VEHICLE COMPRISING A DEVICE WITH POSITIONING INDICATORS AND METHOD IMPLEMENTING THE DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the electrical charging of an electric or hybrid vehicle battery. The charging device comprises an interface surface (10) including a first region (31) having a first indicator (41) configured to emit a first signal and a second region (32) having a second indicator (42) configured to emit a second signal. The device includes an electrical power receiver configured to receive electrical power from an electrical power emitter (20). The first indicator (41) and the second indicator (42) emit a light signal so as to indicate the positioning of the electrical power emitter (20) relative to the electrical power receiver and to provide information to correct this positioning. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: VEHICLE COMPRISING A DEVICE WITH POSITIONING INDICATORS AND METHOD IMPLEMENTING THE DEVICE

[0001] The invention relates to electric vehicles, that is to say, those equipped with at least one battery for storing electrical energy intended for their propulsion. This includes vehicles with a single means of electric propulsion, as well as hybrid vehicles incorporating at least one mode of electric propulsion.

[0002] Patent application WO2015077198 describes an electric charging system for a vehicle. The charging system includes a visual indicator defining a charging zone. Furthermore, a device to be charged includes an electrical power receiver. The charging zone includes an electrical power transmitter capable of transmitting electrical power to the electrical power receiver when the device to be charged is in contact with the charging zone.

[0003] However, in some cases, the device to be recharged is in contact with the charging area, but the electrical receiver remains distant from the electrical power emitter. In these cases, the device to be recharged is electrically charged at a limited rate. Furthermore, the device to be recharged may overheat, leading to the degradation of some of its electronic components.

[0004] The objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and improve the efficiency of electrical charging.

[0005] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes an electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a battery including a device for the electrical charging of the battery, the device comprising: - an interface surface comprising a first region including a first indicator configured to emit a first signal, the first region comprising a second region including a second indicator configured to emit a second signal; - an electrical power receiver configured to receive electrical power from an electrical power transmitter; and, - a sensor configured to measure the distance between the electrical power receiver and the electrical power emitter.

[0006] This helps guide the placement of the electrical power transmitter relative to the electrical power receiver. The indicators are arranged so as to The device guides the movement of the electrical power transmitter towards the electrical power receiver. Furthermore, the indicators are positioned to correct the initial misalignment of the electrical power transmitter relative to the electrical power receiver. This ensures more precise alignment of the electrical power receiver with the electrical power transmitter, thereby increasing the efficiency of electrical power transfer between the transmitter and receiver.

[0007] Advantageously, the first region and the second region are in the shape of discs.

[0008] Due to its alignment with the second region, the electrical power receiver is positioned as close as possible to the region intended to receive the greatest electrical power transfer. This increases the efficiency of the electrical power transfer between the power receiver and the electrical power emitter.

[0009] Advantageously, the first and second regions are concentric.

[0010] Due to their arrangement, the regions offer the largest possible interface surface for the maneuvering perimeter of the electrical power emitter, facilitating access to the charging device.

[0011] Advantageously, the first region has a first surface, the second region has a second surface, the first surface being 1 to 5 times larger than the second surface.

[0012] Such a surface area ratio is sufficient to provide enough space to establish an electrical power transfer between the electrical power emitter and the electrical power receiver and to properly distinguish the regions, without the interface surface excessively cluttering the loading device.

[0013] Advantageously, the first indicator and the second indicator are in the shape of rings.

[0014] Advantageously, the first signal and the second signal are light waves, the first signal having a first wavelength, the second signal having a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength.

[0015] The signal wavelengths are chosen so as to distinguish the regions of the interface surface. Furthermore, the light waves make it easy to determine the relative position of the electrical power emitter with respect to the electrical power receiver, facilitating the correction of their relative positioning. Consequently, the movement of the electrical power emitter is directed towards the electrical power receiver.

[0016] Advantageously, the interface surface includes a third region configured to emit a third signal, the first region comprising the third region and the third region comprising the second region.

[0017] The presence of this additional region makes it possible to ensure clearer and more progressive guidance, by acting as an intermediate zone.

[0018] Advantageously, the electrical power receiver is an induction coil.

