System for inductive energy transfer

Abstract

The invention relates in particular to a system (1) for inductive energy transmission to a mobile application (100), comprising a stationary inductive charging device (2, 2a) with a stationary energy coil (3, 3a) and a mobile inductive charging device (2, 2b) with a mobile energy coil (3, 3b). A precise and robust identification of the relative positions of the energy coils (3) is achieved by means of a positioning device (4) having four transmitting coils (5) in one of the inductive charging devices (2) and at least one receiver (6) in the other inductive charging device (2), the transmitting coils (5) generating mutually distinguishable positioning fields (60) which interact with the at least one receiver (6) and based on the ratio of these positioning fields (60) it is identified whether the energy coils (3) overlap each other. The invention further relates to such an inductive charging device (2) and to a mobile application (100), in particular a motor vehicle (101), equipped with such a mobile inductive charging device (2, 2b).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for inductive energy transfer comprising a stationary inductive charging device and a mobile inductive charging device which interact with each other during a charging operation. The present invention further relates to such an inductive charging device and to a mobile application using such an inductive charging device.

[0002] A system for inductive energy transfer usually comprises a stationary inductive charging device as well as a mobile inductive charging device. During a charging operation, the energy coil of one of these inductive charging devices functions as a primary coil, and the energy coil of the other inductive charging device functions as a secondary coil. This type of system is usually used for inductive energy transfer to mobile applications, for example to automobiles, in which case the mobile application comprises a mobile inductive charging device. In mobile applications, the energy coil of the mobile inductive charging device is customarily a secondary coil during a charging operation. For inductive energy transfer, the primary coil generates an alternating magnetic field, which induces a voltage in the secondary coil. In order to enable inductive energy transfer and to increase the efficiency of inductive energy transfer, the primary and secondary coils, and thus the energy coil of the inductive charging device, need to be positioned in a corresponding manner relative to one another. For this purpose, it may be conceivable to equip the system with a corresponding positioning device.

[0003] A corresponding system is known, for example, from EP 2 727 759. This system comprises a positioning device for a vehicle equipped with a mobile inductive charging device in order to enable the vehicle to be navigated. The inductive charging device comprises a transmitter and a receiver.

[0004] DE 10 2012205283 A1 shows a system with a positioning device which has an even number of detector coil elements which are wound in opposite directions in pairs to form detector pairs.

[0005] The system shown in EP 3347230 comprises a positioning device, which has a transmitting unit in the mobile inductive charging device, which transmits a transmission signal of a preset frequency during operation, and further has a receiving unit in the stationary inductive charging device, which receives both the transmission signals and determines a signal component of the transmission signal, and depending on the determined signal component the relative position is determined.

[0006] DE 102017215932 describes a method for determining the position of a vehicle on a ground. The vehicle is equipped with a mobile inductive charging device. By energizing an energy coil of the mobile inductive charging device, at least one magnetic structure arranged in or on the ground over which the vehicle has traveled is magnetized. The structures are stored in a digital map together with the position information of the respective structures, and the position of the vehicle is then determined on the basis of the magnetized structures.

[0007] The problem addressed by the present invention is to provide an improved or at least alternative embodiment for a system of the type mentioned at the beginning, for an inductive charging device of the system and for mobile applications with a mobile inductive charging device of the system, in particular to obviate the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the problem addressed by the present invention is to provide an improved or at least alternative embodiment for the system, for the inductive charging device and for mobile applications, which is distinguished by a high degree of accuracy and / or a high degree of robustness in identifying the relative positioning of the energy coils of the system.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0009] The invention is therefore based on the general consideration of arranging four transmitter coils generating mutually distinguishable fields relative to one of the energy coils in a system with two energy coils which inductively interact during the charging operation, and arranging at least one field receiver relative to the other energy coil, and determining the ratio between the at least two fields generated by the transmitter coils with the at least one receiver for identifying the relative positions of the energy coils with respect to one another. Depending on the fixed arrangement of the transmitter coil with respect to the associated energy coil and the fixed arrangement of the at least one receiver with respect to the other energy coil, the ratio varies depending on the relative positions of the energy coils with respect to one another. The energy coils are thus arranged, for example, superimposed with a preset ratio of fields with respect to one another. In this way, the relative positions of the energy coils and in particular the superimposition of the energy coils with respect to one another can be determined in a simple and effective manner. Since the field ratio is used for identifying the relative positions of the energy coils with respect to one another, a more reliable calculation of the relative positions is provided, in particular compared to the calculation of absolute values ​​known from the prior art. This is in particular because the ratio of the received fields does not change at all or only changes very little with changing distances in the height direction. Thus, for example, a mobile inductive charging device may be installed or positioned at different heights in the associated application and / or a stationary inductive charging device may be installed or positioned at different heights or depths, but the relative positions of the energy coils to one another can nevertheless be identified without further calibration. Thus, by using the considerations according to the invention, the identification of the relative positions of the energy coils to one another is simplified.

[0010] The use of ratios for identifying the relative positions of the energy coils to one another, as explained, has the advantage that it is possible to dispense with repeated calibration of the inductive charging devices which inductively transfer energy to one another, i.e. at least one ratio can be preset in advance and, when determining such a ratio from the received field, it is identified that a corresponding relative position of the energy coils to one another exists. In this way, it is possible, in particular, to transmit said preset ratios from the field-generating inductive charging device once to the receiving inductive charging device, preferably before positioning is started, in order to determine the relative positions of the energy coils to one another. Alternatively, preferably, these ratios are preset in a fixed manner, so that they are stored in the receiving inductive charging device and thus no transmission to the receiving inductive charging device is necessary. This makes it possible, in particular, to determine the relative positions between the energy coils of different stationary inductive charging devices and the energy coils of various mobile inductive charging devices in a simple and robust manner without a prior calibration.

[0011] According to the considerations of the invention, the system comprises a stationary inductive charging device with an energy coil and a mobile inductive charging device with a mobile energy coil. During a charging operation of the system, one of the energy coils generates an alternating magnetic field, which induces a voltage for energy transmission in the other energy coil. Here, the inductive charging devices, in particular the energy coils, are spaced apart from one another in the height direction during the charging operation. The system further comprises a positioning device for identifying the relative positions of the energy coils to one another. The positioning device has four transmitting coils in one of the inductive charging devices and one receiver in the other inductive charging device. The transmitting coils are spaced apart from one another and two of the transmitting coils are arranged opposite each other such that they define a virtual frame. The frame defines a virtual frame volume that extends in the height direction starting from the frame. Here, the energy coils of the associated inductive charging devices are arranged at least partially within the virtual frame volume. The positioning device is configured such that the transmitting coils generate fields, hereinafter also referred to as positioning fields, which are respectively distinguishable from one another during the positioning operation. Furthermore, the at least one receiver is configured to interact with a positioning field generated by means of the transmitting coil during a positioning operation, and the positioning device is further configured to determine a ratio between the at least two positioning fields by means of the at least one receiver during a positioning operation, and to identify whether an energy coil of an inductive charging device having the receiver is present within the virtual frame volume based on the at least one ratio, and to output a positioning signal accordingly.

[0012] This determined ratio expediently corresponds to the local ratio of the positioning field.

[0013] Positioning can include mutual proximity of the energy coils and mutual accurate positioning of the energy coils, also referred to below as near-field positioning. The positioning device described herein is expediently used here for near-field positioning. Near-field positioning is advantageously used here when the energy coils have a distance of less than 1.0 m, preferably less than 0.5 m, from each other, in order to precisely position the energy coils from each other. At least one near field can be used to bring the energy coils into mutual proximity.

[0014] Each energy coil preferably has at least one winding. In the context of the present invention, this is to be understood as meaning in particular the entire area covered by at least one winding, in particular with respect to the extent of the energy coil, i.e. in the case of flat coils, the central area, where no windings may be present, also belongs to the energy coil.

