmits the adjacent power transmission request signal to the adjacent power transmission signal receiving unit when the power transmission of the end coil unit 120P starts. The adjacent coil unit 120Q can be switched to a state where power can be supplied at an appropriate time when power transmission of the adjacent coil unit 120Q is required, and unnecessary power supply that does not contribute to power transmission can be suppressed or prevented.

[0100] C. Third Implementation Method: A power transmission device according to a third embodiment Fig.18The configuration of the power transmission device 100b of the second embodiment shown is the same. In this embodiment, the adjacent communication unit 186 functions as an end stop signal transmission unit that transmits an end power transmission stop signal for stopping the end coil unit 120Pb from transmitting power to the power receiving device 200, and the end communication unit 176 functions as an end stop signal receiving unit that receives the end power transmission stop signal sent from the adjacent communication unit 186.

[0101] In this embodiment, if Fig.21 As shown, in the end coil energization process, the present invention is different from the second embodiment in that step S228c is included instead of step S227b and step S228. Fig. 22 As shown, in the adjacent coil energization process, the second embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that step S240 which is the same as the first embodiment is included instead of step S240b, and step S245c is included instead of step S245b.

[0102] exist Fig.21 In step S226 shown in FIG. 1 , when power transmission to the end coil unit 120P starts, Fig. 22 In step S240 shown, if the adjacent coil current value detected by the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 is greater than the first characteristic value CV1 (S240: Yes), the process proceeds to step S242. The adjacent power transmission control unit 182 switches the adjacent coil 112Q to a state where power can be supplied through the control of the adjacent current switching unit 124Q. If the adjacent coil current value is greater than the second characteristic value CV2 (S244: Yes), the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 proceeds to step S245c and sends an end power transmission stop signal to the end communication unit 176 via the adjacent communication unit 186.

[0103] like Fig.21 As shown, in step S228c, the end power transmission control unit 174 obtains the end power transmission stop signal from the adjacent communication unit 186 via the end communication unit 176. In step S230, the end power transmission control unit 174 that has obtained the end power transmission stop signal performs the end power transmission stop control to shift the end resonance circuit 110P from the energized state to the standby state.

[0104] According to the power transmission device of the present embodiment, the adjacent communication unit 186 functions as an end stop signal transmission unit that transmits an end power transmission stop signal for stopping the power transmission of the end coil unit 120P, and the end communication unit 176 functions as an end stop signal receiving unit for receiving the end power transmission stop signal. When the power transmission of the adjacent coil unit 120Q starts, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 controls the adjacent communication unit 186 to transmit the end power transmission stop signal, and when the end power transmission control unit 174 receives the end power transmission stop signal, it controls the end current switching unit 124P to perform the end power transmission stop control. Therefore, compared with the case of using electrical characteristic values, etc., the power transmission of the end coil unit 120P can be stopped reliably. In addition, the power transmission of the end coil unit 120P can be stopped at the moment when the power supply of the end coil unit 120P ends, and unnecessary power supply that does not help power transmission can be suppressed or prevented.

[0105] D. Fourth Implementation Method: like Fig.23 As shown, the power transmission device 100d of the fourth embodiment is different from the power transmission device 100 of the first embodiment in that it includes an end coil unit 120Pd instead of the end coil unit 120P and includes an adjacent coil unit 120Qd instead of the adjacent coil unit 120Q, and the other structures are the same. The end coil unit 120Pd includes an end resonant circuit 110Pd instead of the end resonant circuit 110P, and the adjacent coil unit 120Qd includes an adjacent resonant circuit 110Qd instead of the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q.

[0106] In the first embodiment, an example of applying the primary parallel and secondary series method to the end resonant circuit 110P and the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q is shown. Fig.23 As shown, the primary series-parallel and secondary series method (also called "PSS method") is adopted for the end resonant circuit 110Pd and the adjacent resonant circuit 110Qd. The structure of the adjacent resonant circuit 110Qd is different from the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q in the first embodiment in that it is also the PSS method like the end resonant circuit 110Pd. The other structures are the same as the adjacent resonant circuit 110Q, so the description is omitted. The end coil unit 120Pd is used as an example for description below.

