Power supply circuit of a vehicle electrical energy storage unit

Abstract

Secondary sub-circuit (6) for the electrical power supply of an electrical energy storage unit (2), this secondary sub-circuit (6) being capable of contactless exchange by inductive coupling of electrical energy with a primary sub-circuit (4) capable of being connected to a voltage network (5), the secondary sub-circuit (6) comprising: - a secondary inductive cell (20) for contactless exchange by inductive coupling of electrical energy with the primary sub-circuit (4), the secondary inductive cell comprising a secondary inductance comprising an electrical winding cooperating with a magnetic support (32), - an electrical energy storage unit (2), and - an inverter / rectifier (23) capable of performing an impedance adaptation of the impedance on the alternating input of this inverter / rectifier (23), independently of the impedance of the electrical energy storage unit (2),characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one additional winding (30) cooperating with the magnetic support (32) so as to define an additional inductance magnetically coupled via the magnetic support (32) with the secondary inductance of the secondary inductive cell (20). Abstract figure: Fig.4,

Description

Title of the invention: Power supply circuit for a vehicle electrical energy storage unit

[0001] The present invention relates to a contactless electrical power supply circuit for a vehicle electrical energy storage unit.

[0002] The electrical energy storage unit has, for example, a nominal voltage of 12V, 48V, 60V or more, for example greater than 300V, for example 400V, 800V or 1000V.

[0003] It is known to electrically power a vehicle electrical energy storage unit by contactless transmission using inductive coupling at a power of between 3 and 50 kW, when the vehicle is stationary or when it is moving. This power supply by contactless transmission is then carried out by means of distant electrical sub-circuits that are magnetically coupled and tuned to the same resonant frequency. The magnetically coupled sub-circuits each implement an LC-type resonant cell. However, to transmit a satisfactory power level, in particular several kW, it is necessary to operate at high frequencies, in particular of the order of 85 kHz or more, for the resonant frequency of each resonant sub-circuit. In addition, this type of solution requires operating at a short distance between the two sub-circuits.The frequency and power levels mentioned above, for implementation in kW, may also constitute a danger to the health of people exposed nearby, or a danger to the environment in general.

[0004] The solution according to the international application filed under No. PCT / EP2023 / 076297 on 09 / 22 / 2023 in the name of Valeo Systèmes de Contrôle Moteur, which is not part of the published state of the art, consists of applying an alternating voltage to the terminals of a primary inductive cell coupled by inductive coupling to a secondary inductive cell which, by impedance adaptation, makes it possible to transmit low-frequency electrical energy into an electrical energy storage unit, for example an electric vehicle battery. The impedance adaptation is enabled by an inverter / rectifier, or more generally a “voltage converter” which, with the secondary inductive cell and the electrical energy storage unit, is part of a secondary sub-circuit

[0005] There is a need to improve the use that can be made of such a secondary sub-circuit when it is on board the vehicle.

[0006] The invention aims to meet this need and achieves this, according to one of its aspects, by means of a secondary sub-circuit for the electrical supply of a unit for storing electrical energy, this secondary sub-circuit being capable of exchanging electrical energy without contact by inductive coupling with a primary sub-circuit capable of being connected to a voltage network,

[0007] the secondary sub-circuit comprising:

[0008] - a secondary inductive cell for contactless exchange by inductive coupling of electrical energy with a primary inductive cell of the primary sub-circuit, the secondary inductive cell comprising a secondary inductance comprising an electrical winding cooperating with a magnetic support,

[0009] - an electrical energy storage unit, and

[0010] - an inverter / rectifier capable of performing impedance matching of the impedance on the AC input of this inverter / rectifier, regardless of the impedance of the electrical energy storage unit,

[0011] characterized in that it comprises at least one additional winding cooperating with the magnetic support so as to define an additional inductance magnetically coupled via the magnetic support with the secondary inductance of the secondary inductive cell.

[0012] According to the invention, the magnetic support, the inductance of the secondary inductive cell and the additional inductance form an isolated transformer. It is thus possible to reuse the inverter / rectifier and the secondary inductance in configurations other than the contactless exchange of electrical energy by inductive coupling with the primary sub-circuit. This reduces the cost and size associated with the addition to the vehicle of the contactless charging function by inductive coupling.

[0013] The magnetic support may be made of a solid material having a relative magnetic permeability greater than 1. The magnetic support is for example made of ferrite or of an iron powder-based material. The magnetic support may constitute a core.

[0014] The inverter / rectifier may comprise at least two switching arms, each switching arm comprising two electronic switches arranged on either side of a midpoint.