[0015] Using each transmitting coil, a positioning field of magnetic and / or electromagnetic type is generated during operation, i.e. each positioning field is a magnetic and / or electromagnetic field.

[0016] For example, it is conceivable that at least one of the positioning fields is generated as an ultra-wideband range electromagnetic positioning field.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the at least one transmitting coil, preferably each transmitting coil, generates a magnetic positioning field during the positioning operation. A magnetic positioning field has the advantage that the receiver receives the positioning field simply and reliably compared to an electromagnetic positioning field. Furthermore, in this way it is possible to dispense with calibrations under different run times, as is required for example with conventional electromagnetic and / or acoustic fields. Thus, by using a magnetic positioning field, a simple and robust calculation of the ratio and thus the relative position of the energy coils to one another is performed. In particular, the omission of a calibration performed during each positioning also leads to the possibility of performing positioning between different inductive charging devices. In other words, the use of a magnetic positioning field makes it possible to realize positioning with different inductive charging devices in a simple manner.

[0018] Preferably, the main axis of each positioning field extends along the height direction, i.e. each positioning field extends at least primarily in or along the height direction and is therefore only receivable transversely to the height direction locally in the area of ​​the associated transmitting coil and energy coil, i.e. essentially above or directly around the energy coil. Using the positioning fields, the relative position is thus calculated locally and therefore in the vicinity of the stationary inductive charging device, i.e. when the mobile inductive charging device is already in close proximity to the stationary inductive charging device. Such a main axis has the advantage, on the one hand, that the relative position is calculated more precisely, in particular because the respective volumes are more precisely defined. On the other hand, in this way, overlapping of adjacent inductive charging devices transversely to the height direction, for example between the positioning fields of adjacent stationary inductive charging devices, is prevented or at least reduced. The latter also leads to more accurate calculation of relative positions, as well as simpler, less disruptive and more reliable operation of multiple adjacent inductive charging devices, for example adjacent stationary inductive charging devices.

[0019] A main axis of the positioning field running along the height direction is preferably achieved in that the associated transmitter coil is wound around a winding axis running parallel or substantially parallel to the height direction, i.e. the transmitter coil has at least one conductor path that is conductive during operation and that is wound around a winding axis running parallel or substantially parallel to the height direction.

[0020] If the energy coils of an inductive charging device having at least one receiver are present inside the frame volume, i.e. the energy coils are arranged one above the other in the height direction and overlap each other transversely to the height direction.

[0021] The ratio which the arrangement of the energy coil of the inductive charging device with at least one receiver inside the frame volume means is expediently preset, and preferably the preset ratio is stored, so that based on a comparison of the ratio determined using the at least one receiver (hereinafter also referred to as determined ratio) with the stored ratio, it is identified whether the energy coil of the inductive charging device with at least one receiver is present inside the frame volume.

[0022] The frame is defined by the transmitter coil as explained above. The frame is here a surface that defines a frame volume. The frame volume here extends in the height direction starting from this surface. Correspondingly, the energy coil of the inductive charging device with the transmitter coil is arranged in the frame or offset in the height direction relative to the frame.

[0023] During a charging operation, one energy coil acts as a primary coil that generates an alternating magnetic field, and the other energy coil acts as a secondary coil in which the alternating magnetic field induces a voltage.

[0024] Typically, the energy coil of the stationary inductive charging device is used here as a primary coil and the energy coil of the mobile inductive charging device is used as a secondary coil. Variations are also conceivable in which the mobile inductive charging device transmits inductive energy to the stationary inductive charging device. Bidirectional energy transmission is also conceivable.

[0025] With this system, in particular, inductive energy is transferred to mobile applications with a mobile inductive charging device. The voltage induced in the energy coil of the mobile inductive charging device during the charging operation can now be used to charge the battery. For this purpose, a rectifier can be provided between the energy coil and the battery.

[0026] In particular, the system may be used to transfer inductive energy to automobiles for mobile applications, for example to charge the automobile's batteries.

[0027] In particular, in the case of mobile applications, the relative movement of the mobile inductive charging device with respect to the stationary inductive charging device can be used to pre-determine that both energy coils are located within the frame volume. The positioning signal can thus be used for navigation of the mobile inductive charging device or the associated application. For this purpose, for example, a person, in particular a driver of a car, can provide instructions for moving, in particular for driving, the application depending on the positioning signal. For this purpose, for example, optical and / or acoustic signals can be output. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable to carry out an autonomous movement of the application, in particular of a car, depending on the positioning signal in order to achieve the location of the two energy coils within the frame volume.

[0028] In an advantageous embodiment, the positioning device is configured in such a way that a virtual target area is defined inside the frame. This target area here defines a virtual target volume inside the frame volume, which extends in the height direction starting from the target area, in which an energy coil of an inductive charging device with a transmitter coil is at least partially arranged. Furthermore, the positioning device is configured to identify whether an energy coil of an inductive charging device with at least one receiver is present inside the target volume based on at least one ratio, i.e. this target volume is a partial volume of the frame volume. In this way, the identification of the relative positions of the energy coils is improved and more precise. Furthermore, if two energy coils are arranged inside the target volume, a larger overlap of the energy coils and thus a higher efficiency is achieved during the charging operation than if two energy coils are arranged inside the frame volume and outside the target volume.

[0029] Advantageously, the frame volume and the target volume are selected such that the transmit coils are positioned and / or the positioning field is generated such that an efficiency of at least 90% is achieved when the energy coils overlap in the frame volume and / or in the target volume during the charging operation.

[0030] Essentially, the system can have more than one receiver.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the system has a single receiver, and is therefore simple and low cost to implement.

[0032] Each at least one receiver may essentially be configured in any way.

[0033] In particular, at least one of the at least one receiver is a coil, also referred to below as a receiving coil.

[0034] Thus, during operation, the positioning field in at least one receive coil induces a voltage that is output as an output signal of the receive coil, thereby determining a ratio of the at least two positioning fields.

[0035] In particular, at least one of the at least one receiving coil may be configured as a flat coil.

[0036] Basically, at least one of the at least one receiving coil of the energy coil may correspond to an inductive charging device having a receiving coil.

[0037] It is likewise conceivable that the energy coil of the inductive charging device with at least one receiver is different from the energy coil of the associated inductive charging device.

[0038] Each positioning field preferably has a locally dependent intensity profile with an intensity edge leading to an intensity maximum.

[0039] It is self-evident that at least one receiver has a lower threshold for interaction with the positioning field. This leads in particular to at least one receiver below a preset distance to the positioning field cooperating with these positioning fields. Basically, the positioning device, in particular the transmitting coil, may be permanently operated. It is conceivable to start the positioning operation when a corresponding distance between at least one receiver and the positioning field, in particular a corresponding distance between the inductive charging device, is lowered. This can be done in particular by the mobile inductive charging device transmitting a ping signal, which the transmitting coil generates when the stationary inductive charging device receives by the stationary inductive charging device.

[0040] In an embodiment considered to be advantageous, each transmitting coil generates a positioning field having a strength maximum during the positioning operation, the transmitting coils are arranged spaced apart from each other and / or the positioning device is operated such that the strength maxima of the positioning fields are spaced apart from each other and the positioning fields of at least two of the opposing transmitting coils coincide, i.e. in particular are respectively measurably present, within the frame volume, in particular within the target volume. The coincidence of the positioning fields allows a simple and reliable calculation of the corresponding ratio and thus a simple and robust identification of the relative positions of the energy coils with respect to each other.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the positioning device is configured such that the frame volume, preferably the target volume, is located within a preset ratio region between the intensity maxima of the positioning field of the respective opposite transmitting coils. Thus, a ratio region is assigned to the opposite transmitting coils, so that the overlap of the energy coils along the opposite transmitting coils can be identified at the ratio determined within the corresponding ratio region. In this way, not only the overlap of the energy coils with respect to each other can be identified, but also the direction in which the energy coils overlap in the lateral direction with respect to the height direction. Thus, a more precise identification of the relative positions of the energy coils with respect to each other is achieved. Furthermore, this makes it possible to output a positioning signal that results in the navigation of the mobile inductive charging device or the corresponding application being such that the energy coils overlap with each other.

