Non-contact power supply system and non-contact power supply method

Abstract

To provide a technique for supporting communication between a mobile body and a non-contact power supply device.SOLUTION: A contactless power supply system 1 according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a contactless power supply device 10 and an edge server 30 capable of communicating with the contactless power supply device 10 and a movable object 20. The edge server 30 includes a communication device 31 that relays data related to contactless power supply transmitted from one of the contactless power supply device 10 and the movable object 20 to the other. The contactless power supply device 10 does not perform direct wireless communication with the mobile body 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a contactless power supply system and a contactless power supply method. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a device (hereinafter referred to as a "contactless power supply device") that supplies power to a mobile object (such as an electric vehicle) that is to receive power in a contactless manner. There is also known a technology that improves the functionality of the mobile object by wireless communication from outside the mobile object.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a power supply system that guides a moving object so that it avoids areas of a power supply mat that are highly deteriorated. The technology described in Patent Document 1 involves communication between three parties: the moving object, a diagnostic device that diagnoses the degree of deterioration, and a guidance device that guides the moving object.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a technology for sharing data in an autonomous driving system using a mobile edge computing server.

[0005] Patent Document 3 discloses a technology for detecting users who use V2X communication and users who do not use V2X communication. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-10220 [Patent Document 2] US Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0026290 [Patent Document 3] US Patent Application Publication No. 2022 / 0013008 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The housing of a mobile body has many metal parts that obstruct the propagation of radio waves in wireless communication. Therefore, wireless communication antennas are generally installed on windowpanes or other parts of the mobile body. Here, when direct wireless communication is performed between a mobile body and a wireless power transfer device, the location of the wireless communication antenna becomes an issue. For example, since the wireless power transfer device is installed on the road surface, the wireless communication antenna on the wireless power transfer device side may also be installed on the road surface. In this case, to prevent the bottom surface of the housing of the mobile body from obstructing the propagation of radio waves in wireless communication, an additional wireless communication antenna on the mobile body side needs to be installed below the bottom surface of the housing of the mobile body. In another example, the wireless communication antenna on the wireless power transfer device side may be separated from the wireless power transfer device and extended using a coaxial cable or the like, allowing the antenna to be installed at a high position above the road. In this case, installation space above the road is required.

[0008] Therefore, the present disclosure describes a technology that supports communication between a mobile object and a contactless power supply device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A contactless power supply system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a contactless power supply device and an edge server capable of communicating with the contactless power supply device and a mobile object. The edge server has a communication device that relays data related to contactless power supply transmitted from either the contactless power supply device or the mobile object to the other. The contactless power supply device does not directly communicate wirelessly with the mobile object.

[0010] A contactless power supply method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is executed by a contactless power supply system including a contactless power supply device and an edge server capable of communicating with the contactless power supply device and a mobile object. The contactless power supply method includes a step of relaying data related to contactless power supply transmitted from one of the contactless power supply device and the mobile object to the other by the edge server without performing direct wireless communication between the contactless power supply device and the mobile object, and a step of contactlessly supplying power to the mobile object by the contactless power supply device based on the relayed data related to contactless power supply.

[0011] In the contactless power supply system and contactless power supply method disclosed herein, data related to contactless power supply is transmitted and received between the contactless power supply device and the mobile body via an edge server. Wireless communication is not performed between the contactless power supply device and the mobile body. There is no need to provide a wireless communication device or the like for direct communication with the mobile body in or near the contactless power supply device. There is also no need to consider the positional relationship between the contactless power supply device and the mobile body for wireless communication, or the location of the mobile body's antenna. This simplifies the configuration of the contactless power supply device and the mobile body, and can support communication between the mobile body and the contactless power supply device.

[0012] In the wireless power transfer system, the communication device may further transmit data related to the advanced driver assistance system to the mobile object. In this case, the wireless power transfer system can use an edge server that handles data communication for the existing advanced driver assistance system, so there is no need to add a new device.

[0013] The edge server may have a selection unit that switches the priority of data related to wireless power transfer and data related to the advanced driver assistance system. The communication device may prioritize transmitting high-priority data and suspend transmission of low-priority data. In this case, by increasing the speed of communication of high-priority data and allowing delays in communication of low-priority data, it is possible to share communication lines for data related to wireless power transfer and data related to the advanced driver assistance system.