[0015] One of these two arms can be controlled so that it switches at the frequency of the electrical energy exchanged without contact by inductive coupling and with a duty cycle of 50%, and the other of these two arms can be controlled so that it switches at a frequency higher than that of said electrical energy and with a duty cycle modulated according to the alternating current flowing in the secondary inductive cell and the voltage on the alternating input of this inverter / rectifier.

[0016] The frequency higher than that of the electrical energy exchanged without contact by inductive coupling is for example higher than at least 5 times or 10 times the frequency of the electrical energy exchanged without contact. This is for example a frequency between 50 kHz and 500 kHz, for example 100 kHz or 150 kHz.

[0017] The order can be carried out as follows:

[0018] - according to a first control mode, a first of these two arms is for example controlled so that it switches at the frequency of the electrical energy exchanged without contact by inductive coupling and with a duty cycle of 50%, and a second of these two arms is controlled so that it switches at a frequency higher than that of said electrical energy and with a duty cycle modulated according to the alternating current flowing in the secondary inductive cell and the voltage on the alternating input of this inverter / rectifier, and

[0019] - according to a second control mode, the second arm is controlled so that it switches at the frequency of the electrical energy exchanged without contact by inductive coupling and with a duty cycle of 50%, and the first arm is controlled so that it switches at a frequency higher than that of said electrical energy and with a duty cycle modulated according to the alternating current flowing in the secondary inductive cell and the voltage on the alternating input of this inverter / rectifier.

[0020] Such a control with two control modes makes it possible not to use only one and the same arm of the inverter / rectifier to switch at the frequency higher than that of the electrical energy exchanged without contact by inductive coupling. Switching at such a frequency generates greater losses than at the frequency of the electrical energy exchanged without contact by inductive coupling. The invention thus prevents the same switching arm from undergoing these high losses and exhibiting significant temperature heating, this heating being able to affect the integrity of the electronic switches of the arm. The existence of the two control modes thus makes it possible not to use only one switching arm at high frequency, and therefore to better distribute the losses and consequently the heating of the different switching arms.This allows the temperature of the controllable electronic switches of the various switching arms to be reduced, thereby improving their performance and integrity. This can also avoid the need to provide a cooling system for these controllable electronic switches or to size these controllable electronic switches accordingly, thereby improving the compactness and cost of the power supply circuit.

[0021] The first control mode can be applied alternately with the second control mode.

[0022] In one example, the duty cycle a is expressed using the following expression:

[0023] °c=(RRef xlll ) / Vbatt

[0024] where:

[0025] -1 denotes the current flowing in the secondary inductive cell,

[0026] - RRef is as already mentioned the equivalent impedance on the alternating input of the inverter / rectifier, RRef being equal to the ratio V / I where V is the voltage between the two midpoints of the inverter / rectifier,

[0027] In all of the above, the secondary inductive cell may be constituted by the series association of a secondary capacitor and the secondary inductor. Alternatively, the secondary inductive cell may be constituted by the secondary inductor, the switching arms of the inverter / rectifier being controlled so that the voltage across the AC input of this inverter / rectifier emulates the presence of a secondary capacitor connected in series with the secondary inductive cell. Such a control making it possible to obtain this emulation is described in the application filed in France on June 2, 2023 by the Applicant under number 23 05573. The content of this application is incorporated by reference into the present application with regard to the control of the duty cycles of the switching arms of the inverter / rectifier.

[0028] The electrical energy storage unit may be a lithium-ion type battery. This battery has, for example, a nominal voltage of 12V, 48V, 60V or more, for example greater than 300V, for example 400V, 800V or 1000V.

[0029] In all of the above, and according to a first example of implementation of the invention, the secondary sub-circuit may comprise: a single-phase inverter / rectifier and an additional electrical energy storage unit, the single-phase inverter / rectifier being arranged so as to allow an exchange of electrical energy between the additional inductance and the additional electrical energy storage unit.

[0030] The secondary sub-circuit can thus form an isolated DC / DC converter, the inverter / rectifier used for impedance matching being here controlled to participate in the realization of this DC / DC converter function. Here, advantage is taken of the fact that:

[0031] - the contactless exchange of electrical energy by inductive coupling between the vehicle and an electrical network, and

[0032] - DC / DC voltage conversion within the vehicle's on-board network

[0033] are not done simultaneously, to assign different tasks to the inverter / rectifier and the secondary inductive cell depending on the current configuration.