[0042] At least one ratio area is preset in advance, like the ratio, whereby the at least one ratio area is preferably stored, so that, based on a comparison of the determined ratio with the associated ratio area, it is possible to identify whether there is an overlap of energy coils along the corresponding opposite transmission coils and / or whether there is a misalignment along the corresponding opposite transmission coils.

[0043] Here, the frame volume and the target volume can each be assigned an associated proportion area, with the at least one proportion area assigned to the target volume being expediently smaller than the at least one proportion area assigned to the frame volume.

[0044] For example, at least one of the at least one ratio region assigned to the target volume may be between 1:0.1 and 0.1:1.

[0045] For example, at least one of the at least one ratio region assigned to the frame volume may be between 10:0.05 and 0.05:10.

[0046] Furthermore, the considerations of the present invention provide the advantage that even in the case of stationary inductive charging devices and mobile inductive charging devices that are spaced apart from each other differently in the height direction, based on identification of the relative positions of the energy coils to each other based on at least one ratio, ratios and / or ratio ranges that are adapted to different distances in the height direction can be pre-set and taken into account, thereby enabling simple identification of the relative positions of the energy coils to each other.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the preset ratios, preferably each ratio, is spaced apart from the intensity maximum of the associated positioning field. Particularly preferably, at least one of the preset ratio regions, preferably each ratio region, is spaced apart from the intensity maximum of the associated positioning field. Thus, since the intensity maximum of the respective positioning field has a local profile in the form of a double projection, it is avoided that the ratio determined between the two projections is used. As a result, falsification in the identification of the relative positions of the energy coils with respect to one another is prevented or at least reduced.

[0048] An embodiment is advantageous in which the frame volumes, in particular the target volumes, are arranged between successive intensity edges of the positioning fields generated by the opposing transmission coils, i.e. the frame volumes or target volumes are spaced apart with respect to the intensity maxima, so that the above-described disadvantages arising due to the double-lobe shape of the intensity maxima are prevented within all frame volumes or target volumes.

[0049] In an advantageous embodiment, the transmitting coils are arranged at a distance from each other and / or the positioning device is operated such that the strength of at least two of the positioning fields generated by the opposing transmitting coils corresponds to the center with respect to the mutual energy coils of the inductive charging device having the transmitting coil. In other words, the ratio of at least two of the positioning fields generated by the opposing transmitting coils is 1:1 with respect to the center with respect to the associated energy coil. Thus, in a simple and robust manner, it is possible to identify the mutual arrangement of the energy coils centered in the direction of the opposing transmitting coils.

[0050] The transmission coils may in principle be configured in any way, in particular it is also conceivable for at least two of the transmission coils to be configured differently.

[0051] It is also conceivable that one of the transmitting coils of the energy coil corresponds to an inductive charging device having a transmitting coil.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the transmitting coil is different from the energy coil of the inductive charging device which comprises the transmitting coil.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment, the transmission coils are of identical design, so that the system is simple to manufacture and at the same time allows a uniform intensity profile of the positioning field to be achieved in a simple manner.

[0054] Preferred is an embodiment in which at least one of the at least one transmitting coil, and preferably each transmitting coil, is configured as a flat coil, so that the positioning device can be designed compactly.

[0055] It is preferable if the transmission coils each generate the same intensity profile during the positioning operation, so that the ratio can be determined simply and can be preset in advance. The same also applies to the ratio range.

[0056] Advantageously, at least two of the positioning fields are generated and / or the transmission coils are arranged such that the positioning fields are symmetrical to one another.

[0057] Preferably, the transmitting coil is configured and / or the positioning device is operated such that the total strength profile of the positioning field generated by the transmitting coil is symmetrical. Symmetry here preferably applies with respect to the opposing transmitting coils of an inductive charging device having a transmitting coil and / or with respect to the energy coil. In this way, the identification of the relative positions of the energy coils with respect to one another is simplified.

[0058] In a preferred embodiment, two of the transmitter coils are arranged opposite each other in a longitudinal direction extending transversely to the height direction. These transmitter coils are also referred to below as longitudinal transmitter coils. Furthermore, it is also preferred if two of the transmitter coils are arranged opposite each other in a transverse direction extending transversely to the height direction and transversely to the longitudinal direction. Thus, by means of the respectively associated ratios or ratio areas, the overlap or offset of the energy coils with respect to each other can be identified both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction. This leads to an increased accuracy in determining the relative positions of the energy coils with respect to each other. Furthermore, in this way, the navigation of a mobile inductive charging device, which is particularly suitable for a stationary inductive charging device, for achieving an overlap of the two energy coils both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction, can be performed simply and more precisely.

[0059] An embodiment is advantageous in which the transmission coils are arranged such that the frame is rectangular, thus providing a clear definition of the frame and thus of the frame volume, the same applies to the target region as well as the target volume.

[0060] Preferably, the frame is rectangular and / or the transmitting coils are arranged at the corners of the rectangle. Thus, by using four transmitting coils, two transmitting coils facing each other in the longitudinal direction and two transmitting coils facing each other in the transverse direction are realized. As a result, in the case of a low-cost construction of the system, an increased accuracy and robustness of the identification of the relative positions of the energy coils to each other is provided. Furthermore, in this way, the frame volume, preferably also the target volume, has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.

[0061] The mutually distinguishable positioning fields may essentially be realized in any manner.

[0062] Advantageously, the positioning device is designed in such a way that the transmitting coils are operated at different frequencies during the positioning operation and thus the positioning fields, in particular the magnetic positioning fields, are distinguishable, i.e. each transmitting coil is operated at an associated frequency or in an associated frequency band, the frequencies or frequency bands of the transmitting coils being different from one another.

[0063] It is also conceivable to operate the transmit coil at frequencies in the MHz range during positioning operations.

[0064] Advantageously, the transmission coil is operated during the positioning operation at a frequency in the range between 5 kHz and 150 kHz. Preferably, the transmission coil is operated during the positioning operation at a frequency between 110 kHz and 148.5 kHz, particularly preferably between 120 kHz and 145 kHz.

[0065] The frequencies associated with the transmission coils are preferably spaced as close as possible from one another in order to reduce the overall required frequency spectrum, for example by 5 kHz, 1 kHz, 100 Hz, 1 Hz or even a few Hz from one another.

[0066] Alternatively or additionally, the mutually distinguishable positioning fields can be achieved by different scanning ranges of the transmitting coils. That is, the positioning device is configured such that the transmitting coils are operated during the positioning operation with the respective associated scanning ranges, also known to those skilled in the art as "duty cycles", so that the positioning fields are distinguishable. The use of duty cycles allows the transmitting coils to be operated generally at the same frequency or at the same frequency band, which means that a smaller frequency spectrum is required for the operation of the system or the positioning device. Furthermore, this leads in particular to a reduced influence of the positioning device on nearby components.

[0067] In a preferred embodiment, the stationary inductive charging device has a transmitting coil and the mobile inductive charging device has at least one receiver. Since a relative movement of the mobile inductive charging device and the stationary inductive charging device takes place due to the mutual orientation of the energy coils, the determination of the at least one ratio and the identification of whether an overlap of the energy coils exists can therefore be carried out in the mobile inductive charging device. Compared to carrying out the corresponding calculations in the stationary inductive charging device and transmitting them to the mobile inductive charging device or to the associated application, the results are therefore present in the mobile inductive charging device or to the application. In other words, delays when the relative positions of the energy coils to each other are identified are prevented or at least reduced. This leads in particular to a smooth navigation of the mobile inductive charging device or to an application with the mobile inductive charging device.