[0107] The end coil unit 120Pd includes an end coil 112P and an end resonant capacitor 116P in the same manner as the end coil unit 120P in the first embodiment, and also includes an end series capacitor disposed between the end coil 112P and the end resonant capacitor 116P. In the present embodiment, two end series capacitors 116PA, namely an end series capacitor 116PA and an end series capacitor 116PB, are respectively connected in series to both ends of the end coil 112P. In addition, only one of the end series capacitor 116PA and the end series capacitor 116PB may be included, or any number of three or more end series capacitors may be included. The end resonant capacitor 116P, the end series capacitor 116PA, and the end series capacitor 116PB are set so that the combined value is a value that resonates with the end coil 112P, and function as a resonant capacitor for resonating the power supplied to the end coil 112P. In addition, the adjacent coil unit 120Qd includes the adjacent coil 112Q and the adjacent resonant capacitor 116Q similarly to the adjacent coil unit 120Q in the first embodiment, and further includes an adjacent series capacitor disposed between the adjacent coil 112Q and the adjacent resonant capacitor 116Q. Fig.23 In the example, the adjacent series capacitors include an adjacent series capacitor 116QA and an adjacent series capacitor 116QB having the same structure as the end series capacitor 116PA and the end series capacitor 116PB described above.

[0108] like Fig.24 As shown, in this embodiment, the end coil unit 120Pd and Figure 4 The end coil unit 120P2 shown similarly includes: an end resonance switching unit 126P; and an end current switching unit 124P2 configured to divide the bidirectional switch into a positive side and a negative side. In the present embodiment, the end resonance switching unit 126P is provided between the end resonance capacitor 116P and the end series capacitors 116PA and 116PB, and is connected in parallel with the end coil 112P. When the end resonance switching unit 126P is open (disconnected), the end resonance circuit 110Pd becomes a resonance state, and when the end resonance switching unit 126P is short-circuited (connected), the end resonance circuit 110Pd becomes a non-resonance state. However, it is not limited to this, and in other embodiments, it may also be as follows Fig.25As shown in the end resonant circuit 110Pd2 included in the end coil unit 120Pd2, when the end resonant circuit 110Pd2 is a bidirectional switch using two semiconductor elements, an end resonant switching unit 126Pd2 is used between the end resonant capacitor 116P and the end coil 112P, in which one switch is configured on the positive side and the other switch is configured on the negative side. Even with such a configuration, the resonant state and non-resonant state of the end resonant circuit 110Pd2 can be switched, and the common mode noise generated by the end resonant circuit 110Pd2 can be suppressed or prevented. In addition, in this case, when the end resonant switching unit 126Pd2 is open (disconnected), the end resonant circuit 110Pd2 is in a resonant state, and when the end resonant switching unit 126Pd2 is short-circuited (connected), the end resonant circuit 110Pd2 is in a non-resonant state.

[0109] exist Fig.24 In the embodiment, the end resonance switching unit 126P is provided between the end resonance capacitor 116P and the end series capacitor 116PA. Fig.26 As shown in the end resonant circuit 110Pd3 included in the end coil unit 120Pd3, the end resonant switching part 126Pd3 is connected in parallel with the end coil 112P and is provided between the end series capacitors 116PA and 116PB and the end coil 112P. Even with such a configuration, the resonant state and the non-resonant state of the end resonant circuit 110Pd3 can be switched by short-circuiting and opening the end resonant switching part 126Pd3. In addition, when the end resonant switching part 126Pd3 is opened (disconnected), the end resonant circuit 110Pd3 becomes a resonant state, and when the end resonant switching part 126Pd3 is short-circuited (connected), the end resonant circuit 110Pd3 becomes a non-resonant state.