[0034] The nominal voltage of the additional electrical energy storage unit is for example lower than that of the electrical energy storage unit, this nominal voltage of the additional electrical energy storage unit being in particular equal to 12V or 48V. A high voltage / low voltage converter is thus produced. The additional electrical energy storage unit is then used for example to supply all or part of:

[0035] - electrical consumers belonging to a set of consumers of vehicle air conditioning, being for example chosen from all or part of the following consumers: valves, manifold, fan, water pumps, air conditioning compressor, high voltage heating module on the water loop, and / or

[0036] - electrical consumers belonging to a set of consumers vehicle lighting or vehicle window wiping, being for example chosen from all or part of the following consumers: front projector (headlight), rear projector, front windscreen wiper, rear windscreen wiper, front defrost module, rear defrost module, etc., and / or

[0037] - electrical consumers belonging to a set of consumers of propulsion of the vehicle, being for example chosen from all or part of the following consumers: steering or braking control by wire, active suspension, etc., and / or

[0038] - electrical consumers belonging to a set of consumers for driving assistance, called “AD AS” in English, and / or

[0039] - electrical consumers belonging to a set of consumers for the proper functioning of the vehicle interior, being for example chosen from all or part of the following consumers: door window regulator, door lighting, seat heating panel, trunk opening actuator, hood opening actuator, electrical socket in the trunk, etc.

[0040] Alternatively, the nominal voltage of the additional electrical energy storage unit may be equal to 300V or 400V when the nominal voltage of the electrical energy storage unit is equal to 800V.

[0041] Alternatively, the nominal voltage of the additional electrical energy storage unit may be equal to that of the electrical energy storage unit, this nominal voltage of the additional electrical energy storage unit being in particular equal to 400V or 800V. It is thus possible to benefit from two electrical energy storage units which can be mounted in series, in parallel or in isolation as required.

[0042] The transformer thus defined between the electrical energy storage unit and the additional electrical energy storage unit, and the various aforementioned inverters / rectifiers may be such that the exchange of energy between said electrical energy storage units takes place through a resonant converter of the LLC or CLLLC type, for example.

[0043] According to a second example of implementation, the secondary sub-circuit may comprise: a voltage converter, and a connector capable of being connected in a wired manner to the voltage network, the voltage converter being arranged so as to allow an exchange of electrical energy between the additional inductance and the connector.

[0044] The secondary sub-circuit can thus form an isolated wired charger, the inverter / rectifier used for impedance matching being here controlled to participate in the realization of this isolated wired charging function. Here, advantage is taken of the fact that:

[0045] - the contactless exchange of electrical energy by inductive coupling between the vehicle and an electrical network, and

[0046] - the exchange of electrical energy by wire with this electrical network

[0047] are not done simultaneously to assign different tasks to the inverter / rectifier and the secondary inductive cell depending on the current configuration.

[0048] The voltage converter may comprise a cascade connection of a three-phase inverter / rectifier and a single-phase inverter / rectifier. The control of the three-phase inverter / rectifier may be adapted depending on whether the connector is connected to a single-phase or three-phase voltage network. Alternatively, the voltage converter is formed by cascading a single-phase inverter / rectifier and another single-phase inverter / rectifier.

[0049] According to this second example of implementation, an isolated DC / DC converter is thus formed by the union:

[0050] - two inverter / rectifiers arranged on either side of the transformer, and

[0051] - of the transformer.

[0052] This DC / DC converter is for example a resonant converter of the LLC or CLLLC type.

[0053] According to a third example of implementation, the secondary sub-circuit comprises two additional windings cooperating with the magnetic support so as to define respectively:

[0054] - a first additional inductance magnetically coupled via the support ma genetic with the secondary inductance of the secondary inductive cell, and

[0055] - a second additional inductance magnetically coupled via the support ma genetic with the secondary inductance of the secondary inductive cell,

[0056] the secondary sub-circuit further comprising:

[0057] - a single-phase inverter / rectifier and an electrical energy storage unit ad additional, the single-phase inverter / rectifier being arranged so as to allow an exchange of electrical energy between the first additional inductance and the additional electrical energy storage unit, and

[0058] - a voltage converter and a connector capable of being connected in a wired manner to the voltage network, the voltage converter being arranged so as to allow an exchange of electrical energy between the additional inductance and the connector.

[0059] The third implementation example combines the first implementation example and the second implementation example, so that what has been stated above- above in relation to the first implementation example still applies for this third implementation example. Similarly, what was stated above in relation to the second implementation example still applies for this third implementation example.

[0060] In all of the above, the secondary inductive cell may have a resonance frequency of less than 10kHz, in particular 7kHz, in particular 5kHz, in particular less than 3kHz, in particular or even less than 2kHz or 1kHz, in particular substantially equal to 400 Hz or 50 Hz.