[0068] Preferably, the transmitter coils are each configured as a flat coil.

[0069] At least one of the inductive charging devices, preferably each inductive charging device, comprises a flux guiding unit for guiding a magnetic field, which advantageously comprises at least one flux guiding element, preferably at least one ferrite element.

[0070] Preferably, the inductive charging device with a transmitter coil has such a flux guiding unit, and at least one of the transmitter coils, preferably each transmitter coil, is arranged on the upper side of the flux guiding unit, whereby the flux guiding unit shields the positioning field generated by the transmitter coil from the side opposite the other inductive charging device during the charging operation and amplifies it towards the other inductive charging device. This results in the positioning field being amplified towards the other inductive charging device, in particular resulting in an increased range and at the same time preventing or at least reducing interference with other components. It is preferred if the inductive charging device with a transmitter coil comprises a flat coil as the energy coil, which is larger than the transmitter coil, and a flux guiding unit with a flux guiding element, in particular a ferrite plate, for guiding the alternating magnetic field generated by the stationary energy coil during the charging operation. Here, the transmitter coil overlaps the energy coil and is arranged in a plane running parallel to the energy coil, at the corner of a rectangle, preferably a rectangle.

[0071] The transmission coil may be arranged between the energy coil and the flux guiding unit or on the opposite side of a coil support that supports the energy coil to the energy coil.

[0072] The system can of course also include two or more stationary inductive charging devices and / or two or more mobile inductive charging devices, each of which can transmit inductive energy during a charging operation after corresponding mutual positioning. That is, in particular, one stationary inductive charging device can provide two or more mobile inductive charging devices with which to transmit inductive energy during a charging operation. For example, a stationary inductive charging device can be used in the form of a charging spot for various applications, in particular for charging automobiles, where each of these applications has such a mobile inductive charging device.

[0073] Here, the stationary inductive charging device and / or the mobile inductive charging device are preferably each configured identically.

[0074] The considerations according to the invention now make it possible to easily take into account the positioning of a mobile inductive charging device in different vehicles of different heights, i.e. vehicles with different distances in the vertical direction, preferably without calibration, and in particular without recalibration.

[0075] It will also be appreciated that the system may have more than four transmit coils, each of which generates a mutually distinguishable positioning field during operation.

[0076] The system according to the invention can be used at any distance to identify the relative positions of the energy coils to each other, in particular, the system can be used for navigation and alignment of the energy coils to each other within any distance range.

[0077] Advantageously, the system is used for relative position identification and / or navigation in the so-called near field, ie at distances of less than 1.5 m, preferably less than 1.0 m, in particular less than 0.5 m.

[0078] In addition to the present system, it will be appreciated that the inductive charging devices of the system, i.e., stationary inductive charging devices as well as mobile inductive charging devices, each fall within the scope of the present invention as such.

[0079] The scope of the invention also includes mobile applications, in particular automobiles, with a mobile inductive charging device for the system.

[0080] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description based on the drawings.

[0081] It is obvious that the features mentioned above and those to be further described below can be used not only in the respective described combinations, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0082] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail in the following description, where like reference numbers refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0083] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a highly simplified schematic diagram of a system for inductive energy transfer. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a virtual volume. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic plan view of a stationary inductive charging device of the system. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a stationary inductive charging device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram with a positioning field. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic plan view of the transmit coil and receiver of the system; [Figure 7] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram with a positioning field received by a receiver; [Figure 8] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram with another positioning field received by the receiver. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 illustrates a flow chart for illustrating the system's identification of the relative position of a mobile inductive charging device with respect to a stationary inductive charging device. [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic exploded view of a portion of a stationary inductive charging device; [Figure 11] FIG. 11 shows a schematic representation of the view from FIG. 10 in an alternative embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram of a detail from FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic diagram of a transmitting coil of the present system. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic diagram of the energy coil of the system. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a cross section indicated by the symbol CC in FIG. 14. [Figure 16] 16 is an enlarged schematic view of a region indicated by reference symbol XII in FIG. 15. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a schematic representation of the view from FIG. 16 in an alternative embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 15 shows a schematic representation of the view from FIG. 14 in a further embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section indicated by the reference character AA in FIG. 18. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of a cross section from FIG. 18 in another embodiment. [Figure 21] 19 is a schematic diagram of a part of a cross section indicated by the symbol CC in FIG. 18 in the embodiment of FIG. 19. [Figure 22] 21 is a diagram showing a part of a cross section indicated by the symbol CC in FIG. 15 in the embodiment of FIG. 20. [Figure 23] FIG. 20 shows a schematic representation of the view from FIG. 18 in a further embodiment.

[0084] The system 1, as shown in a greatly simplified circuit diagram in FIG. 1, is used in particular for inductive energy transfer to a mobile application 100 in order to charge a battery 102 of the mobile application 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the application 100 is a motor vehicle 101. The system 1 comprises for this purpose two inductive charging devices 2, in particular a stationary inductive charging device 2, 2a and a mobile inductive charging device 2, 2b for the application 100, which cooperate inductively with one another during a charging operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the stationary inductive charging devices 2, 2a are arranged on a roadway, which is not shown, purely by way of example. Of course, the stationary inductive charging devices 2, 2a can also be accommodated at least partially in the roadway, in particular terminated flush with the roadway. For the inductive energy transfer during the charging operation, each inductive charging device 2 has an associated coil 3. These coils 3 are also referred to as energy coils 3 in the following. Thus, the stationary inductive charging device 2, 2a has a stationary energy coil 3, 3a, and the mobile inductive charging device 2, 2b has a mobile energy coil 3, 3b. That is, one of the energy coils 3 is used as a primary coil 12 for generating an alternating magnetic field in the charging operation, which induces a voltage for energy transmission in the other energy coil 3, which is used as a secondary coil 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the energy coils 3 are each configured as a flat coil 7. In the charging operation, the inductive charging devices 2 are spaced apart from each other in a height direction 200. To enable the charging operation and to achieve high efficiency during the charging operation, the energy coils 3 are positioned relative to each other transversely to the height direction 200, i.e. in a longitudinal direction 201 extending transversely to the height direction 200 and in a transverse direction 202 extending transversely to the height direction 200 and transversely to the longitudinal direction 201. For this purpose, the system 1 comprises a positioning device 4, by means of which the relative positions of the energy coils 3 to one another are determined during a positioning operation. Advantageously, the positioning operation is performed before the charging operation in order to achieve an optimal relative positioning of the energy coils 3 to one another and thus increased efficiency.

[0085] In the illustrated embodiment, energy is transferred from the stationary inductive charging device 2, 2a to the mobile inductive charging device 2, 2b during a charging operation in order to charge the battery 102 of the motor vehicle 101. Accordingly, during the charging operation, the stationary energy coil 3, 3a is used as the primary coil 12 and the mobile energy coil 3, 3b is used as the secondary coil 13. As can be seen from FIG. 1 , the mobile inductive charging device 2, 2a in the illustrated embodiment comprises a rectifier 14 connected between the secondary coil 13 and the battery 102 in order to convert an alternating voltage induced in the secondary coil 13 into a rectified voltage. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the height direction 200 corresponds to the Z direction of the motor vehicle 101. Furthermore, the longitudinal direction 201 and the lateral direction 202 correspond, purely by way of example, to the X or Y direction of the motor vehicle 101.

