IMPROVED CONTROL METHOD OF A WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT GEAR MOTOR, WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER DEVICE, AND AIRCRAFT.

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling an operating frequency of a first inductive transmitter device (11) configured to transmit electrical power in the form of a magnetic field between itself and a receiver device (100), the method being executed in a controller device (11u) and comprising a control (S1) of the first inductive transmitter device (11) from a first predefined frequency value, then i) obtaining (S2) at least one item of information representative of a performance of said power transfer between said first inductive transmitter device (11) and said receiver device (100), ii) determining (S2) a second frequency value from said at least one item of information obtained, and, iii) controlling (S3) said first inductive transmitter device (11) or a second inductive transmitter device from said second determined frequency value.The invention also relates to a controller device (11u) configured to carry out the method. Thus, it is advantageously possible to improve the efficiency of a wireless power transfer between a transmitting inductive device (11) and a receiving device (100). Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: IMPROVED CONTROL METHOD OF A WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT UNDERCARRIAGE MOTOR, WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER DEVICE, AND AIRCRAFT. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling an inductive device for wireless transmission (or transfer) of power configured to transmit electrical power to a receiving device as well as an inductive device configured to operate an electrical power transmission. At least one embodiment relates to a method for transmitting power between a transmitting device integrated into the ground of a taxiway, and in particular a taxiway on the ground of an aircraft and a receiving device arranged in a vehicle, in particular an aircraft. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Aircraft traditionally use their main engines, of the turbojet type, to move on the ground between a parking area and a takeoff and landing runway, or vice versa. This mode of movement is expensive in terms of fuel and polluting.

[0003] Recently, electric motors have been integrated into one or more aircraft landing gears and are powered by an auxiliary power unit of the aircraft, still usually called APU (from the English "Auxiliary Power Unit"), designed to deliver electrical energy to systems of the aircraft independently of the energy sources integrated into the main engines. This mode of moving an aircraft on the ground, more economical and less polluting, is traditionally called "e-taxiing", from the English. More recently still, solutions have been developed, which include inductive transmitter devices configured to carry out a power transfer, integrated into the ground of aircraft taxiways, which inductive devices transfer electrical power in the form of a magnetic field to a receiving device inserted in an aircraft, when the latter is positioned opposite an inductive transmitter device.The aircraft's receiving device then converts the electrical power received from the transmitting inductive devices to power an aircraft's electric motor for taxiing the aircraft. This solution performs well when the aircraft follows a precise trajectory on the taxiway along the transmitting inductive devices. so that the distance between an inductive transmitting device integrated into the ground of a taxiway and the receiving device of the aircraft is nominal or approximately nominal. Furthermore, this solution is even less polluting than when the electric motor is powered by an APU. Unfortunately, an aircraft taxiing trajectory is not always scrupulously consistent with the theoretical ideal trajectory described by the successive positions of the inductive transmitting devices integrated into the ground.

[0004] The situation can be improved. Statement of the invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to propose a method for controlling the operating frequency of an inductive transmitter device from information representative of an electrical energy transfer performance between an inductive transmitter device and a receiver device positioned opposite the inductive transmitter device.

[0006] For this purpose, a method is proposed for controlling an operating frequency of a first inductive transmitter device configured to transmit electrical power in the form of a magnetic field between itself and a receiver device, the method being executed in a controller device comprising electronic circuitry configured to operate a control of the first inductive transmitter device from a first predefined frequency value, and the controller device being characterized in that it further comprises electronic circuitry configured to:

[0007] - i) obtaining at least one piece of information representative of a performance said power transfer between said first inductive transmitter device and said receiver device,

[0008] - ii) a determination of a second frequency value from said at less information obtained, and,

[0009] - iii) a control of said first transmitting device or of a second device inductive transmitter from said second determined frequency value.

[0010] The controller device may further include the optional characteristics, considered alone or in combination:

[0011] - The controller device further comprises electronic circuitry configured to process information representative of a power transfer performance when the information is among the list:

[0012] - a yield value,

[0013] - an output voltage value of a receiving device,

[0014] - a magnetic field intensity,

[0015] - a temperature,

[0016] - an output current value,

[0017] - a maximum amplitude of a signal.

[0018] - The controller device further comprises configured electronic circuitry to determine the second frequency value by operating an excursion in frequency values ​​of said frequency until an optimal or optimized parameter representative of a performance of the transmission of electrical power operated between the first inductive transmitter device or the second inductive transmitter device and the receiver device is obtained.