[0061] In this case, the electrical winding of the secondary inductor and the electrical winding of the additional inductor may be made other than from Litz wire. Each of these windings may be made from metal wire, such as copper, or by stamping a metal plate, such as copper. This stamped metal plate may define a spiral. If necessary, several metal plates are stamped, each metal plate defines a spiral layer, and these different layers are stacked and electrically connected consecutively. Such an electrical conductor is solid, as opposed to Litz wire. A solid electrical conductor does not have its cross-section hollowed out.

[0062] Alternatively, the winding of each of these inductances is made of Litz wire.

[0063] The secondary sub-circuit can define a rigid structure, manipulable by a single tenant. This structure is suitable for being embedded in a hybrid or electric vehicle.

[0064] The invention also relates, according to another of its aspects, to an electrical power supply circuit for an electrical energy storage unit, this electrical power supply circuit comprising:

[0065] - a primary sub-circuit, capable of being connected to a voltage network, and

[0066] - the secondary sub-circuit as defined above,

[0067] the primary sub-circuit comprising:

[0068] - a primary inductive cell for contactless exchange by inductive coupling of electrical energy with the secondary inductive cell, and

[0069] - an inverter / rectifier comprising at least two switching arms, each switching arm comprising two controllable electronic switches arranged on either side of a midpoint.

[0070] The secondary inductive cell and the primary inductive cell are advantageously chosen so that they have the same resonance frequency, in particular a resonance frequency lower than 10kHz, in particular lower than 5kHz as already mentioned above. The contactless exchange by inductive coupling of electrical energy then takes place at this resonance frequency lower than 10kHz.

[0071] In all of the above, the primary inductive cell can be constituted by the series association of a primary capacitor and a primary inductance. alternatively, and similarly to what has been mentioned in relation to the secondary inductive cell, the primary inductive cell may be constituted by a primary inductance, the switching arms of the inverter / rectifier of the primary sub-circuit being controlled in such a way that the voltage across the AC input of this inverter / rectifier emulates the presence of a primary capacitor connected in series with the primary inductive cell.

[0072] Where appropriate, the primary sub-circuit may comprise another inverter / rectifier mounted upstream of the inverter / rectifier at the midpoints of which the primary inductive cell is mounted, and this other inverter / rectifier makes it possible to rectify the alternating voltage received from the network when the load is carried out from an alternating voltage network. This other inverter / rectifier can then perform a power factor correction function. Such a correction makes it possible, in a known manner, for the current drawn from the network to be as close as possible to a perfect sine wave at the network pulse. This reduces the reactive current and the sub-harmonics which increase the energy losses in conduction.

[0073] The primary inductive cell may be integrated into a charging mat placed in or on the ground, as described in the application filed by this Applicant on 09 / 11 / 2023 under number 2309545.

[0074] In all of the above, the electrical network provides, for example, a nominal effective voltage of 230V with a frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz. The electrical network is, for example, single-phase. The electrical network is, for example, a regional or national electrical network. Alternatively, it may be an independent local network, comprising, for example, one or more batteries powered by energy sources such as wind turbines, solar panels, fuel cells or hydroelectric generators.

[0075] As a further variant, the electrical network can provide a direct voltage.

[0076] The electrical circuit may comprise a control unit configured to control the switching arms of the primary sub-circuit and / or the secondary sub-circuit. For the purposes of the present invention, when an arm switches, each of its two controllable electronic switches is opened and closed in a complementary manner with the same switching frequency. The or each aforementioned control unit then belongs to the control unit.

[0077] In all of the above, the control unit may be configured to control the various switching arms so as to selectively perform:

[0078] - charging the electrical energy storage unit wired or wirelessly contact by inductive coupling from the voltage network, or

[0079] - a charge of the voltage network in a wired or contactless manner by coupling inductive from the electrical energy storage unit.

[0080] Thus, depending on the need, the exchange of electrical energy can be carried out in one direction or the other.

[0081] In all of the above, each switching arm comprises controllable electronic switches, in particular exclusively electronic switches which are controllable, and each controllable electronic switch is for example a transistor, for example bipolar, MOSFET or IGBT, or a thyristor or a switch of the HEMT type already mentioned above. Each controllable electronic switch is for example bidirectional.

[0082] In all of the above, the control unit may be a digital processing circuit, for example an ASIC (Application-specific integrated circuit) or a microcontroller. This control unit may control all the switching arms of the electrical circuit, whether they belong to the primary sub-circuit or to the secondary sub-circuit.