[0110] In addition, in other embodiments, Fig. 27 As shown in FIG. 1 , the end resonance switching unit is connected in parallel with the end series capacitor, as in the end resonance circuit 110Pd4 included in the end coil unit 120Pd4. In addition, the end resonance switching unit may also be provided in each end series capacitor. Fig. 27As shown, the end resonance switching unit 126Pd4 includes: an end resonance switching unit 126Pd41 connected in parallel with the end series capacitor 116PA; and an end resonance switching unit 126Pd42 connected in parallel with the end series capacitor 116PB. In addition, in the case of including a plurality of end series capacitors, the end resonance switching unit 126Pd4 does not have to be connected to all the end series capacitors, and the end resonance switching unit 126Pd4 can be connected to any number of the end series capacitors among the plurality of end series capacitors. Even with such a configuration, the resonant state and the non-resonant state of the end resonance circuit 110Pd4 can be switched by short-circuiting and opening the end resonance switching unit 126Pd4. In addition, when the end resonance switching unit 126Pd4 is opened (disconnected), the end resonance circuit 110Pd2 becomes a resonance state, and when the end resonance switching unit 126Pd2 is short-circuited (connected), the end resonance circuit 110Pd2 becomes a non-resonant state.

[0111] In addition, in other embodiments, Fig.28 As shown in FIG. 1 , the end resonance switching unit 126Pd5 is connected in series with the end resonance capacitor 116P between the end resonance capacitor 116P and the end coil 112P, as in the end resonance circuit 110Pd5 included in the end coil unit 120Pd5. Even with such a configuration, the resonant state and the non-resonant state of the end resonance circuit 110Pd5 can be switched. In addition, when the end resonance switching unit 126Pd5 is open (disconnected), the end resonance circuit 110Pd5 becomes a non-resonant state, and when the end resonance switching unit 126Pd2 is short-circuited (connected), the end resonance circuit 110Pd2 becomes a resonant state.

[0112] E. Other implementation methods: (E1) In the above embodiment, the example in which the plurality of end coils 112P are arranged in contact with each other is used for explanation. In contrast, the plurality of end coils 112P do not necessarily need to contact each other, and the plurality of end coils 112P may be separated from each other. However, in order to smoothly supply power from the plurality of end coils 112P to the power receiving coil 212 during the travel of the vehicle CR, it is preferred that the end coils 112P contact each other, and when separated, it is preferred that the separation distance is, for example, less than half the width of the end coil 112P (if the end coil 112P is circular, it is the radius thereof).

[0113] (E2) In the third embodiment described above, an example is shown in which the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 controls the end stop signal sending unit to send the end power transmission stop signal to the end coil unit 120Pb when the power transmission of the adjacent coil unit 120Qb starts. In contrast, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 may send the end power transmission stop signal at any time, such as when an abnormality of the power transmission device is detected, regardless of whether the power transmission of the adjacent coil unit 120Qb starts. In addition, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 may also replace the end power transmission stop signal or send an adjacent power transmission stop signal for stopping the power transmission of other adjacent coil units 120Qb together with the end power transmission stop signal. The end power transmission control unit 174 that has obtained the end power transmission stop signal may switch the power transmission device 100 to a stopped state by stopping the power transmission circuit 130 in addition to the end power transmission stop control. In addition, the end power transmission control unit 174 that has obtained the end power transmission stop signal may stop the power transmission circuit 130 instead of the end power transmission stop control. “The end power transmission control unit 174 stops the power transmission circuit 130” includes: the end power transmission control unit 174 that has received the end power transmission stop signal sends a control signal to the power transmission circuit control unit 192, so that the power transmission circuit control unit 192 stops the power transmission circuit 130. In addition, the end power transmission control unit 174 that has received the end power transmission stop signal may also perform adjacent power transmission control while performing the end power transmission stop control, or instead of the end power transmission stop control. In this case, the end power transmission control unit 174 may send an adjacent power transmission stop signal from the end communication unit 176 to make the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 perform the adjacent power transmission stop control, or the end power transmission control unit 174 may directly switch the adjacent current switching unit 124Q and the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q to perform the adjacent power transmission stop control.

[0114] (E3) In the above-mentioned embodiments, an example in which the end current switching unit 124P is a semiconductor element is shown. In contrast, the end current switching unit 124P can be applied to various components that can switch the resonant state and non-resonant state of the end coil 112P and the end resonant capacitor 116P by changing the impedance of the end coil 112P and the end resonant capacitor 116P. The end current switching unit 124P can also use a variable capacitor instead of a semiconductor element. The same is true for the adjacent current switching unit 124Q.