[0019] Another object of the invention is a method for controlling an operating frequency of a first inductive transmitter device configured to transmit electrical power in the form of a magnetic field between itself and a receiver device, the method is executed in a controller device and comprises controlling the first inductive transmitter device from a first predefined frequency value, and:

[0020] - i) obtaining at least one piece of information representative of a performance said power transfer between the first inductive transmitting device and the receiving device,

[0021] - ii) a determination of a second frequency value from said at less information obtained, and,

[0022] - iii) a control of the first transmitting device or of a second inductive device transmitter from the second determined frequency value.

[0023] The control method according to the invention may further include the optional characteristics considered alone or in combination:

[0024] - The control method is such that said at least one representative information of a performance of said power transfer is among the list:

[0025] - a yield value,

[0026] - an output voltage value of a receiving device,

[0027] - a magnetic field intensity,

[0028] - a temperature,

[0029] - an output current value,

[0030] - a maximum amplitude of a signal.

[0031] - The control method is such that said determination of a second value of frequency comprises an excursion in frequency values ​​of said frequency until an optimal or optimized parameter representative of a performance of the transmission of electrical power operated between said first inductive transmitter device or said second inductive transmitter device, on the one hand, and said receiver device, on the other hand, is obtained.

[0032] The invention also relates to a system for transmitting electrical power comprising a device for controlling an operating frequency of an inductive transmitter device as mentioned above, as well as an inductive transmitter device and a receiver device.

[0033] The invention also relates to a device for receiving electrical power transmitted in the form of a magnetic field, the device being configured to convert into electrical energy a magnetic field delivered by an inductive transmitter device as previously described.

[0034] Another object of the invention is a computer program product comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of a frequency control method as previously described when said program is executed by a processor of a controller device of an inductive device transmitting electrical power.

[0035] Finally, the invention also relates to a storage support device comprising a computer program product as described above. Brief description of the drawings

[0036] The above-mentioned features of the invention, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the attached drawings:

[0037] [Fig. 1] illustrates an aircraft operating a taxi on a taxiway using an electric motor powered successively via an inductive transfer of electrical energy by means of a plurality of inductive transmitter devices inserted in the taxiway, controlled according to one embodiment;

[0038] [Fig.2] illustrates an inductive transmitter device configured to operate an electrical power transfer according to one embodiment;

[0039] [Fig.3] is a receiving device configured to supply energy to an electric motor, in particular of an aircraft, according to one embodiment;

[0040] [Fig.4] is a flowchart illustrating a method of frequency control of an inductive transmitting device according to one embodiment; and,

[0041] [Fig.5] illustrates an example of internal architecture of a controller executing the method already shown in [Fig.4], according to one embodiment.

[0042] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0043] [Fig. 1] schematically represents a vehicle 1 moving on a taxiway 10. According to the example described, the vehicle 1 is an aircraft and the taxiway 10 is a taxiway on the ground of an airport or an aerodrome, also called a taxiway or “taxiway”, from the English and which means “taxiway”. The taxiway 10 has an indicator line 10g affixed to the ground and making it possible to guide the aircraft 1, manually (by the pilot) or automatically (by on-board systems of the aircraft) in movement along the line 10g. Advantageously, the subsoil of the taxiway 10 comprises a plurality of inductive transmitter devices 11 arranged along the line 10g, and configured to transmit electrical energy by wireless connection of the inductive type (by emission of an electromagnetic field). In other words, electrical energy (or even electrical power) can be transmitted between the taxiway and a receiver 100 of the aircraft 1, in the form of a magnetic field. Advantageously again, this transmitted electrical power can be used in whole or in part to power an electric motor useful for moving the aircraft 1 on a tarmac and in particular on the taxiway 10. For example, such an electric motor can be integrated into a landing gear of the aircraft 1.

[0044] [Fig. 2] illustrates an inductive transmitter device 11 similar to each of those arranged in the taxiway 10 shown in [Fig. 1]. The inductive transmitter device 11 comprises a power converter 111, also called a power transducer 111, which comprises a coil (or winding) 11e. The current delivered in the winding 11e is obtained from a connection bus 11p connected to an electrical energy source not shown in [Fig. 2]. According to one embodiment, the electrical energy source is a direct current or voltage source and the power converter 111 comprises an inverter. According to a variant, the electrical energy source is an alternating current or voltage source.Advantageously, a controller device 1 lu (or controller 1 lu or control unit 1 lu), configured to control the power converter 1 li of the inductive transmitter device 11, is equipped with a data reception module 11a provided with an antenna system, so that the controller 1 lu is able to control several operational operating parameters of the power converter 1 li, and in particular the frequency of the current delivered in the winding 1 le, at the origin of the magnetic field transmitted by this winding 1 le. The frequency control is carried out via a control bus 1 If, carrying a digital or analog signal. According to an exemplary embodiment, the controller 1 lu delivers via the control bus 1 If a modulated signal of the PWM type (from the English "Pulse Width Modulation" and which means "pulse width modulation").According to another exemplary embodiment, the controller 1 lu delivers via the control bus 1 If a digital signal comprising one or more binary words, at least one of which codes a current frequency value used as a setpoint for the generation of a current in the winding 1 le by the power converter 1 li.