[0083] The control unit may alternatively comprise a primary sub-circuit control module and a secondary sub-circuit control module.

[0084] As a further variant, each sub-circuit has its own control unit, the latter being able to be a digital processing circuit such as a microcontroller.

[0085] The invention also relates, according to another of its aspects, to a device for supplying electricity to an electrical energy storage unit, comprising:

[0086] - a charging station for a hybrid or electric vehicle, in which is arranged the primary sub-circuit of the electrical circuit as defined above or to which this primary sub-circuit is electrically connected, and

[0087] - a component capable of being embedded in a hybrid or electric vehicle, in in which the secondary sub-circuit of the electrical circuit as defined above is arranged.

[0088] This terminal then receives electrical energy from an electrical network via a cable which can be a single-phase cable or a three-phase cable. In this case, the primary circuit and the secondary circuit are not integrated into the same physical component.

[0089] In all of the above, the inductive cell can be configured to exchange with the other inductive cell a power whose value is between 3 kW and 50 kW.

[0090] The invention may be better understood by reading the following description of non-limiting examples of implementations thereof and by examining the attached drawing in which:

[0091] [Fig.l] schematically represents an electrical power supply circuit according to the invention,

[0092] [Fig.2] partially represents the secondary sub-circuit of the circuit of [Fig.l] according to a first example of implementation of the invention,

[0093] [Fig.3] partially represents the secondary sub-circuit of the circuit of [Fig.l] according to a second example of implementation of the invention, and

[0094] [Fig.4] partially represents the secondary sub-circuit of the circuit of [Fig.l] according to a third example of implementation of the invention.

[0095] [Fig.l] shows a circuit 1 for supplying electricity to an electrical energy storage unit 2. This electrical energy storage unit 2 is, for example, a vehicle battery, which may have a nominal voltage of 48V, 60V, 300V, 400V, 800V or more. This battery is used to supply power to an electric or hybrid vehicle propulsion system.

[0096] This electrical power supply circuit 1 comprises:

[0097] - a control unit 3,

[0098] - a primary sub-circuit 4, capable of being connected to a voltage network 5, and

[0099] - a secondary sub-circuit 6, comprising the electrical energy storage unit 2.

[0100] The electrical power supply circuit 1 implements a contactless exchange of electrical energy by inductive coupling between the primary sub-circuit 4 and the secondary sub-circuit 6, for charging the electrical energy storage unit 2.

[0101] The control unit 3 is for example a microcontroller or any digital processing unit.

[0102] In the example considered, the primary sub-circuit 4 comprises:

[0103] - a connector 9 capable of being connected to the electrical network,

[0104] - an inverter / rectifier 21 comprising here two switching arms 7, mounted in parallel and whose operation will be described below, and

[0105] - a primary inductive cell 10 whose operation will be described below.

[0106] The electrical network 5 is here represented in the form of a voltage network continuous but it can alternatively be an alternating voltage network providing for example a nominal effective voltage of 230V with a frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz. Such an alternating voltage electrical network can be single-phase or three-phase. Other voltages are possible, for example a single-phase voltage with an effective value of 120V and a frequency of 60Hz, a two-phase voltage with an effective value of 208V and a frequency of 60Hz or a three-phase voltage of 240V and a frequency of 60Hz, this list not being exhaustive. In the case where the network provides an alternating voltage, another inverter / rectifier not shown is provided between the network and the inverter / rectifier 21, this other inverter / rectifier providing for example a power factor correction function.

[0107] As can be seen in [Fig.l], a capacitor 15 can be arranged in parallel with the two switching arms 7. The latter has, for example, a capacitance between IpF and ImF, for example 1OpF.

[0108] Each arm 7 of the primary sub-circuit 4 here comprises two controllable electronic switches 12, such as MOS, IGBT or bipolar transistors, or thyristors, arranged on either side of a midpoint 8. The two switches 12 of the same switching arm 7 are here controlled using the same duty cycle, one in opposition to the other with a dead time by the control unit 3.

[0109] The first arm 7 thus comprises two controllable electronic switches 12 and a first midpoint 8 to which a terminal of the primary inductive cell 10 is connected and these two controllable electronic switches 12 are controlled according to a duty cycle ah

[0110] The second arm 7 thus comprises two controllable electronic switches 12 and a second midpoint 8 to which the other terminal of the primary inductive cell 10 is connected and these two controllable electronic switches 12 are controlled according to a duty cycle a2.

[0111] In the example considered, no physical component is interposed between the two midpoints 8 of the inverter / rectifier 21 and the primary inductive cell 10.