[0115] (E4) Fig.29As shown, an end resonance circuit 110Pe including a relay resonance circuit 310P can also be used. The relay resonance circuit 310P is composed of a closed circuit in which a relay coil 312P and a relay capacitor 316P as a resonance capacitor are connected in parallel. In this case, the end resonance switching unit 126P is provided in the relay resonance circuit 310P. In the relay resonance circuit 310P, the capacitance of the relay capacitor 316P is set to the capacitance of the relay capacitor 316P resonating with the relay coil 312P.

[0116] When power is supplied from the power transmitting device 100 to the power receiving device 200, the power receiving resonant circuit 210 is configured so that the power receiving coil 212 is magnetically coupled to the end coil 112P. In addition, the relay resonant circuit 310P is configured so that the relay coil 312P is magnetically coupled to the end coil 112P and the power receiving coil 212, respectively. Therefore, in the equivalent circuit, when viewed from the power supply, the end resonant circuit 110P and the relay resonant circuit 310P function in a parallel resonant manner. Therefore, the relay coil 312P and the relay capacitor 316P can also be said to be included in the end resonant circuit due to their functions and effects. In addition, in Fig.29 In FIG. 1 , two parallel straight lines indicate that the coils are magnetically coupled to each other. The power transmission device 100 configured in this way can also obtain the same effects as those of the power transmission device 100 of the first embodiment.

[0117] (E5) In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, an example is shown in which the vehicle CR includes one power receiving resonance circuit 210. In contrast, the vehicle CR may include two or more power receiving resonance circuits 210. In this case, it is preferable that the power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270 is provided near the power receiving coil 212F located at the front end in the traveling direction of the vehicle CR. By arranging the power receiving side narrow area communication unit 270 at the front end of the vehicle CR, it is possible to perform narrow area communication with the power transmission device 100 in advance while the vehicle CR is traveling. Therefore, it is possible to suppress or prevent a delay in the energization of the end coil 112P of the power transmission device 100 due to, for example, a delay in narrow area communication.

[0118] (E6) In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 is a current sensor 322 for measuring the current value flowing through the adjacent coil 112Q. In contrast, since the coil voltage applied to the end coil 112P also changes in the same way as the coil current, the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 may also be a voltage sensor for detecting the voltage applied to the adjacent coil 112Q. In addition, the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 may also be a magnetic sensor or a magnetic flux detection element such as a coil that detects a magnetic field (magnetic flux) near the end coil 112P. In addition, when the power transmission device 100 does not include the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q, the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 may be a voltage sensor for detecting a voltage change of the adjacent resonance capacitor 116Q. If the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q is not included and a current flows through the adjacent resonance capacitor 116Q, a voltage corresponding to the current (charged charge) is generated in the adjacent resonance capacitor 116Q. In this case, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 can use the voltage generated by the adjacent coil 112Q to determine whether the adjacent coil 112Q is in a state capable of magnetically coupling with the power receiving coil 212, and can control the on and off of the adjacent current switch 124Q and the adjacent resonance switch 126Q.

[0119] (E7) In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the end coil unit 120P and a plurality of adjacent coil units 120Q are continuously laid out in a straight line along the travel direction (X-axis direction) of the vehicle CR in the vehicle travel path RS, thereby forming an example of a power transmission area SC1 arranged in a roughly straight line. In contrast, the end coil unit 120P and a plurality of adjacent coil units 120Q are not limited to a straight line. For example, in addition to a straight line along the travel direction of the vehicle CR, they can also be laid out continuously in the vehicle travel path RS along a direction intersecting the travel direction of the vehicle CR, that is, the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the vehicle CR. By configuring in this way, a power transmission area SC1 arranged in a roughly planar shape can be formed. In addition, the coil units included in the power transmission area SC1 are not limited to four, and any number of two or more can be set.

[0120] When the end coil unit 120P and a plurality of adjacent coil units 120Q are further laid out along the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the vehicle CR to form a substantially planar power transmission area SC1, the "coil unit located at the end of the power transmission area SC1" refers to a coil unit located at the peripheral portion of the rectangular planar power transmission area SC1. In this case, by providing the end power transmission control device 170 on the end coil 112P located at the peripheral portion of the planar power transmission area SC1, even when there are multiple directions in which the vehicle CR can enter the power transmission area SC1, such as when the vehicle CR changes lanes or switches the direction of travel or at an intersection, the end coil 112P included in the power transmission area SC1 can be reliably switched to a state in which power can be supplied when the power receiving device 200 enters the power transmission area SC1.