[0019] This allows for contactless electrical power transfer between the electrical power transmitter and the electrical power receiver, avoiding the risks of mechanical wear and connectivity.

[0020] The invention also relates to an electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a device defined as above.

[0021] The invention further relates to an installation for the electrical recharging of a vehicle battery defined as above, the vehicle comprising a charging gun having an electrical power transmitter configured to transmit electrical power to the electrical power receiver.

[0022] The invention also relates to a method for the electrical recharging of a vehicle battery defined as above, the method comprising the following steps: - a step of bringing the charging gun of the installation defined as above into contact with the interface surface; - a measurement step, using the sensor, of the distance between the electrical power receiver and the electrical power emitter; - a step of emitting the first signal when the measured distance is greater than a predetermined distance; - a step of moving the electrical power emitter so as to reduce the distance between the electrical power receiver and the electrical power emitter while the first signal is being emitted; - a step of emitting the second signal, so as to indicate that the electrical power transferred is above a predetermined threshold, when the measured distance is less than the predetermined distance; - a step of transferring electrical power from the electrical power transmitter to the electrical power receiver, so as to recharge the battery, as long as the second signal is emitted.

[0023] The invention will be further detailed by describing a non-limiting embodiment, and based on the accompanying figures, in which: - [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a device for the electrical charging of a battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention; - [Fig.2] represents a flowchart of a method for the electrical recharging of the battery of the electric or hybrid vehicle, implementing the device illustrated in [Fig.1], according to the present invention.

[0024] Figure 1 illustrates a device included in an electric or hybrid vehicle (not shown), the device being intended for the electrical charging of a battery of the electric or hybrid vehicle. The device comprises an interface surface 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] The interface surface 10 comprises a first region comprising the second region 32. The first region 31 comprises a first indicator 4L The second region 32 comprises a second indicator 42.

[0026] Fig. 1 represents the first region 31 in the form of a disk having a first radius and the second region 32 in the form of a disk having a second radius.

[0027] Preferably, the first region 31 and the second region 32 are concentric.

[0028] The first indicator 41 and the second indicator 42, illustrated in [Fig. 1], are ring-shaped. Preferably, a first indicator 41 is disposed on the inner periphery of the first region 31. Similarly, a second indicator 42 is disposed on the inner periphery of the second region 32.

[0029] Other forms, not illustrated, can also be envisaged for the first indicator 41 and the second indicator 42. For example, the first indicator 41 comprises a first primary hemicycle and a second primary hemicycle, these being arranged at the inner periphery of the first region 31. Furthermore, the second indicator 42 comprises a first secondary hemicycle and a second secondary hemicycle, these being arranged at the inner periphery of the second region 32.

[0030] The device includes an electrical power receiver. The electrical power receiver is disposed on one side of the interface surface 10, while the electrical power emitter 20 is disposed on the other side of the interface surface 10. The electrical power receiver is configured to receive electrical power from an electrical power emitter 20. Thus, the electrical power emitter 20, although separated from the electrical power receiver by the interface surface 10, transmits electrical power to the electrical power receiver.

[0031] Furthermore, when the electrical power transmitter 20 is aligned with the electrical power receiver, the reception of an electrical power transfer is greater.

[0032] The charging device further includes a sensor. The sensor is configured to measure the distance between the electrical power receiver and the electrical power emitter. For example, the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, a sensor infrared, a capacitive sensor, an induction sensor, or an image sensor. Thus, the sensor is configured to measure the distance from the known position of the electrical power receiver and the detected position of the electrical power emitter 20, in addition, by the aforementioned means.

[0033] The first indicator 41 is configured to emit a first signal. The second indicator 42 is configured to emit a second signal.

[0034] Advantageously, the first and second signals are light waves. Thus, the first signal has a first wavelength and the second signal has a second wavelength. The first and second wavelengths are preferably in the range visible to the human eye, typically between 400 nm and 800 nm.

[0035] Preferably, the first wavelength is shorter than the second wavelength. For example, the first signal is preferably a red light wave, with the first wavelength typically between 620 nm and 750 nm. The second signal is preferably a green light wave, with the second wavelength typically between 495 nm and 570 nm.