[0112] The primary inductive cell 10 may, as shown in [Fig. 1], be formed by the series association of: a primary inductor allowing the generation of magnetic energy, and a primary capacitor, to form a resonant cell. The primary inductor has for example a value between 10pH and 10mH and the primary capacitor has a capacitance between 10 nF and 1 mF. The primary inductor comprises an electrical winding which is for example produced by winding a copper wire, other than Litz wire or by stamping a copper plate to form a spiral.

[0113] In a variant not shown, the primary inductive cell 10 is formed by a primary inductance only. No physical primary capacitor is present, the presence in series of this primary capacitor with the primary inductance of the primary inductive cell 10 being emulated by the control of the switching arms 7 by the control unit 3 using the duty cycles ai and a2.

[0114] An example of secondary sub-circuit 6 will now be described with reference to [Fig.l]. This secondary sub-circuit 6 comprises a secondary inductive cell 20 for the contactless exchange of energy with the primary inductive cell 10, and an inverter / rectifier 23, capable of carrying out an adaptation of the equivalent impedance on its alternating input (therefore on the side of the secondary inductive cell 20), so as to vary this impedance independently of the impedance of the electrical energy storage unit 2.

[0115] The inverter / rectifier 23 comprises in the example described two switching arms 24 arranged in parallel, each arm comprising two controllable electronic switches 12 arranged on either side of a midpoint 25.

[0116] The two switches 12 of the same switching arm 24 are here controlled using the same duty cycle, one in opposition to the other with a dead time by the control unit 3.

[0117] The first arm 24 thus comprises two controllable electronic switches 12 and a first midpoint 25 to which a terminal of the secondary inductive cell 20 is connected and these two controllable electronic switches 12 are controlled according to a duty cycle a3.

[0118] The second arm 24 thus comprises two controllable electronic switches 12 and a second midpoint 25 to which the other terminal of the secondary inductive cell 20 is connected and these two controllable electronic switches 12 are controlled according to a duty cycle a4.

[0119] The secondary inductive cell 20 is here formed by the series association of: a secondary inductance making it possible to recover the magnetic energy from the primary inductive cell 10, and a secondary capacitor, thus forming a resonant cell.

[0120] In a variant not shown, the secondary inductive cell 20 may be formed by a secondary inductance only. No physical secondary capacitor is present, the presence in series of this secondary capacitor with the secondary inductance of the secondary inductive cell 20 being emulated by the control of the switching arms 24 by the control unit 3 using the duty cycles a3 and a4.

[0121] In the example considered, the secondary inductance has a value between ImH and 100mH and the secondary capacitor has a capacitance between 100pF and 100mF. The secondary inductance is here formed by the cooperation between a magnetic support 32, forming for example a core, and a winding produced by winding a copper wire, other than Litz wire, or by stamping a copper plate to form a spiral winding. The magnetic material chosen for the support 32 is for example any material having a relative magnetic permeability greater than 1.

[0122] The control unit 3 acts in the example described on the control of the inverter / rectifier 23 so as to vary the equivalent impedance RRef at the terminals of the alternating input, defined between the two midpoints 25 of the switching arms 24, independently of the impedance on the continuous output of this inverter / rectifier 23.

[0123] The equivalent impedance RRef is represented by the ratio V / I where V is the voltage between the two midpoints 25, and I the intensity of the current flowing in the secondary inductive cell 20.

[0124] RRef has for example a value between 0.1 'Q and 20'Q, in particular between 5 'Q and 15 'Q. For a given charging configuration, this configuration being in particular determined by at least one of: the position of the secondary sub-circuit 6 relative to the primary sub-circuit 4 and / or the power level to be transmitted and / or the voltage at the terminals of the electrical energy storage unit 2, RRef may have a fixed value and this value is for example in the aforementioned range. From one charging configuration to another, for example in the event of a greater distance between the primary sub-circuit 4 and the secondary sub-circuit 6 and / or to take into account the aging of the system, the value of RRef may be modified, remaining in particular in the aforementioned range.

[0125] The inverter / rectifier 23 of [Fig.l] is for example controlled as follows by the control unit 3, to carry out the impedance adaptation on the alternating input of the inverter / rectifier 23:

[0126] - one of the two switching arms 24 switches at the frequency of the energy electrical exchanged without contact by inductive coupling and with a duty cycle a3 of 50%, and

[0127] - the other of the two switching arms 24 switches at a frequency higher than that of the electrical energy exchanged without contact, for example at least 5 times or 10 times this frequency of the electrical energy exchanged without contact, and with a duty cycle a4 modulated according to the alternating current flowing in the secondary inductive cell 20 and according to the voltage across the terminals of the alternating input of the inverter / rectifier 23. One of the controllable switches 12 of the switching arm 24 which switches at a frequency higher than that of the electrical energy exchanged without contact is for example controlled according to the duty cycle a4 while the other controllable switch of this arm 24 is controlled according to the duty cycle 1- a 4, and a4 is for example determined according to the equation below:

[0128] œ4 =(Rref xlll) / Vbatt

[0129] where Vbatt denotes the voltage across the terminals of the electrical energy storage unit 2.