[0121] (E8) In the above-mentioned embodiments, the case where electric power is transmitted from the end coil 112 to the power receiving coil 212 is described as an example. However, in a case where the power transmitting device 100 and the power receiving device 200 include other resonant coils that can be used when power is supplied from the power transmitting device 100 to the power receiving device 200, such as a relay coil, a structure such as the end power transmission control unit 174 or the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 can be applied as a switching unit that switches the resonant state of the other resonant coils.

[0122] (E9) In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, an example is shown in which a power transmission area SC2 having the same structure as the power transmission area SC1 is provided at a position at a predetermined distance from the power transmission area SC1. Here, in a case where the power transmission device 100 includes a plurality of power transmission areas SC1 and SC2, a power transmission request signal receiving unit included in one of the plurality of power transmission areas SC1 and SC2 and a power transmission request signal receiving unit included in another power transmission area SC2 adjacent to the one power transmission area SC1 may be separated from each other. The separation distance is preferably set to a distance greater than the communication distance of the narrow-area communication, for example. “Another power transmission area adjacent to the one power transmission area” is not limited to a power transmission area along Figure 1 In the case where the traveling directions of the vehicles CR are adjacent, the power transmission area included in another adjacent lane may be included when the vehicle travel path RS has multiple lanes with the same traveling direction, and the power transmission area in the adjacent opposite lane may be included. According to the power transmission device 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to suppress or prevent the undesirable situation that interference occurs in narrow-area communication between multiple power transmission areas SC1 and SC2.

[0123] (E10) In the first embodiment described above, an example is shown in which the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 performs the adjacent power transmission control in step S242, and when the adjacent coil current value is less than the second characteristic value CV2, the adjacent power transmission stop control is performed at a time point when a predetermined period has passed since the time point when the adjacent power transmission control was performed. In contrast, the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 may perform the adjacent power transmission stop control at a time point when a predetermined period has passed since the time point when the adjacent power transmission control was performed after the adjacent power transmission control was performed in step S242. In this case, the predetermined period may be set using, for example, an estimated value of the time for the vehicle CR to pass through the power transmission capable area SC1 at a normal vehicle speed, or the time for power supply to be performed after the adjacent power transmission control is started for the moving power receiving device 200. According to the power transmission device 100 of this embodiment, the adjacent power transmission stop control can be performed without confirming the adjacent coil current value. Therefore, the adjacent coil characteristic detection unit 184 can be omitted, or the processing of the adjacent power transmission control unit 182 can be simplified. In addition, this structure is also applicable to the end coil energization processing.

[0124] (E11) In the above-mentioned embodiments, an example is shown in which the power transmission circuit control unit 192 drives the power transmission circuit 130 when the power transmission side wide area communication unit 190 receives the wide area communication signal. On the other hand, for example, when the standby state of the power transmission device 100 can be omitted, the power transmission circuit control unit 192 may drive the power transmission circuit 130 when the end power transmission signal receiving unit 172 receives the end power transmission request signal. According to the power transmission device 100 of this configuration, since wide area communication is not performed, the processing can be simplified and the period of driving the power transmission circuit 130 can be shortened.

[0125] (E12) In the above embodiments, an example is shown in which the end coil unit 120P includes both 124P and 126P, and the adjacent coil unit 120Q includes both the adjacent current switching unit 124Q and the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q. On the other hand, at least one of the end resonance switching unit 126P and the adjacent resonance switching unit 126Q may be omitted.

[0126] (E13) In the first embodiment described above, if Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , a bidirectional switch as the end resonance switching unit 126P is arranged between the end resonance capacitor 116P and the end coil 112P and connected in parallel with the end coil 112P. Fig.30As shown in the end coil unit 120P3, an end resonance switching unit 126P3 is used, which is configured by dividing a bidirectional switch into a positive side and a negative side. The end resonance switching unit 126P3 is configured between the end resonance capacitor 116P and the end coil 112P, and is connected in series with the end coil 112P. According to the power transmission device 100 of this structure, by switching to the open (disconnection) of the end resonance switching unit 126P3, the end coil 112P and the end resonance capacitor 116P can be disconnected, and the end resonance circuit 110P can be put into a non-resonant state.