[0036] Advantageously, the first signal flashes at shorter intervals as the first distance decreases relative to the second distance.

[0037] Advantageously, the first signal has a higher brightness when the first distance decreases compared to the second distance.

[0038] Preferably, the first frequency is smaller than the second frequency.

[0039] Advantageously, the interface surface 10 comprises a third region, not illustrated in [Fig. 1]. Preferably, the first region 31 includes the third region, and the third region includes the second region. The third region is configured to emit a third signal.

[0040] Preferably, the third signal is a light wave having a third wavelength different from the first wavelength and the second wavelength, for example orange in color, typically between 590 nm and 620 nm.

[0041] An installation (not illustrated) for electrically recharging the vehicle battery includes a charging gun having an electrical power transmitter 20 configured to transmit electrical power to the electrical power receiver of the device.

[0042] Advantageously, the electrical power receiver is connected to a battery, not shown, preferably integrated into a hybrid or electric vehicle. Furthermore, the electrical power transmitter 20 is electrically connected to a power supply. In this way, the electrical power received by the device recharges the battery of the hybrid or electric vehicle.

[0043] Figure 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method for recharging the device comprising steps described below, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] In a contact step El, the reloading gun is brought into contact with the interface surface 10.

[0045] In a measurement step E2, the distance between the electrical power receiver and the electrical power emitter 20 is measured by means of the sensor.

[0046] In practice, the distance is measured with a predetermined sampling frequency.

[0047] In the first signal emission step E3, the first signal is emitted when the measured distance is greater than a predetermined distance.

[0048] Advantageously, in the case where the first region 31 and the second region 32 have disk shapes, the predetermined distance is the value of the radius of the second region 32.

[0049] In a displacement step E4, the electric power emitter 20 is moved so as to reduce the distance between the electric power receiver and the electric power emitter while the first signal is emitted.

[0050] In the second signal E5 emission step, the second signal is emitted so as to indicate that the electrical power transferred is above a predetermined threshold, when the measured distance is less than the predetermined distance.

[0051] In a transfer step E6, the electrical power from the electrical power transmitter 20 is transmitted to the electrical power receiver so as to recharge the battery, as long as the second signal is emitted.

Claims

Demands

1. Electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a battery including a device for the electric charging of the battery, the device comprising: - an interface surface (10) comprising a first region (31) comprising a first indicator (41) configured to emit a first signal, the first region (31) comprising a second region (32) comprising a second indicator (42) configured to emit a second signal; - an electrical power receiver configured to receive electrical power from an electrical power transmitter (20); and, - a sensor configured to measure a distance between the electrical power receiver and the electrical power transmitter.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the first region (31) and the second region (32) are disc-shaped.

3. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first region (31) and the second region (32) are concentric.

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first region (31) has a first surface, the second region (32) has a second surface, the first surface being 1 to 5 times larger than the second surface.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first indicator (41) and the second indicator (42) are ring-shaped.

6. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first signal and the second signal are light waves, the first signal having a first wavelength, the second signal having a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength.

7. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the interface surface (10) comprises a third region configured to emit a third signal, the first region (31) comprising the third region and the third region comprising the second region (32).

8. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the electrical power receiver is an induction coil.

9. Installation for the electrical recharging of a vehicle battery according to any one of claims 1 to 8 comprising a charging gun having an electrical power transmitter (20) configured to transmit electrical power to the electrical power receiver.

10. A method for electrically recharging a vehicle battery according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the method comprising the following steps: - a step of bringing the charging gun of the installation according to claim 9 into contact with the interface surface (10); - a step of measuring (E2), by means of the sensor, the distance between the electrical power receiver and the electrical power emitter; - a step of emitting the first signal (E3) when the measured distance is greater than a predetermined distance; - a step of moving (E4) the electrical power emitter (20) so as to reduce the distance between the electrical power receiver and the electrical power emitter as long as the first signal is emitted;- a step of emitting the second signal (E5), so as to indicate that the electrical power transferred is above a predetermined threshold, when the measured distance is less than the predetermined distance; - a step of transferring electrical power (E6) from the electrical power transmitter (20) to the electrical power receiver, so as to recharge the battery, as long as the second signal is emitted.

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