[0045] According to yet another embodiment, the control bus 1 If carries a variable voltage delivered by the controller 1 lu and the amplitude of which codes the frequency of the signal to be delivered in the winding 1 le. These examples are not limiting and others Frequency setpoint modes can be implemented to transmit a frequency value between the controller 1 lu of the transmitting inductive device 11 and the power converter 1 li of this same transmitting inductive device.

[0046] Cleverly, the controller 1 lu can operate a modification of the frequency from one or more pieces of information transmitted to it via the data reception module 1 la and its antenna system, that is to say by means of short, medium or long range (distance) wireless communications, and / or from one or more pieces of information delivered by the power converter 1 li to the controller 1 lu via a control bus Ils.

[0047] According to one embodiment, one or more pieces of information representative of a level of performance of transfer (or transmission) of electrical power between the inductive transmitter device 11 and the receiver device 100 or an equivalent device, are transmitted to the controller 11u, from the power converter 11i or from a remote device such as the receiver device 100 or any other device capable of evaluating the performance of the energy transfer executed, directly or indirectly. According to one embodiment, the controller 11u controls the frequency of the power converter device 11i from several pieces of information, at least one of which is obtained from a remote receiver device and at least one other is obtained from the power converter 11i. Such information is for example: - an efficiency value of the transfer of electrical power between the inductive transmitter device 11 and a receiver device such as the receiver device 100, - an output voltage value of a receiving device such as the receiving device 100, - a magnetic field intensity delivered by a winding of the power converter 1 li, - an operating temperature measured at the power converter 1 li, in a winding such as winding 1 le or in a circuit of a receiver such as the receiver device 100, - an output current value of a receiving device such as the receiving device 100, - a maximum amplitude of a signal delivered by a circuit of the current converter device 1 li or an equivalent device, - one or more items of information representing the position of an aircraft, and in particular of one of its landing gear legs equipped with a receiving device.

[0048] Such information makes it possible to evaluate the performance or more broadly the performance formance of the energy transfer carried out and to modify the frequency in order to improve this energy transfer, if necessary. For example, if the aircraft 1 deviates from a taxiway guidance line, such as the guidance line 10g, and therefore deviates as a result from the alignment of the transmitting inductive devices 11 which mark this guidance line 10g, the air gap between a transmitting inductive winding on the one hand, and a receiving inductive winding of the aircraft on the other hand, is increased, which has the consequence of modifying the energy transfer parameters. Thus, for example, the resonance mechanisms used for the energy transfer may be degraded and a variation in the frequency of the current applied in the winding 1 may be such as to positively correct this drop in performance.

[0049] According to one embodiment, when one or more pieces of information obtained illustrate a drop in performance in the energy transmission, the controller 1 read controls the frequency of the current applied in the winding 1 le by operating a frequency excursion between a minimum frequency value and a maximum frequency value around the previously determined and applied frequency, and scans the resulting performance variations, so as to then quickly detect which new frequency value is optimal or at least better than the previously applied value. According to one embodiment, after a first excursion of a frequency interval operated by successive frequency jumps, an intermediate value is retained, then an algorithm is executed to operate a second frequency excursion around the intermediate value, with the aim of determining the new optimal, or at least optimized, value.

[0050] According to one embodiment, once the new frequency value has been determined, it is applied to the next (the next) inductive transmitter device arranged along the guidance line. According to an alternative embodiment, this new frequency is applied to the inductive transmitter device closest to the receiver device of the aircraft. These examples are however not limiting and this new frequency value can even be applied to a plurality of inductive transmitter devices positioned close to a receiver device of the aircraft.