[0130] As can be seen in [Fig.l], the secondary sub-circuit 6 of [Fig.l] comprises at least one additional winding cooperating with the magnetic support 32 so as to define an additional inductance 30 magnetically coupled via the magnetic support 32 with the secondary inductance of the secondary inductive cell 20.

[0131] The magnetic support 32, the secondary inductance of the secondary inductive cell 20, and the additional inductance 30 form an isolated transformer. As shown very schematically in [Fig.l], a block 31 schematically representing an additional component of the secondary sub-circuit 6 is connected to the additional inductance 32.

[0132] According to a first example of implementation of the invention which will now be described with reference to [Fig.2], block 31 allows the production with the inverter / rectifier 23 and the secondary inductive cell 20 of a DC / DC converter.

[0133] As can be seen in [Fig.2], the secondary sub-circuit 6 comprises:

[0134] - a single-phase inverter / rectifier 40, and

[0135] - an additional electrical energy storage unit 41.

[0136] As shown in [Fig.2], the inverter / rectifier 40 is arranged so as to allow an exchange of electrical energy between the additional inductance 30 and the additional electrical energy storage unit 41.

[0137] The single-phase inverter / rectifier 40 comprises, in the example described, two switching arms allowing zero voltage switching (ZVS in English). However, this ZVS switching is not mandatory.

[0138] The nominal voltage of the additional electrical energy storage unit 41 is for example lower than that of the electrical energy storage unit 2, being in particular equal to 12V or 48V, or even 300V or 400V when the nominal voltage of the electrical energy storage unit 2 is equal to 800V.

[0139] Alternatively, the nominal voltage of the additional electrical energy storage unit 41 is equal to that of the electrical energy storage unit 2, being in particular equal to 400V or 800V.

[0140] According to a second example of implementation of the invention which will now be described with reference to [Fig. 3], the block 31 allows the production with the inverter / rectifier 23 and the secondary inductive cell 20 of a wired charger of the DC / DC converter storage unit.

[0141] As can be seen in [Fig.3], the secondary sub-circuit 6 comprises:

[0142] - a voltage converter 50, and

[0143] - a connector 51 capable of being wired to the voltage network 5.

[0144] As shown in [Fig.3], the voltage converter 50 is arranged in so as to allow an exchange of electrical energy between the additional inductance 30 and the connector 51.

[0145] In the example shown, the voltage converter 50 comprises a cascade connection of a three-phase inverter / rectifier 52 and a single-phase inverter / rectifier 53. In a variant not shown, the voltage converter 50 is formed by cascading two single-phase inverter / rectifiers.

[0146] According to a third example of implementation of the invention which will now be described with reference to [Fig. 4], two blocks 31 are provided. These blocks 31 respectively allow: the production with the inverter / rectifier 23 and the secondary inductive cell 20 of a DC / DC converter, and the production with the inverter / rectifier 23 and the secondary inductive cell 20 of a wired charger of the storage unit of electrical energy 2.

[0147] According to this third example of implementation, the secondary sub-circuit comprises two additional windings cooperating with the magnetic support 32 so as to define respectively:

[0148] - a first additional inductance 30 magnetically coupled via the support magnetic 32 with the secondary inductance of the secondary inductive cell 20, and

[0149] - a second additional inductance 30 magnetically coupled via the support magnetic 32 with the secondary inductance of the secondary inductive cell 20.

[0150] The secondary sub-circuit 6 also comprises:

[0151] - the single-phase inverter / rectifier 40 and the electrical energy storage unit ad ditional 41, similarly to [Fig.2], and

[0152] - the voltage converter 50 and the connector 51, similarly to [Fig.3].

[0153] The third implementation example combines the first implementation example and the second implementation example, so that what has been stated above in relation to [Fig.2] and what has been stated above in relation to [Fig.3]

[0154] Other functions can be added via block 31 for this third example implementation.