[0086] The positioning device 4 has four coils 5 for identifying the relative positioning of the energy coils 3 with respect to one another, which each generate a field 60 during the positioning operation. These fields 60 are described below with reference to FIG. 2. These coils 5 are also referred to below as transmitting coils 5. These fields 60 are also referred to below as positioning fields 60. In the illustrated embodiment, the positioning device 4 has exactly four transmitting coils 5, in particular a first transmitting coil 5, 5a, a second transmitting coil 5, 5b, a third transmitting coil 5, 5c and a fourth transmitting coil 5, 5d. Thus, a total of four mutually distinguishable positioning fields 60 are generated, in particular a first positioning field 60, 60a, a second positioning field 60, 60b, a third positioning field 60, 60c and a fourth positioning field 60, 60d (see FIGS. 7 and 8). In the illustrated embodiment, each transmitting coil 5 here generates a magnetic positioning field 60. In the diagram shown in FIG. 1, only two of these transmitting coils 5 are visible. These positioning fields 60 are generated in such a way that they are distinguishable from one another. The positioning device 4 further comprises at least one receiver 6, which interacts with the positioning field 60 during the positioning operation. Based on the difference between these positioning fields 60, a distinction is made between these positioning fields 60, here by means of the at least one receiver 60. Here, one inductive charging device 2 comprises a transmitting coil 5 and the other inductive charging device 2 comprises a receiver 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the stationary inductive charging device 2, 2a comprises a transmitting coil 5 and the mobile inductive charging device 2, 2b comprises at least one receiver 6. In the illustrated embodiment, only by way of example, a single receiver 6 is provided. In the illustrated embodiment, the at least one receiver 6 is configured as a coil 15, which is also referred to as a receiving coil 15 in the following. In the illustrated embodiment, the transmitting coil 5 is different from the first energy coil 3, 3a. In the embodiment shown, at least one receiving coil 15 is different from the second energy coils 3a, 3b, merely by way of example. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the transmitting coils 5 are spaced apart from one another, with two transmitting coils 5 arranged opposite each other.

[0087] In the embodiment shown, the transmitter coils 5 have the same configuration, i.e. are identical components. Here, as shown exemplarily in FIG. 10, each transmitter coil 5 is a flat coil 7 which has at least one conductor path, not shown in detail, wound around an associated winding axis (not shown) running parallel to the height direction 200. The respective positioning field 60 therefore has a main axis running along the height direction 200, i.e. extends at least mainly in or along the height direction 200, and is therefore only locally receivable transversely to the height direction 200.

[0088] The mutually distinguishable generation of the positioning fields 60 is for example achieved in the illustrated embodiment by the fact that each positioning field 60 is generated at an associated frequency, i.e. each transmission coil 5 is operated at an associated frequency, whereby the positioning fields 60 are mutually distinguishable. Here, these frequencies are in particular in the range between 120 kHz and 145 kHz and are spaced from one another, for example by a few Hz to a few kHz. For example, these frequencies can be spaced from one another by 5 kHz, 1 kHz, 100 Hz or even less. Likewise, a distinction by means of the duty cycle is also possible.

[0089] As can be seen from Fig. 2, the arrangement of the transmitter coil 5 is such that the transmitter coil 5 defines a virtual frame 50. The frame 50 is thus a virtual plane defined by the transmitter coil 5. The virtual frame 50 here defines a volume 51 which extends in the height direction 200 starting from the frame 50, which volume 51 is also referred to as frame volume 51 in the following. Here, the energy coil 3 of the associated inductive charging device 2, i.e. in the illustrated embodiment the stationary energy coil 3, 3a, is at least partially arranged in the virtual frame volume 51. The energy coil 3 of the associated inductive charging device 2 is therefore at least partially offset in the frame 50 or in the height direction 200 relative to the frame 50 and is therefore arranged in the frame volume 51. In the illustrated embodiment, the transmitter coil 5 is spaced apart in the height direction 200 from the energy coil 3 of the associated inductive charging device 2, and thus from the stationary energy coil 3, 3a. In the illustrated embodiment, furthermore, two of the transmitting coils 5 are arranged opposite each other in the longitudinal direction 201 and in the transverse direction 202. The transmitting coils 5 facing each other in the longitudinal direction 201 are also referred to below as longitudinal transmitting coils 5, 5x, and the transmitting coils 5 facing each other in the transverse direction 202 are also referred to below as transverse transmitting coils 5, 5y. Subsequently, the positioning fields 60 generated by the longitudinal transmitting coils 5, 5x are also referred to below as longitudinal positioning fields 60, 60x relative to each other, and the positioning fields 60 generated by the transverse transmitting coils 5, 5y are also referred to below as transverse positioning fields 60, 60y relative to each other.

[0090] As shown for example in FIG. 2, these transmitting coils 5 are arranged in the corners 57 of a quadrangle 54 shaped as a rectangle 55 in the illustrated embodiment, so that the frame 50 has the shape of a rectangle 55. The frame volume 51 is therefore cuboid-shaped. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the frame 50 has the shape of a square 56. Due to the arrangement of the transmitting coils 5 in the corners 57 of the rectangle 55, each transmitting coil 5 is both a longitudinal transmitting coil 5, 5x and a transverse transmitting coil 5, 5y. Thus, with four transmitting coils 5, there are two pairs of transmitting coils 5 facing each other in the longitudinal direction 201 and the transverse direction 202. Similarly, each positioning field 60 is both a longitudinal positioning field 60, 60x and a transverse positioning field 60, 60y. During the positioning operation, with at least one receiver 6, a ratio 62 (see FIG. 5) between at least two of the positioning fields 60 is determined. Based on the at least one ratio 62, it is furthermore determined whether an energy coil 3 of an inductive charging device 2 with at least one receiver 6 is present inside the virtual frame volume 51 and, depending on this, a positioning signal is output. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, based on the at least one ratio 62, the mobile energy coil 3, 3b is thus present inside the frame volume 51 and is thus arranged above the stationary energy coil 3, 3a in the height direction 200 and further at least partially overlaps the stationary energy coil 3, 3a transversely to the height direction 200. This ratio 62 is here correspondingly predefined.

[0091] As can be seen from Fig. 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the positioning device 4 is configured in such a way that a virtual target area 52 is defined inside the frame 50. This target area 52 is therefore smaller than the frame 50. Here, the target area 52 inside the frame volume 51 defines a virtual volume 53 extending in the height direction 200, which virtual volume 53 is also called target volume 53 in the following and is shown in Fig. 2 with a dashed line. The energy coil 3 of the inductive charging device 2 with the transmitter coil 5, i.e. in the illustrated embodiment the stationary energy coil 3, 3a, is here at least partially arranged in the target volume 53. The positioning device 4 is further configured to identify whether the energy coil 3 of the inductive charging device 2 with the receiver 6 is present inside the target volume 53 based on the at least one ratio 62 determined. Accordingly, the at least one ratio 62 is predefined in advance. In this case, the frame volume 51 as well as the target volume 53 are defined here in such a way that with a corresponding arrangement of the energy coils 3 in the frame volume 51 and the target volume 53, a high efficiency, for example at least 90%, is achieved during the charging operation. The target volume 53 is selected here in such a way that the efficiency with overlap in the target volume 53 is greater than with overlap in the frame volume 51. As indicated in Fig. 3, the target volume 53 and thus the target area 52 in the projection in the height direction 200 is smaller than the associated inductive charging device 2, i.e. in the illustrated embodiment, smaller than the stationary inductive charging device 2, 2a.

[0092] As can further be seen from Fig. 5, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, for the overlap of the energy coils 3 along the opposing transmission coils 5, not a single ratio 62 but an associated ratio area 63 is defined in each case, i.e. an overlap of the energy coils 3 is identified if the determined ratio 62 lies within the associated ratio area 63. This ratio area 63 is preset here in advance. The presetting of the respective ratio area 63 is performed by means of a fixed setting, so that the ratio area 63 is stored and a calibration is omitted.