[0051] [Fig. 3] illustrates the receiver device 100 of the aircraft 1 or an equivalent device. The receiver device 100 comprises a winding 100c which, when subjected to the magnetic field generated by an inductive transmitter device such as the inductive transmitter device 11, delivers a reshaped electric current to power an electric motor. The winding 100c of the receiver device 100c is connected for this purpose to a power converter circuit 100i configured to convert the current induced in the winding 100c into a power source to be applied to the terminals of the motor M 101, which is connected to the output of the power converter 100i. According to one embodiment, the receiver device 100 comprises a wireless communication interface (not shown in the figure) capable of transmitting information representative of the operation of the receiver 100, such as for example:

[0052] - a yield value,

[0053] - an output voltage value of the power converter lOOi,

[0054] - a magnetic field intensity measured in the winding 100c,

[0055] - a temperature measured in one of the electrical or electronic circuits of the power converter 100i or more broadly of the receiving device 100,

[0056] - an output current value of the converter lOOi,

[0057] - a current value measured in winding 100c,

[0058] - a voltage across the winding 100c,

[0059] - a maximum amplitude of a signal in an electrical or electronic circuit of the lOOi power converter,

[0060] - one or more pieces of information representative of the position of an aircraft, such as for example the aircraft 1, which carries the receiving device 100, on a tarmac or on a taxiway, and in particular the position of one of its landing gear legs equipped with the receiving device 100 or the position of another position reference element of the aircraft which carries the receiving device 100.

[0061] The implementation details of the receiver device 100 are not described here further to the extent that they are not useful for a good understanding of the invention.

[0062] [Fig.4] is a flowchart illustrating steps of a method for frequency control of the inductive transmitter device 11 or a similar inductive transmitter device.

[0063] A step S0 comprises operations of initialization and configuration of the set of systems present aiming to obtain a nominal state defined as a normally operational configuration of the inductive transmitter device 11. In particular, a current of a predefined nominal value flows in the winding 11c, which current is established at a first predetermined frequency, the whole making it possible to generate a magnetic field of a predefined nominal value when a receiver device such as the receiver device 100 is positioned at a nominal distance or in a nominal interval of distance values ​​from the inductive transmitter 11.

[0064] During a step S1, the controller 1 read of the inductive transmitter device 11 then controls the transmitter device 11 by generating a predefined fixed frequency current having a first frequency value. During a step S2, the controller 1 read then obtains one or more pieces of information representative of the power transfer performance between the inductive transmitter device 11 and a receiver device such as the receiver device 100 positioned within the electromagnetic range of the inductive transmitter device 11, via the data reception module 11a and its antenna system or via the control bus 11s or even coming (in parallel or successively) from these two control links at the same time. Thus, during a step S3, the controller 11u determines from the information(s) obtained, a frequency excursion range in which to search for a new frequency value making it possible to optimize one of the operational operating parameters of the transfer of electrical power between the inductive transmitter device 11 and the receiver device to which it is coupled, such as for example the receiver device 100.Once an optimal or optimized operating parameter value is obtained, for example an optimized current or efficiency value of the electromagnetic coupling and / or the electrical power transmission, the controller 1 read controls the transmitting inductive device 11 with the new frequency value identified as that making it possible to improve or optimize the current electrical energy transfer.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the controller 1 read can control another inductive transmitter device by transmitting control information to it by means of wireless communication via their respective data transmission systems and their respective antenna systems. According to a variant, two inductive transmitter devices close to each other are configured to communicate information with each other, for example via a wireless communication mode or via a power line carrier transmission mode implemented on a power supply line to which they are both connected; these implementation examples are not limiting.

[0066] According to one embodiment, each of the inductive transmitting devices 11 present in the taxiway knows the precise position of an aircraft moving or located nearby, to which it is coupled or likely to be coupled in the coming moments. During a step S4, it is checked whether, from its current position, an aircraft coupled to an inductive transmitting device 11 has arrived at its destination position from which it will be moved by its main engines or in other words whether it has traveled the entire planned route while being powered successively by inductive transmitting devices. If this is the case, then the method ends and otherwise, if it is still necessary to supply energy to the aircraft via the inductive coupling system described, the method continues in sequence by returning to step S1.

[0067] [Fig.5] is a diagram illustrating an example of the internal architecture of the device controller 1 read from the inductive device 11 transmitting electrical power.

[0068] According to the example of hardware architecture represented in [Fig.5], the controller device llu then comprises, connected by a communication bus 1000: a processor or CPU (“Central Processing Unit” in English) 101; a random access memory RAM (Random Access Memory) 102; a ROM (Read Only Memory) 103; a storage unit such as a hard disk (or a storage media reader, such as an SD (Secure Digital) card reader) 104; at least one interface module 105 allowing the controller device 111 to interact with third-party devices, such as, for example, the power converter 111 or another inductive transmitter device 11 or a receiver device 100 or equivalent. Advantageously, the interface module INTER 105 comprises in particular input-output ports, inputs of digital / analog converters and analog / digital converters, outputs controlled by pulse width modulation, and more generally all types of interfaces, including power, in particular useful for capturing signals from the various systems of the aircraft.In particular, the INTER 105 interface module of the controller device llu is configured to operate in particular frequency control functions of a power converter and in particular of the power converter device 1 li.