[0014] The selector may determine a power supply state between the wireless power supply device and the mobile object, and switch the priority according to the power supply state. In this case, the priority can be determined simply, thereby reducing the processing load.

[0015] The selection unit may increase the priority of data related to wireless power supply when the power supply status indicates that power is being supplied, and may increase the priority of data related to the advanced driver assistance system when the power supply status indicates that power is not being supplied. In this case, even if communication of low-priority data is delayed, there is no disruption to the advanced driver assistance system and the wireless power supply.

[0016] The wireless power transfer system may include a control unit that calculates the power supply value for each pair of a mobile object and a wireless power transfer device, and an integrated control unit that controls the sum of the power supply values ​​to be equal to or less than the maximum amount of power that can be supplied. In this case, wireless power transfer from multiple wireless power transfer devices to multiple mobile objects can be managed in an integrated manner, thereby enabling stable wireless power transfer. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a technique for supporting communication between a mobile object and a contactless power supply device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a contactless power supply system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an outline of the operation of the contactless power supply system. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the contactless power supply system. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a power supply process. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a contactless power supply system according to a first modified example. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a contactless power supply system according to a fourth modification. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing another example of the power supply process. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a contactless power supply system according to a fifth modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a contactless power supply system 1 according to this embodiment. The contactless power supply system 1 includes a contactless power supply device 10 and an edge server 30. The edge server 30 is communicably connected to a mobile object 20 and the contactless power supply device 10 via a communication network N. The configuration of the communication network N is not limited. The number of contactless power supply devices 10, mobile objects 20, and edge servers 30 is not limited. The contactless power supply device 10 does not directly communicate wirelessly with the mobile object 20.

[0021] The contactless power supply device 10 is connected to a communication network N via a first power line communication modem M1 and a second power line communication modem M2 capable of power line communication (PLC). The first power line communication modem M1 is arranged on the contactless power supply device 10 side. The second power line communication modem M2 is arranged on the external power network P side. Power line communication is performed in a section K1 between the first power line communication modem M1 and the second power line communication modem M2. That is, both power supply and communication are performed via a power cable. Wired communication or wireless communication is performed in a section K2 between the second power line communication modem M2 and the communication network N. The mobile object 20 is connected to the communication network N via wireless communication. The edge server 30 is connected to the communication network N via wired communication or wireless communication.

[0022] The contactless power supply device 10 is connected to an external power grid P via a first power line communication modem M1 and a second power line communication modem M2. The power supply source of the external power grid P is not limited. Examples of power supply sources include, but are not limited to, solar power generation, wind power generation, fuel cells, large-scale thermal power plants, and nuclear power plants.

[0023] The contactless power transfer device 10 is installed on the road surface. The entire housing of the contactless power transfer device 10 may be located on the road surface. The contactless power transfer device 10 may be buried so that the upper surface of the housing is flush with the road surface. The contactless power transfer device 10 may have an upper half of the housing exposed above the road surface and a lower half of the housing buried. Of the contactless power transfer device 10, the power transmission coil may be installed on the road surface, and the components other than the power transmission coil may be installed in a location other than the road surface. In this case, the power transmission coil and the components other than the power transmission coil are electrically connected by a cable.

[0024] The contactless power supply device 10 receives power from an external power grid P and generates an AC magnetic field for contactless power supply. The contactless power supply device 10 supplies power to a mobile object 20 located in a position where power can be supplied. The contactless power supply device 10 controls the contactless power supply. The contactless power supply device 10 has a power circuit 11 and a control device 12.

[0025] The power circuit 11 receives AC or DC power from an external power grid P via a power cable. All or part of the power cable (particularly the portion close to the wireless power supply device 10) may be laid underground, or may be laid in an underground wiring duct. The power circuit 11 generates an AC magnetic field for wireless power supply. The power circuit 11 includes a power transmission coil and an inverter. When receiving AC power, the power circuit 11 further includes a rectifier circuit. The power circuit 11 may also include a resonance circuit and a DC-DC converter.