[0093] The positioning signal can be used for manual movement of the application 100 or for autonomous movement of the application 100. That is to say, in the embodiment of the automobile 101, the positioning signal can be used to signal to a vehicle driver, not shown, whether a desired orientation of the energy coils 3 with respect to one another is present or not. For this purpose, the automobile 101 can have an output device 103, as suggested in Fig. 1, which outputs a corresponding signal.

[0094] The identification of the superposition of the energy coils 3 is explained on the basis of Fig. 5. In Fig. 5, the course of two positioning fields 60 is shown, which are generated by two opposing transmitting coils 5 in the longitudinal direction 201 or in the transverse direction 202. In Fig. 5, the illustrated positioning fields 60 are thus selectively either the longitudinal positioning fields 60, 60x or the transverse positioning fields 60, 60y. Here, one of these positioning fields 60 is shown with a dashed line for better differentiation. Fig. 5 shows here the intensity course 64 of the longitudinal positioning fields 60, 60x along the longitudinal direction 201 or the intensity course 64 of the transverse positioning fields 60, 60y along the transverse direction 202. According to Fig. 5, the positioning fields 60 of the opposing transmitting coils 5 coincide in the target volume 53. As can be seen from Fig. 5, the positioning fields 60 have the same intensity course 64, i.e. the positioning fields 60 are generated with the same field distribution in each case. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the transmitting coils 5 are configured and the positioning field 60 is generated such that the total intensity profile 66 of the positioning field 60 generated by the transmitting coils 5 is symmetric between the opposing transmitting coils 5 and thus between the intensity maxima 61, as well as symmetric with respect to the stationary energy coils 3, 3b.

[0095] As can be seen further from FIG. 5, each positioning field 60 has an intensity profile 64 with intensity edges 65 leading to intensity maxima 61. As can be seen further from FIG. 5, the intensity maxima 61 are spaced apart from one another. The transmitting coils 5 are arranged and / or the positioning fields 60 are generated accordingly. As can be seen further from FIG. 5, the intensity maxima 61 of the respective positioning field 60 are shaped in the form of a double projection. This is due, inter alia, to the fact that the receiver 6 senses a shift in the magnetic field lines (not shown) during the corresponding positioning. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the respective ratio area 63 is here arranged between successive intensity edges 65 of the positioning field 60 generated by the corresponding corresponding transmitting coil 5 and spaced apart from the intensity maxima 61. Here, for longitudinal positioning fields 60, 60x with opposing intensity maxima 61 in the longitudinal direction 201, the respective associated longitudinal ratio area 63, 63x is predefined, and for transverse positioning fields 60, 60y with opposing intensity maxima 61 in the transverse direction 202, the respective associated transverse ratio area 63, 63y is predefined. The predefined ratio areas 63 are here preferably stored, so that by a simple comparison between the determined ratio 62 and the associated ratio area 63 it is possible to determine whether a corresponding overlap exists between the energy coils 3.

[0096] That is, the longitudinal transmitting coils 5, 5x are arranged and the longitudinal positioning fields 60, 60x are generated such that the intensity maxima 61 of the two longitudinal positioning fields 60, 60x in the longitudinal direction 201 are arranged opposite each other. Here, the associated longitudinal ratio area 63, 63x is predefined in advance for at least two of the longitudinal positioning fields 60, 60x. From the longitudinal positioning fields 60, 60x received by the receiver 6, the longitudinal ratio 62, 62x between at least two of the longitudinal positioning fields 60, 60x is determined. The overlap of the energy coils 3 inside the target volume 53 in the longitudinal direction 201 is identified if the determined longitudinal ratio 62, 62x is within the associated predefined longitudinal ratio area 63, 63x. The same applies to the overlap in the transverse direction 202. That is, the transverse transmission coils 5, 5y are arranged and / or the transverse positioning fields 60, 60y are generated such that the intensity maxima 61 of the two transverse positioning fields 60, 60y in the transverse direction 202 are arranged opposite each other. Furthermore, for at least two of the transverse positioning fields 60, 60y, an associated transverse ratio area 63, 63y is predefined in advance. During the positioning operation, a transverse ratio 62, 62y between at least two of the transverse positioning fields 60, 60y is determined from the transverse positioning fields 60, 60y received by the receiver 6. Here, the overlap 3 of the energy coils 3 inside the target volume 53 in the transverse direction 202 is identified if the determined transverse ratio 62, 62y is within the associated predefined transverse ratio area 63, 63y. In other words, overlap of the energy coils 3 in the longitudinal direction 201 and the lateral direction 202 exists both when at least one of the longitudinal ratios 62, 62y is within the longitudinal ratio region 63, 63y and when at least one of the lateral ratios 62, 62y is within the lateral ratio region 63, 63y.

[0097] For example, here, for overlaps within the frame volume 51, a ratio region 63 between 10:0.05 and 0.05:10 may be given, and for overlaps within the target volume 53, a ratio region 63 between 1:0.1 and 0.1:1 may be given.

[0098] Fig. 6 shows a simplified plan view in a height direction 200 relative to the transmitter coil 5. Here, it is assumed that the receiver 15 moves between the first transmitter coil 5,5a and the second transmitter coil 5,5b along the longitudinal direction 201. Fig. 7 shows the positioning fields 60 of the first transmitter coil 5,5a and the second transmitter coil 5,5b, received by the receiver 15 during said movement along the longitudinal direction 201, and thus the first positioning fields 60,60a and the second positioning fields 60,60b. Fig. 8 shows the positioning fields 60 of the third transmitter coil 5,5c and the fourth transmitter coil 5,5b, received during said movement of the receiver 15 along the longitudinal direction 201, and thus the fourth positioning fields 60,60c and the fourth positioning fields 60,60d. The first positioning field 60,60a and the second positioning field 60,60b are mutually longitudinal positioning fields 60,60x. Similarly, the third positioning field 60,60c and the fourth positioning field 60,60d are mutually longitudinal positioning fields 60,60x. As a comparison of Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 shows, the double-convex shape of the positioning field 60 received by the receiver 15 is more pronounced for the positioning field 60 closer to the receiver 15 than for the positioning field 60 further away from the receiver 15. That is to say, in the described example, the double-convex shape for the received first positioning field 60,60a and the second positioning field 60,60b is more pronounced than for the received third positioning field 60,60c and the fourth positioning field 60,60d. Here, in Fig. 8, the double-protruding shapes of the positioning fields 60 further apart, i.e., for example, the double-protruding shapes of the third positioning field 60, 60c and the fourth positioning field 60, 60d, are not shown for better understanding. Accordingly, the ratio 62 of two positioning fields 60 with opposite intensity maxima 61 is preferably determined, and in the event of a deviation of the ratio 62 above a preset limit value for identifying the relative position, the ratio 62 of the positioning field 60 with the lower intensity is used. As a result, the positioning field 60 whose determined ratio 62 is further apart relative to the intensity maxima 61 is used. This prevents, in particular, the above-described double-protruding shape of the intensity maxima 61 from leading to erroneous position identification.On the other hand, if the two ratios 62 are substantially corresponding to one another, i.e., if the ratios 62 are substantially the same or within a preset value range, the two ratios 62 are averaged in order to identify the relative position.