[0069] The processor 101 is capable of executing instructions loaded into the RAM 102 from the ROM 103, from an external memory (not shown), from a storage medium (such as an SD card), or from a communication network. When the controller device 100 of the system 10 for controlling an internal soiling level of an engine is powered up, the processor 101 is capable of reading program code instructions from the RAM 102 and executing them. These instructions form a computer program causing the processor 101 to implement all or part of a method described in relation to [Fig. 4], or all or part of the described variants of this method.

[0070] All or part of the method described in relation to [Fig. 4], or its described variants can be implemented in software form by executing a set of instructions by a programmable machine, for example a DSP ("Digital Signal Processor" in English) or a microcontroller, or be implemented in hardware form by a machine or a dedicated component, for example an FPGA ("Field-Programmable Gate Array" in English) or an ASIC ("Application-Specific Integrated Circuit" in English). In general, the controller device 11 for frequency control of an inductive device emitting electrical energy comprises electronic circuitry configured to implement the methods described in relation to the controller device 11 and more generally the inductive emitting device 11.Obviously, the controller device llu also includes all the elements usually present in a system comprising a control unit and its peripherals, such as a power supply circuit, a power supply supervision circuit, one or more clock circuits, a reset circuit, ports. related inputs-outputs, interrupt inputs, bus drivers, this list being non-exhaustive.

Claims

Claims

1. Controller device (llu) of an operating frequency of a first inductive transmitter device (11) configured to transmit an electrical power in the form of a magnetic field between itself (11) and a receiver device (100), the controller device (1 lu) comprising electronic circuitry configured to operate a control (SI) of the first inductive transmitter device (11) from a first predefined frequency value, and the controller device (llu) being characterized in that it further comprises electronic circuitry configured for: - i) obtaining (S2) at least one piece of information representative of a performance of said power transfer between said first inductive transmitter device (11) and said receiver device (100), - ii) determining (S3) a second frequency value from said at least one piece of information obtained, and,- iii) a control (S3) of said first transmitting device (11) or of a second inductive transmitting device from said second determined frequency value.,

2. Controller device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises electronic circuitry configured to process said information representative of a performance of said power transfer when said information is among the list: - an efficiency value, - an output voltage value of a receiving device, - a magnetic field intensity, - a temperature, - an output current value, - a maximum amplitude of a signal, - one or more pieces of information representative of the position of an aircraft, on a tarmac or on a taxiway, and in particular the position of one of its landing gear legs equipped with a receiving device.

3. Controller device according to one of claims 1 and 2, comprising furthermore electronic circuitry configured to operate the determination of said second frequency value by operating an excursion in frequency values ​​of said frequency until an optimal or optimized parameter representative of a performance of the transmission of electrical power operated between said first inductive transmitter device or said second inductive transmitter device and said receiver device is obtained.

4. Method for controlling an operating frequency of a first inductive transmitter device (11) configured to transmit electrical power in the form of a magnetic field between itself and a receiver device (100), the method being executed in a controller device and comprising a control (SI) of the first inductive transmitter device (11) from a first predefined frequency value, then: - i) obtaining (S2) at least one piece of information representative of a performance of said power transfer between said first inductive transmitter device and said receiver device, - ii) determining (S3) a second frequency value from said at least one piece of information obtained, and, - iii) controlling (S3) said first transmitter device or a second inductive transmitter device from said second determined frequency value.

5. Control method according to claim 4, according to which said at least one information representative of a performance of said power transfer is among the list: - an efficiency value, - an output voltage value of a receiving device, - a magnetic field intensity, - a temperature, - an output current value, - a maximum amplitude of a signal.

6. Control method according to one of claims 4 and 5, according to which said determination of a second frequency value comprises a excursion in frequency values ​​of said frequency until obtaining an optimal or optimized parameter representative of a performance of the transmission of electrical power operated between said first inductive transmitter device or said second inductive transmitter device and said receiver device.

7. System for transmitting electrical power comprising a device for controlling an operating frequency of an inductive transmitting device according to one of claims 1 to 3 as well as a receiving device.

8. A device (100) for receiving electrical power transmitted in the form of a magnetic field, the receiving device (100) being configured to convert into electrical energy a magnetic field delivered by an inductive transmitter device (11) according to one of claims 1 to 3, for the purpose of supplying electrical energy to an aircraft electric motor.

9. Computer program product comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the method according to one of claims 4 to 6, when said program is executed by a processor of a device for controlling an inductive device emitting electrical power.

10. A storage medium comprising a computer program product according to claim 9.

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