[0026] The power transmission coil is supplied with an alternating current and generates an alternating magnetic field for contactless power supply. The power transmission coil is, for example, a circular coil. The contactless power supply method is, for example, a magnetic field resonance method. The contactless power supply method is not limited to this. For example, the contactless power supply method may be a method using electric field coupling. In this case, the power circuit 11 may have an electrode that generates an electric field instead of a power transmission coil. The contactless power supply method may be of other types and configurations. For example, multiple power transmission coils may be arranged side by side in the traveling direction of the mobile object 20. The multiple power transmission coils may be configured to enable contactless power supply while the mobile object 20 is traveling.

[0027] The inverter receives DC power and converts it into AC power of a frequency suitable for wireless power transfer (e.g., 100 kHz) by switching a power control element, and supplies the AC power to the power transmission coil. Examples of power control elements include, but are not limited to, an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) and a power MOSFET (Power Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor).

[0028] When the power supplied from the outside is AC, the rectifier circuit converts the AC to DC and supplies it to the inverter. The rectifier circuit may be equipped with a PFC (power factor correction) circuit that improves the power factor of the AC. The PFC circuit may also be omitted.

[0029] The resonant circuit is electrically connected to the transmitting coil and is composed of an inductor, a capacitor, or a combination thereof. The DC-DC converter converts the DC voltage and supplies it to the inverter. The resonant circuit and the DC-DC converter may be omitted.

[0030] The control device 12 is communicatively connected to the power circuit 11 via a communication line, an electric wire (hardwire), or a combination thereof. The communication line may be optical fiber. The control device 12 controls the power circuit 11 by changing the switching duty ratio of a power control element. The control device 12 controls the power circuit 11 to supply appropriate power according to the power specifications of the mobile object 20 (e.g., the maximum power that can be received) and the state of charge (SOC) of the battery mounted on the mobile object 20. For example, the control device 12 may control the supplied power so that it is equal to or less than the maximum power that the mobile object 20 can receive. When the SOC of the battery mounted on the mobile object 20 approaches full charge (e.g., when the SOC is 90% or higher), the control device 12 may control the supplied power to decrease as the SOC increases. In response to a request to terminate power supply, the control device 12 controls the power circuit 11 so that the supplied power becomes zero, thereby stopping power supply. The control device 12 may also detect an abnormality in the power circuit 11. The control device 12 may detect a foreign object or the like present on the upper surface or the like of the contactless power supply device 10. The control device 12 includes a communication interface for communicating with the edge server 30.

[0031] The mobile object 20 is, for example, an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The mobile object 20 may be driven by a driver or may be driven automatically. The mobile object 20 charges an onboard battery by receiving wireless power supply. The mobile object 20 moves to an area where it can communicate with the edge server 30 and starts communication with the edge server 30. The mobile object 20 transmits and receives data and commands to and from the wireless power supply device 10 via the edge server 30. The mobile object 20 includes a battery 21, a power circuit 22, a position information acquisition device 23, a wireless communication device 24, and a control device 25.

[0032] The battery 21 is a device that stores electric power for running the vehicle, and is, for example, a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery.

[0033] The power circuit 22 converts the power supplied from the contactless power supply device 10 into power with a voltage and current suitable for charging the battery 21, and supplies the power to the battery 21. The power circuit 22 has a power receiving coil, a rectifier circuit, and a DC-DC converter. The power circuit 22 may also have a resonant circuit.

[0034] The receiving coil receives power from the transmitting coil by generating an AC current due to an electromotive force induced by an AC magnetic field generated by the transmitting coil. The rectifier circuit converts the AC generated in the receiving coil into a DC current and supplies it to a DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter converts the DC voltage and supplies it to the battery 21. The resonant circuit is electrically connected to the receiving coil and is a circuit composed of an inductor, a capacitor, or a combination thereof.

[0035] The position information acquisition device 23 acquires information related to a position. The position information acquisition device 23 may be, for example, a camera or a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The camera captures an image of the surroundings of the mobile body 20. The image captured by the camera is an example of information related to the position of the mobile body 20 or the surroundings of the mobile body 20. The image may be subjected to image processing and image recognition by the control device 25. The image processing and image recognition may include processing and learning functions using AI (Artificial Intelligence). The GNSS receives satellite radio waves and measures latitude and longitude. The latitude and longitude are examples of information related to the position of the mobile body 20 or the surroundings of the mobile body 20.