[0099] Furthermore, if the determined ratio 62 deviates from the associated ratio region 63 towards one intensity maximum 61 of the associated positioning field 60, then a deviation of the receiving side, and thus of the energy coil 3 of the inductive charging device 2 with the receiver 6, towards the intensity maximum 61 to which the ratio 62 is shifted, and thus towards the transmitting coil 5 which generates the intensity maximum 61 to which the ratio 62 is shifted, is also identified. In other words, the determined longitudinal ratio 62, 62x is shifted from the associated longitudinal ratio region 63, 63x towards one intensity maximum 61 of the associated longitudinal positioning field 60, 60x, which means that there is a deviation of the mobile energy coil 3, 3b along the longitudinal direction 201 from the target volume 53 towards the longitudinal transmitting coil 5, 5x which generates the longitudinal positioning field 60, 60x with the intensity maximum 61 to which the determined longitudinal ratio 62, 62x is shifted. The same applies for the determined transverse ratio 62, 62y, i.e. the determined transverse ratio 62, 62y is shifted from the associated transverse ratio region 63, 63y towards one of the intensity maxima 61 of one of the associated transverse positioning fields 60, 60y, which means that there is a displacement of the mobile energy coil 3, 3b along the transverse direction 202 from the target volume 53 towards the transverse transmitting coil 5, 5y which generates the transverse positioning field 60, 60y with the intensity maximum 61 to which the determined transverse ratio 62, 62y is shifted. Thus, navigation of the mobile inductive charging device 2, 2a can be realized such that an overlap of the two energy coils 3 in the target volume is achieved, thus both in the longitudinal direction 201 and in the transverse direction 202. This can be done by means of the output device 103 to output whether and in what direction a relative movement of the mobile inductive charging device 2, 2b relative to the stationary inductive charging device 2, 2a is required in order to achieve an overlap of the energy coils 3 in the longitudinal direction 201 and the lateral direction 202 as suggested in Fig. 1. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, this is done optically, purely by way of example, using the indication of the arrows suggested in Fig. 1. It is likewise conceivable for the output device 103 to output an acoustic signal.It is also conceivable to achieve the result autonomously, whereby the vehicle 101 drives autonomously to achieve the superposition of the energy coils 3.

[0100] The maximum efficiency during the charging operation is achieved at a corresponding relative position of the energy coils 3 to one another, which is also referred to below as a centered arrangement. This centered arrangement is here assigned to a ratio 62 in each case within the ratio area 63. That is to say, at a preset centered longitudinal ratio in the longitudinal ratio area 63, 63x, there is a mutually centered arrangement of the energy coils 3 in the longitudinal direction 201. Furthermore, at a preset centered transverse ratio in the transverse ratio area 63, 63y, there is a mutually centered arrangement of the energy coils 3 in the transverse direction 202. Thus, if at least one of the determined longitudinal ratios 62, 62x also corresponds to the associated centered longitudinal ratio and at least one of the determined transverse ratios 62, 62y also corresponds to the associated centered transverse ratio, then a centered arrangement overall exists. The respective centering ratio is, in the illustrated embodiment, 1:1, as suggested in Fig. 5. Similar to the above explanation, navigation can now be realized such that there is a generally centered arrangement of the energy coils 3.

[0101] In Fig. 9, a flow chart is shown for explaining the identification of the relative positions of the energy coils 3 to one another. The positioning operation is initiated when the application 100, and thus the mobile inductive charging device 2, 2b, approaches the stationary inductive charging device 2, 2a. This is the case, for example, when the distance between the inductive charging devices 2 transversely to the height direction 200 is less than 1.5 m, in particular less than 1 m, preferably less than 0.5 m. The positioning operation can be initiated, for example, by means of a pin signal output by the mobile inductive charging device 2, 2b, which, upon reception of the pin signal, generates a positioning field 60 by means of the transmitting coil 5. In a method means 300, also referred to below as receiving means 300, the positioning field 60 is received by means of a receiver 6 and in a subsequent method means 301 the positioning fields 60 are separated from one another such that their intensities are distinguishable from one another. In the method means 301, in particular, a Fourier transformation of the signal received by the receiver 6 is carried out here, i.e. in the receiving coil 15, the voltage induced in said receiving coil 6 by means of the positioning field 60 is Fourier transformed. The method means 301 is also referred to below as a separation means 301. The result of the separation means 301 is therefore an associated value for each positioning field 60, so that there are four values ​​in total. From these values, in the method means 302, the associated longitudinal ratios 62, 62x and transverse ratios 62, 62y are determined for the longitudinal positioning fields 60, 60x and for the transverse positioning fields 60, 60y. Here, advantageously, an averaging is carried out over a number of values ​​in each case, for example over the last ten determined values, in order to increase the accuracy of the method and / or to reduce the error rate. The method means 302 is also referred to below as a ratio means 302. The ratio 62 determined in the ratio means 302 is compared in a method means 303 with a corresponding predefined ratio range 63, and based on this comparison it is determined whether there is a corresponding overlap of the energy coils 3, i.e. an arrangement of the mobile energy coils 3, 3b inside the target volume 53. This method means 303 is also referred to as a comparison means 303 in the following.The comparison means 303 here outputs at least one positioning signal, as suggested in Fig. 9. This positioning signal is here preferably used for navigation of the mobile application 100, as explained above. The positioning signal can be provided accordingly to the output device 103.

[0102] To perform the relative position identification, a correspondingly configured control device 16 can be used, which is shown in a simplified form in Fig. 1. This control device 16 may be a component of the positioning device 4 of the system 1 or application 100. Here, the method can be implemented by means of a computer program product.

[0103] Corresponding to FIG. 4, the inductive charging device 2 with a transmitting coil 5, i.e. in this embodiment a stationary inductive charging device 2, 2a, has as energy coil 3 in the illustrated embodiment a flat coil 7 which is larger than the transmitting coil 5. Furthermore, the stationary inductive charging device 2, 2a has a flux guiding unit 8 for guiding the alternating magnetic field generated by the stationary energy coil 3, 3a during the charging operation. For this purpose, in the illustrated embodiment, the flux guiding unit 8 has a flux guiding element 9 which is formed as a ferrite plate 10. Here, the transmitting coil 5 overlaps the stationary energy coil 3, 3a, is arranged at a corner 57 of a rectangle 55 (see, for example, FIG. 2) and is arranged in a plane running parallel to the stationary energy coil 3, 3a. Furthermore, the transmitting coil 5 is arranged on the upper side of the flux guiding unit 9.

[0104] 4 shows possible relative positions of the transmitting coil 5 with respect to the stationary energy coil 3, 3a. Accordingly, the transmitting coil 5 can be arranged in the height direction 200 between the stationary energy coil 3, 3a and the flux guiding unit 8, either on the side of the flux guiding unit 8 opposite the stationary energy coil 3, 3a or on the side of the external object identification device 17 of the stationary inductive charging device 2, 2a facing the stationary energy coil 3, 3a.

[0105] The embodiments of figures 10-12 and 14-17 show a stationary inductive charging device 2 with a pyramidal arrangement of flux guiding elements 9 (see figure 12) which are constructed in particular in accordance with the current SAE / ISO. In figure 14 a plan view of the stationary energy coils 3, 3a is shown in which the position of the transmitting coils 5 is visible. The transmitting coils 5 may therefore be arranged between the energy coils 3 and the flux guiding unit 8 as described above and shown in figures 10 and 16. Alternatively, the transmitting coils 5 may be arranged on the side of the stationary energy coils 3, 3a opposite the flux guiding unit 8 as shown in figures 11, 17. In the embodiment of figure 17 the transmitting coils 5 are arranged on the side of the coil support 11 supporting the mobile energy coils 3, 3a opposite the flux guiding unit 8. Here the thickness of each transmitting coil 5 extending in the height direction 200 is preferably at most 1 cm.