[0127] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be implemented by various structures within the scope of the above-mentioned subject matter. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each method described in the invention content section can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve part or all of the above-mentioned technical problems, or to achieve part or all of the above-mentioned effects. In addition, the above-mentioned technical features can be appropriately deleted as long as they are not described as necessary structures in this specification.

[0128] The control unit and the method of the control unit described in the present disclosure may also be implemented by a special-purpose computer, which is provided by constituting a processor and a memory, and the above-mentioned processor is programmed to perform one or more functions embodied by a computer program. Alternatively, the control unit and the method of the control unit described in the present disclosure may be implemented by a special-purpose computer, which is provided by constituting a processor composed of one or more special-purpose hardware logic circuits. Alternatively, the control unit and the method thereof described in the present disclosure may be implemented by one or more special-purpose computers, which are constituted by a combination of a processor and a memory programmed to perform one or more hardware and a processor composed of one or more hardware memories. In addition, the computer program may also be stored in a computer-readable non-temporary tangible storage medium as an instruction executed by a computer.

Claims

1. A power transmission device, the power transmission device (100, 100b, 100d) being used to supply power to a movable power receiving device (200) in a non-contact manner, the power transmission device comprising: An end coil unit (120P, 120P2, 120P3, 120Pb, 120Pd-120Pd5), the end coil unit comprising an end resonant circuit (110P, 110Pd-110Pd5, 110Pe) and an end current switching unit (124P, 124P2), wherein the end resonant circuit has an end coil (112P) and an end resonant capacitor (116P, 116P2, 116P3, 316P) for making the end coil resonate in parallel, and the end current switching unit is used to switch on and off the power supply from a power supply to the end resonant circuit; an end power transmission signal receiving unit (172) for receiving an end power transmission request signal for starting power transmission of the end coil unit; an end power transmission control unit (174) for controlling the on / off switching of power supply from the power supply to the end resonant circuit by the end current switching unit using the end power transmission request signal; an adjacent coil unit (120Q, 120Qb), the adjacent coil unit being adjacent to the end coil unit and comprising an adjacent resonant circuit (110Q) and an adjacent current switching unit (124Q), wherein the adjacent resonant circuit has an adjacent coil (112Q) and an adjacent resonant capacitor (116Q) for causing the adjacent coil to resonate in parallel, and the adjacent current switching unit switches on and off the power supply from the power supply to the adjacent resonant circuit; and An adjacent power transmission control unit (182) controls the on / off of power supply from the power supply to the adjacent resonance circuit by the adjacent current switching unit.

2. The power transmission device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end coil unit has an end resonance switching section (126P) that switches the resonant state and the non-resonant state of the end coil and the end resonance capacitor by changing the impedance of the end coil and the end resonance capacitor. The end power transmission control unit further controls switching of the resonant state and the non-resonant state of the end coil and the end resonance capacitor by the end resonance switching unit using the end power transmission request signal.

3. The power transmission device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The end resonant circuit further includes an end series capacitor, which is disposed between the end coil and the end resonant capacitor and is connected in series with the end coil. The end series capacitor together with the end resonant capacitor causes the end coil to resonate in parallel.

4. The power transmission device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The end resonance switching unit is disposed between the end resonance capacitor and the end series capacitor, and is connected in parallel with the end coil.

5. The power transmission device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The end resonance switching unit is a bidirectional switch using two semiconductor elements, and one switch is arranged on the positive electrode side and the other switch is arranged on the negative electrode side between the end resonance capacitor and the end coil.

6. The power transmission device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The end resonance switching unit is disposed between the end series capacitor and the end coil, and is connected in parallel with the end coil.

7. The power transmission device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The end resonance switching unit is connected in parallel with the end series capacitor.

8. The power transmission device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The end resonance switching unit is disposed between the end resonance capacitor and the end coil, and is connected in series with the end resonance capacitor.