[0036] The wireless communication device 24 is communicably connected to the communication network N using high-speed wireless communication such as 5G (5th Generation). The wireless communication device 24 communicates with the edge server 30 via the communication network N.

[0037] In high-speed wireless communication, the antenna on the communication network N side (e.g., an antenna of a mobile phone base station) is installed, for example, on a pole facing the road or at a high position on a building. The antenna on the mobile body 20 side may be installed behind the windshield or rear windshield. Because radio waves are transparent through glass, there is no material (e.g., metal) that obstructs the propagation of radio waves between the antenna on the communication network N side and the antenna on the mobile body 20 side, enabling stable wireless communication. The antenna on the mobile body 20 side may be an antenna (e.g., a rod antenna) that includes a portion that protrudes above the roof of the vehicle body. Because the antenna on the communication network N side is located at a higher position than the mobile body 20, there is no material (e.g., metal) that obstructs the propagation of radio waves between the antenna on the communication network N side and the antenna on the mobile body 20 side, enabling stable wireless communication.

[0038] The control device 25 controls the power circuit 22 and the battery 21 to control charging. The control device 25 communicates with the edge server 30 using the wireless communication device 24. The control device 25 is communicatively connected to the power circuit 22, the battery 21, and the location information acquisition device 23 by a communication line, an electric wire (hardwire), or a combination thereof. The communication line may be an optical fiber.

[0039] The edge server 30 is communicably connected to the mobile object 20 and the contactless power supply device 10 via a communication network N. The edge server 30 includes a communication device 31 and a storage device 32.

[0040] The communication device 31 communicates with one or more contactless power supply devices 10 and one or more mobile bodies 20. The communication device 31 relays (transfers) communication between a specific contactless power supply device 10 and a specific mobile body 20 that is close to the specific contactless power supply device 10. For example, the communication device 31 relays data related to contactless power supply transmitted from one of the contactless power supply device 10 and the mobile body 20 to the other. Examples of the data related to contactless power supply include, but are not limited to, specifications related to the power of the mobile body 20 (e.g., the maximum power that can be received), the state of charge (SOC) of the battery mounted on the mobile body 20, an instruction to start power supply, and an instruction to stop power supply.

[0041] The storage device 32 stores a communication list that associates the communication ID of the mobile object 20 with the communication ID of the wireless power supply device 10 that the mobile object 20 is close to. The communication ID is information that identifies the device with which the mobile object 20 is communicating, such as an IP address. The edge server 30 may update the communication list when communication between the mobile object 20 and the edge server 30 starts or ends.

[0042] The storage device 32 stores a list of contactless power transfer devices that associates information about the location of the contactless power transfer device 10 with the communication ID of the contactless power transfer device 10. The information about the location of the contactless power transfer device 10 is, for example, the latitude and longitude of the installation location of the contactless power transfer device 10. The latitude and longitude of the installation location of the contactless power transfer device 10 may be, for example, latitude and longitude measured by GNSS. The edge server 30 may update (add, change, or delete) the list of contactless power transfer devices in response to new installation, relocation, or removal of a contactless power transfer device 10.

[0043] The control device 12 of the contactless power supply device 10, the control device 25 of the mobile object 20, and the edge server 30 are realized by a digital computer including, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a flash ROM (Read Only Memory) storing programs, a hard disk drive, a RAM (Random Access Memory) storing intermediate calculation results, an input / output circuit, and a bus connecting these, etc. The digital computer may include a circuit for speeding up image recognition and learning, which is realized by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an AI processor, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), etc.

[0044] Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an outline of the operation of the contactless power supply system 1. Fig. 2 shows five mobile objects 201 to 205 as examples of the mobile object 20. Fig. 2 shows seven contactless power supply devices 101 to 107 as examples of the contactless power supply device 10. In the contactless power supply system 1, the mobile objects 20 and the contactless power supply devices 10 transmit and receive data related to contactless power supply via the edge server 30.

[0045] The storage device 32 of the edge server 30 stores a communication list L1 as an example of a communication list. All entries of the communication list L1 may be initialized to an invalid value (e.g., "-") as an initial setting. When communication between the mobile object 20 and the edge server 30 starts, the communication ID of the mobile object 20 is added to the communication list L1. When the mobile object 20 approaches the contactless power supply device 10, the communication ID of the contactless power supply device 10 is added to the communication list L1. The edge server 30 may delete the communication ID of the mobile object 20 or the communication ID of the contactless power supply device 10 by overwriting it with an invalid value.