Claims

Claims

1. Secondary sub-circuit (6) for the electrical supply of an electrical energy storage unit (2), this secondary sub-circuit (6) being capable of contactless exchange by inductive coupling of electrical energy with a primary sub-circuit (4) capable of being connected to a voltage network (5), the secondary sub-circuit (6) comprising: - a secondary inductive cell (20) for contactless exchange by inductive coupling of electrical energy with the primary sub-circuit (4), the secondary inductive cell comprising a secondary inductance comprising an electrical winding cooperating with a magnetic support (32), - an electrical energy storage unit (2), and - an inverter / rectifier (23) capable of performing an impedance adaptation of the impedance on the alternating input of this inverter / rectifier (23), independently of the impedance of the electrical energy storage unit (2),characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one additional winding (30) cooperating with the magnetic support (32) so as to define an additional inductance magnetically coupled via the magnetic support (32) with the secondary inductance of the secondary inductive cell (20).,

2. Secondary sub-circuit according to claim 1, the magnetic support (32) being made of a solid material having a relative magnetic permeability greater than 1.

3. A secondary sub-circuit according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a single-phase inverter / rectifier (40) and an additional electrical energy storage unit (41), the single-phase inverter / rectifier (40) being arranged to allow an exchange of electrical energy between the additional inductance (30) and the additional electrical energy storage unit (41).

4. Secondary sub-circuit according to claim 3, the nominal voltage of the additional electrical energy storage unit (41) being lower than that of the electrical energy storage unit (2), this nominal voltage of the additional electrical energy storage unit (41) being in particular equal to 12V or 48V.

5. Secondary sub-circuit according to the preceding claim, the voltage nominal voltage of the additional electrical energy storage unit (41) being equal to that of the electrical energy storage unit (2), this nominal voltage of the additional electrical energy storage unit (41) being in particular equal to 400V or 800V.

6. Secondary sub-circuit according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a voltage converter (50) and a connector (51) capable of being wired to the voltage network (5), the voltage converter (50) being arranged so as to allow an exchange of electrical energy between the additional inductance (30) and the connector (51).

7. A sub-circuit according to claim 6, the voltage converter (50) comprising a cascade arrangement of a three-phase inverter / rectifier (52) and a single-phase inverter / rectifier (53).

8. Sub-circuit according to claim 1 or 2, comprising two additional windings (30) cooperating with the magnetic support (32) so as to define respectively: - a first additional inductance (30) magnetically coupled via the magnetic support (32) with the secondary inductance of the secondary inductive cell (20), and - a second additional inductance (30) magnetically coupled via the magnetic support (32) with the secondary inductance of the secondary inductive cell (20), the sub-circuit further comprising: - a single-phase inverter / rectifier (40) and an additional electrical energy storage unit (41), the inverter / rectifier being arranged so as to allow an exchange of electrical energy between the first additional inductance (30) and the additional electrical energy storage unit (41), and - a voltage converter (50) and a connector (51) capable of being wired to the voltage network (5),the voltage converter (50) being arranged so as to allow an exchange of electrical energy between the additional inductance (30) and the connector (51).,

8. Secondary sub-circuit according to any one of the preceding claims, the secondary inductive cell (20) being constituted by the series association of a secondary capacitor and the secondary inductance.

10. Secondary sub-circuit according to any one of the preceding claims, the secondary inductive cell (20) having a resonance frequency of less than 10kHz, in particular less than 7kHz, in particular less than 5 kHz, in particular less than 3 kHz, in particular or even less than 2 kHz or 1 kHz, in particular substantially equal to 400 Hz or 50 Hz.

11. Secondary sub-circuit according to claim 10, the electrical winding of the secondary inductance and the electrical winding of the additional inductance (30) being made other than from Litz wire.

12. Electrical power supply circuit (1) of an electrical energy storage unit (2), this electrical power supply circuit comprising: - a primary sub-circuit (4), capable of being connected to a voltage network (5), and - the secondary sub-circuit (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, the primary sub-circuit (4) comprising: - a primary inductive cell (10) for contactless exchange by inductive coupling of electrical energy with the secondary inductive cell (20), and - an inverter / rectifier (21) comprising at least two switching arms (7), each switching arm (7) comprising two controllable electronic switches (12) arranged on either side of a midpoint (15).

13. Device for supplying electricity to an electrical energy storage unit (2), comprising: - the electrical supply circuit (1) according to claim 12, - a charging terminal for a hybrid or electric vehicle, in which the primary sub-circuit (4) of the electrical circuit (1) is arranged or to which the primary sub-circuit (4) is electrically connected, and - a component capable of being embedded in a hybrid or electric vehicle, in which the secondary sub-circuit (6) of the electrical circuit (1) is arranged.

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