[0106] 18 to 22 show further embodiments of stationary inductive charging devices 2, 2a, for example according to SAE 2016. In FIG. 18, a plan view of the stationary energy coil 3, 3a is shown here, in which the position of the transmitting coil 5 is indicated. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 19, 21, the transmitting coil 5 may be arranged between the energy coil 3, 3a and the flux guiding unit 8. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 20 and 22, the transmitting coil 5 is arranged on the side of the coil support 11 supporting the mobile energy coil 3, 3a, opposite the flux guiding unit 8. Here, the thickness of each transmitting coil 5, extending in the height direction 200, is preferably at most 1 cm.

[0107] FIG. 23 shows a further embodiment, which differs from the previous one in that the transmission coil 5 is arranged offset towards the inside.

Claims

1. In particular, a system (1) for inductive energy transfer to a mobile application (100), comprising: A stationary inductive charging device (2, 2a) having a stationary energy coil (3, 3a), a mobile inductive charging device (2, 2b) having a mobile energy coil (3, 3b); During a charging operation of the system (1), one of the energy coils (3) generates an alternating magnetic field, which induces a voltage in the other energy coil (3) for energy transfer; The inductive charging devices (2) are spaced apart from each other in a height direction (200) during a charging operation; a positioning device (4) for identifying the relative positioning of the energy coils (3) with respect to each other, The positioning device (4) has four transmitting coils (5) in one of the inductive charging devices (2) and at least one receiver (6) in the other inductive charging device (2); the transmitting coils (5) are spaced apart from one another, each two of the transmitting coils (5) being arranged opposite one another such that the transmitting coils (5) define a virtual frame (50) which further defines a virtual frame volume (51) extending in a height direction (200), the energy coil (3) of the associated inductive charging device (2) being at least partially arranged within the virtual frame volume (51), the positioning device (4) being configured such that the transmitting coils (5) generate mutually distinguishable positioning fields (60) during a positioning operation; the at least one receiver (6) is configured to interact with a positioning field (60) generated by means of the transmitting coil (5) of the other inductive charging device (2) during a positioning operation; The positioning device (4) is configured to determine a ratio (62) between at least two positioning fields (60) using the at least one receiver (6) during a positioning operation, to identify whether the energy coil (3) of the inductive charging device having the at least one receiver (6) is present inside the virtual frame volume (51) based on the at least one ratio (62), and to output a positioning signal depending thereon.

2. the positioning device (4) is configured such that a virtual target area (52) is defined within the frame (50), the target area (52) defining a virtual target volume (53) within the frame volume (51), the virtual target volume (53) extending in a height direction (200), the energy coil (3) of the inductive charging device (2) having the transmitting coil (5) being at least partially arranged within the virtual target volume (53); 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the positioning device (4) is configured to identify whether the energy coil (3) of the inductive charging device (2) having the at least one receiver (6) is present within the target volume (53) based on the at least one ratio (62).

3. 3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the positioning device (4) is configured such that at least one of the transmitting coils (5), in particular each transmitting coil (5), generates a magnetic positioning field (60) during a positioning operation.

4. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein each transmitting coil (5) generates a positioning field (60) having an intensity maximum (61) during a positioning operation, the transmitting coils (5) are arranged spaced apart from each other and / or the positioning device (4) is operated such that the intensity maxima (61) of the positioning fields (60) are spaced apart from each other and the positioning fields (60) of at least two of the opposing transmitting coils (5) coincide within the frame volume (51), in particular within the target volume (53).

5. 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the positioning device (4) is configured such that the frame volume (51), in particular the target volume (53), is positioned between the intensity maxima (61) of the positioning fields (60) of the respective opposing transmitting coils (5) within a preset ratio region (63).

6. The system of claim 4 or 5, wherein the predetermined ratio regions (63) are spaced apart relative to the intensity maxima (61).

7. 7. The system according to claim 4, wherein each of the positioning fields (60) has an intensity profile (64) having an intensity edge (65) leading to the intensity maximum (61), and the frame volume (51), in particular the target volume (53), is arranged between successive intensity edges (65) of the positioning fields (60) generated using opposing transmitting coils (5).

8. 8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the transmitting coils (5) are arranged spaced apart from each other and / or the positioning device (4) is operated such that the intensities of at least two of the positioning fields (60) generated using opposing transmitting coils (5) correspond to the center of the energy coil (3) of the inductive charging device (2) having the transmitting coils (5).

9. 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting coils (5) are identically constructed.

10. 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting coils (5) are configured and / or the positioning device (4) is operated such that the transmitting coils (5) each generate the same intensity profile (64) during a positioning operation.

11. 11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting coil (5) is configured and / or the positioning device (4) is operated such that the total intensity profile (66) of the positioning field (60) generated by the transmitting coil (5) during a positioning operation is symmetrical.

12. 11. The system according to claim 1, wherein two longitudinal transmitting coils (5, 5x) are arranged opposite each other in a longitudinal direction (201) extending transversely to the height direction (200), and two transverse transmitting coils (5, 5y) are arranged opposite each other in a transverse direction (202) extending transversely to the height direction (200) and transversely to the longitudinal direction (201).

13. 13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the positioning device (4) is configured such that the transmitting coils (5) are operated at different frequencies during a positioning operation, thus making the positioning fields (60) distinguishable.

14. 14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the positioning device (4) is configured such that the transmitting coils (5) are operated in the respective associated scanning areas during the positioning operation, so that the positioning fields (60) are distinguishable.

15. 15. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmitting coils (5) is configured as a flat coil (7).

16. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission coil (5) is arranged such that the frame (50) is quadrangular (54), in particular rectangular (55).

17. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the transmitting coil (5) is arranged such that the frame (51) is square (56).

18. 18. The system according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the transmitting coils (5) are arranged at the corners (57) of the rectangle (54).

19. 19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting coil (5) is different from the energy coil (3) of the associated inductive charging device (2).

20. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning device (4) comprises a single receiver (6).

21. 21. The system according to claim 1, wherein the stationary inductive charging device (2, 2a) comprises the transmitting coil (5) and the mobile inductive charging device (2, 2b) comprises at least one receiver (6).

22. 21. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile inductive charging device (2, 2b) comprises the transmitting coil (5) and the mobile inductive charging device (2, 2a) comprises at least one receiver (6).

23. The inductive charging device (2) with the transmitting coil (5) has a flux guiding unit (8) with a flux guiding element (9), in particular a ferrite plate (10), for guiding the alternating magnetic field generated during a charging operation, 23. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmitting coils (5), preferably each of the transmitting coils (5), is arranged on a side of the flux guiding unit (8) facing the energy coil (3) of the other inductive charging device (2).

24. The transmitting coils (5) are each configured as a flat coil (7), The inductive charging device (2) having the transmitting coil (5) A flat coil (7) larger than the transmitting coil (5) as an energy coil (3); a flux guiding unit (8) having a flux guiding element (9), in particular a ferrite plate (10), for guiding the alternating magnetic field generated by the stationary energy coil (3, 3a) during a charging operation, 24. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting coil (5) overlaps the energy coil (3) and is arranged in a plane extending parallel to the energy coil (2) at a corner (57) of a rectangle (54).

25. 25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the transmitting coil (5) is arranged between the energy coil (3) and the magnetic flux guiding unit (8) or on the opposite side of the coil support (11) supporting the energy coil (3) from the energy coil (3).

26. 26. The system according to claim 1, wherein the positioning device (4) is configured such that a main axis of each positioning field (60) extends along the height direction (200), in particular the transmitting coil (5) is wound such that a main axis of each positioning field (60) extends along the height direction (200).

27. 27. The system of claim 26, wherein each of the transmitting coils (5) is wound around a winding axis that extends at least substantially in the height direction (200), whereby a main axis of the positioning magnetic field (60) extends along the height direction (200).

28. An inductive charging device (2) of a system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 27.

29. A mobile application (100), in particular a motor vehicle (101), comprising a mobile inductive charging device (2, 2a) of a system (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 27.

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