[0046] In one example, the communication list L1 associates the communication ID “V1” of the mobile object 201 with an invalid value “-” by storing them in the same row. This row indicates that the mobile object 201 is communicating with the edge server 30 but is not in proximity to the contactless power supply device 10.

[0047] In another example, the communication list L1 associates the communication ID “V2” of the mobile object 202 with the communication ID “C2” of the contactless power supply device 102 by storing them in the same row. This row indicates that the mobile object 202 and the contactless power supply device 102 can communicate with each other via the edge server 30.

[0048] In another example, the communication list L1 associates the communication ID “V3” of the mobile object 203 with the communication ID “C3” of the contactless power supply device 103 by storing them in the same row. This row indicates that the mobile object 203 and the contactless power supply device 103 can communicate with each other via the edge server 30.

[0049] In yet another example, the communication list L1 associates the communication ID “V5” of the mobile object 205 with the communication ID “C7” of the contactless power supply device 107 by storing them in the same row. This row indicates that the mobile object 205 and the contactless power supply device 107 can communicate with each other via the edge server 30.

[0050] The storage device 32 of the edge server 30 stores a contactless power transfer device list L2 as an example of a contactless power transfer device list. All entries in the contactless power transfer device list L2 may be initialized to an invalid value (e.g., "-") as an initial setting. When a contactless power transfer device 10 is newly installed, the edge server 30 may overwrite one of the entries with information about the newly installed contactless power transfer device 10. When a contactless power transfer device 10 is removed, the edge server 30 may overwrite the entry for the removed contactless power transfer device 10 with an invalid value.

[0051] In one example, the contactless power supply device list L2 associates information "P1" about the location of the contactless power supply device 101 with the communication ID "C1" of the contactless power supply device 101 by storing them in the same row. This row indicates the location where the contactless power supply device 101 is installed and the destination or source of communication of the contactless power supply device 101.

[0052] An example of an operation method (contactless power supply method) of the contactless power supply system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the contactless power supply system 1 as flow F.

[0053] In step S1, the mobile body 20 transmits a communication start request to an edge server 30 within its communication range. The communication start request is data requesting the start of communication. The communication start request includes the communication ID of the mobile body 20. For example, the mobile body 20 may have map information indicating the location of the edge server 30 and the communication ID of the edge server 30. The mobile body 20 may identify the communication ID of the nearest edge server 30 by comparing the current location of the mobile body 20, acquired using GNSS, with the map information. The edge server 30 receives the communication start request from the mobile body 20.

[0054] In step S2, the edge server 30 updates the communication list based on the communication start request. For example, the edge server 30 adds the communication ID of the mobile unit 20 included in the communication start request to the communication list.

[0055] In step S3, the edge server 30 specifies the communication ID of the mobile unit 20 as the destination and transmits a first notification to the mobile unit 20. The first notification is data notifying that communication between the mobile unit 20 and the edge server 30 is possible. The mobile unit 20 receives the first notification from the edge server 30.

[0056] In step S4, the mobile object 20 approaches the contactless power supply device 10 to a position where it can receive contactless power (a position where power can be supplied). For example, the mobile object 20 moves to a position where the power receiving coil of the power circuit 22 and the power transmitting coil of the power circuit 11 of the contactless power supply device 10 are directly opposite each other. Whether they are directly opposite each other may be determined by, for example, visual inspection by the driver of the mobile object 20 or by image recognition using a camera image by an automatic driving function.

[0057] When a plurality of contactless power transfer devices 10 are present, the mobile object 20 may select and approach the nearest contactless power transfer device 10. In one example, the mobile object 20 has map information indicating the positions of the contactless power transfer devices 10, and may compare the current position (e.g., latitude and longitude) of the mobile object 20 acquired using GNSS with the map information, and select and approach the nearest contactless power transfer device 10. In another example, the mobile object 20 may transmit the current position (e.g., latitude and longitude) of the mobile object 20 to the edge server 30. The edge server 30 may refer to a list of contactless power transfer devices stored in the storage device 32 and identify the nearest contactless power transfer device 10 based on the current position of the mobile object 20. The edge server 30 may transmit the identified position of the nearest contactless power transfer device 10 to the mobile object 20. The mobile object 20 may select and approach the nearest contactless power transfer device 10 received from the edge server 30.