9. The power transmission device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that: The end power transmission control unit performs end power transmission control when the end power transmission signal receiving unit receives the end power transmission request signal, and the end power transmission control performs: supplying electric power from the power supply to the end resonance circuit according to control of the end current switching unit; The end coil and the end resonance capacitor are switched to a resonant state according to the control of the end resonance switching unit.

10. The power transmission device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The end coil unit further includes an end current sensor (122P) for detecting an end current value of the power supplied from the power source to the end resonant circuit. The end power transmission control unit performs end power transmission stop control when the end current value is less than a predetermined threshold value (TH1), and the end power transmission stop control is performed by: stopping the supply of power from the power supply to the end resonant circuit according to the control of the end current switching unit; The end coil and the end resonance capacitor are switched to a non-resonant state according to the control of the end resonance switching unit.

11. The power transmission device according to claim 10, characterized in that: The end power transmission control unit controls the end current switching unit to stop the power supply from the power supply to the end resonance circuit during the end power transmission stop control, and then controls the end resonance switching unit to put the end coil and the end resonance capacitor into a non-resonant state.

12. The power transmission device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adjacent coil unit includes an adjacent resonance switching unit (126Q), which is controlled by the adjacent power transmission control unit and switches the resonant state and non-resonant state of the adjacent coil and the adjacent resonance capacitor by changing the impedance of the adjacent coil and the adjacent resonance capacitor.

13. The power transmission device according to claim 12, characterized in that: The adjacent resonant circuit further includes an adjacent series capacitor, which is disposed between the adjacent coil and the adjacent resonant capacitor and is connected in series with the adjacent coil. The adjacent series capacitors together with the adjacent resonant capacitors cause the adjacent coils to resonate in parallel.

14. The power transmission device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that: The device further comprises an adjacent coil characteristic detection unit (184) for detecting a change in any one of a voltage applied to the adjacent coil, a current flowing through the adjacent coil, a magnetic field generated in the adjacent coil, and a voltage generated in the adjacent resonant capacitor, that is, a change in an electrical characteristic value of the adjacent coil. The adjacent power transmission control unit performs adjacent power transmission control when the electric characteristic value is equal to or greater than a predetermined first characteristic value (CV1), wherein the adjacent power transmission control performs: supplying electric power from the power supply to the adjacent resonance circuit according to control of the adjacent current switching unit; The adjacent coil and the adjacent resonance capacitor are switched to a resonant state according to the control of the adjacent resonance switching unit.

15. The power transmission device according to claim 14, characterized in that: The adjacent coil unit further includes an adjacent current sensor (122Q) for detecting an adjacent current value of the power supplied from the power source to the adjacent resonant circuit. The adjacent power transmission control unit performs adjacent power transmission stop control when the adjacent current value is less than a predetermined threshold value (TH2), and the adjacent power transmission stop control is performed by: stopping the supply of power from the power supply to the adjacent resonant circuit according to the control of the adjacent current switching unit; The adjacent coil and the adjacent resonance capacitor are switched to a non-resonant state according to the control of the adjacent resonance switching unit.

16. The power transmission device according to claim 15, characterized in that: The adjacent power transmission control unit controls the adjacent current switching unit to stop the power supply from the power supply to the adjacent resonant circuit during the adjacent power transmission stop control, and then controls the adjacent resonance switching unit to put the adjacent coil and the adjacent resonant capacitor into a non-resonant state.

17. The power transmission device according to claim 15, characterized in that: After the adjacent power transmission control is executed, when the electric characteristic value is less than a predetermined second characteristic value (CV2) higher than the first characteristic value, the adjacent power transmission control unit executes the adjacent power transmission stop control at a time point after a predetermined period of time has passed since the time point when the adjacent power transmission control was executed.

18. The power transmission device according to claim 15, characterized in that: The adjacent power transmission control unit executes the adjacent power transmission stop control at a time point when a predetermined period of time has elapsed from a time point when the adjacent power transmission control was executed.

19. The power transmission device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that: The system further comprises an adjacent power transmission signal receiving unit (186) for receiving an adjacent power transmission request signal for starting power transmission of the adjacent coil unit. The adjacent power transmission control unit executes adjacent power transmission control upon receiving the adjacent power transmission request signal, wherein the adjacent power transmission control performs: supplying electric power from the power supply to the adjacent resonance circuit according to control of the adjacent current switching unit; The adjacent coil and the adjacent resonance capacitor are switched to a resonant state according to the control of the adjacent resonance switching unit.

20. The power transmission device according to claim 19, characterized in that: The system further comprises an adjacent power transmission signal sending unit (176) for sending the adjacent power transmission request signal. The adjacent power transmission signal transmitting unit transmits the adjacent power transmission request signal to the adjacent power transmission signal receiving unit when power transmission of the end coil unit starts.

21. The power transmission device according to claim 9, characterized in that: Also includes: an end stop signal sending unit (186) for sending an end power supply stop signal for stopping power supply of the end coil unit; as well as an end stop signal receiving unit (176), the end stop signal receiving unit being used to receive the end power transmission stop signal, The end power transmission control unit executes the end power transmission stop control when receiving the end power transmission stop signal, and the end power transmission stop control performs: stopping the supply of power from the power supply to the end resonant circuit according to the control of the end current switching unit; The end coil and the end resonance capacitor are switched to a non-resonant state according to the control of the end resonance switching unit.

22. The power transmission device according to claim 21, characterized in that: The adjacent coil unit includes an adjacent resonance switching unit (126Q), which is controlled by the adjacent power transmission control unit and switches the resonant state and non-resonant state of the adjacent coil and the adjacent resonance capacitor by changing the impedance of the adjacent coil and the adjacent resonance capacitor. The end power transmission control unit further executes adjacent power transmission stop control upon receiving the end power transmission stop signal, wherein the adjacent power transmission stop control performs: stopping the supply of power from the power supply to the adjacent resonant circuit according to the control of the adjacent current switching unit; The adjacent coil and the adjacent resonance capacitor are switched to a non-resonant state according to the control of the adjacent resonance switching unit.

23. The power transmission device according to claim 9, characterized in that: Also includes: an end stop signal sending unit (186) for sending an end power supply stop signal for stopping power supply of the end coil unit; An end stop signal receiving unit (176), the end stop signal receiving unit being used to receive the end power transmission stop signal; as well as a power transmission circuit (130), the power transmission circuit being controlled by the end power transmission control unit and being used for supplying AC power to the end coil unit and the adjacent coil unit, The end power transmission control unit stops the power transmission circuit (130) when receiving the end power transmission stop signal.

24. The power transmission device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end power transmission signal receiving unit receives a narrow area communication signal having a communication distance of 5 meters or less as the end power transmission request signal.

25. The power transmission device according to claim 24, characterized in that: Also includes: A power transmission circuit (130), the power transmission circuit being used to supply AC power to the end coil unit and the adjacent coil unit; as well as a power transmission circuit control unit (192) capable of driving the power transmission circuit, The power transmission circuit control unit drives the power transmission circuit when the end power transmission signal receiving unit receives the end power transmission request signal.

26. The power transmission device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A power transmission circuit (130), the power transmission circuit being used to supply AC power to the end coil unit and the adjacent coil unit; a power transmission circuit control unit (192), the power transmission circuit control unit being capable of driving the power transmission circuit; as well as A wide area communication unit (190) for receiving a wide area communication signal having a communication distance longer than 5 meters, The power transmission circuit control unit drives the power transmission circuit when the wide area communication unit receives the wide area communication signal.

27. A contactless power supply system, comprising: The power transmission device according to claim 1; as well as The power receiving device includes a power transmission request signal sending unit (270) for sending the end power transmission request signal.

28. A program executed by a computer provided in a power transmission device (100, 100b, 100d) for supplying power to a movable power receiving device (200) in a non-contact manner, and causing the computer to implement: A function of receiving an end power transmission request signal for starting power transmission of the end coil units (120P, 120P2, 120P3, 120Pb, 120Pd to 120Pd5); A function of controlling on and off the power supply from the power supply to the end resonance circuit using the end power transmission request signal; and A function of controlling on and off the supply of power from the power supply to the adjacent resonance circuit of the adjacent coil unit (120Q, 120Qb) adjacent to the end coil unit.

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