[0058] In step S5, the position information acquisition device 23 of the mobile object 20 acquires information related to the position. In one example, the position information acquisition device 23 may acquire latitude and longitude indicating the position of the mobile object 20 acquired using GNSS as information related to the position. In another example, the position information acquisition device 23 may use a camera to capture an image of a character string displayed in the vicinity of the wireless power supply device 10 (for example, on a wall). The position information acquisition device 23 may perform character recognition on the captured image and acquire the acquired character string as information related to the position.

[0059] In step S6, the mobile entity 20 transmits information relating to its location to the edge server 30. The edge server 30 receives the information relating to its location from the mobile entity 20.

[0060] In step S7, the edge server 30 identifies the communication ID of the contactless power transfer device 10 based on the information about the location. For example, the edge server 30 uses the information about the location to search the list of contactless power transfer devices stored in the storage device 32 and identifies the communication ID of the contactless power transfer device 10. If the information about the location is latitude and longitude, the edge server 30 may identify the communication ID of the contactless power transfer device 10 that matches the latitude and longitude information stored in the list of contactless power transfer devices. If the information about the location is a character string, the edge server 30 may identify the communication ID of the contactless power transfer device 10 that matches the character string information stored in the list of contactless power transfer devices.

[0061] In step S8, the edge server 30 updates the communication list based on the communication ID of the mobile object 20 and the communication ID of the contactless power supply device 10. For example, the edge server 30 updates the communication list by associating the communication ID of the mobile object 20 added in step S2 with the communication ID of the contactless power supply device 10 identified in step S7. The mobile object 20 and the contactless power supply device 10 associated in the communication list are in a close positional relationship (a positional relationship that allows contactless power supply).

[0062] In step S9, the edge server 30 specifies the communication ID of the mobile body 20 as the destination and transmits a second notification to the mobile body 20. The second notification is data notifying that the contactless power supply device 10 and the mobile body 20 have been paired and that communication via the edge server 30 is possible. The mobile body 20 receives the second notification from the edge server 30. "Paired" means that the communication ID of the contactless power supply device 10 and the communication ID of the mobile body 20 are associated with each other, for example, that the communication ID of the contactless power supply device 10 and the communication ID of the mobile body 20 are stored in the same row of the communication list.

[0063] In step S10, a power supply process is performed. An example of the power supply process will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the power supply process. In the power supply process, the edge server 30 relays (transfers) data related to contactless power supply for a pair of a mobile object 20 and a contactless power supply device 10 registered in the communication list. The edge server 30 identifies the communication ID of the paired destination based on the communication ID of the data sender and the communication list. For example, in the communication list, information written in another entry in the same row as the communication ID of the sender is the communication ID of the paired destination. The edge server 30 may or may not convert the data format when relaying.

[0064] In step S101A, the mobile object 20 transmits a power supply start request to the edge server 30. The power supply start request is data related to contactless power supply for requesting the start of power supply. The power supply start request includes the maximum power that the mobile object 20 can receive. The edge server 30 receives the power supply start request from the mobile object 20.

[0065] In step S101B, the edge server 30 transmits a power supply start request to the contactless power supply device 10. The contactless power supply device 10 receives the power supply start request from the edge server 30.

[0066] In step S102, based on the power supply start request, the contactless power supply device 10 stores the maximum power that can be received by the moving object 20. For example, the contactless power supply device 10 stores the maximum power that can be received by the moving object 20, which is included in the power supply start request, in a predetermined storage device.

[0067] In step S103A, the mobile object 20 transmits the SOC to the edge server 30. The SOC is data related to wireless power supply. The edge server 30 receives the SOC from the mobile object 20.

[0068] In step S103B, the edge server 30 transmits the SOC to the contactless power supply device 10. The contactless power supply device 10 receives the SOC from the edge server 30.

[0069] In step S104, the contactless power supply device 10 determines the power supply value to be equal to or less than the maximum power that can be received and according to the SOC. "Depending on the SOC" means that, for example, when the SOC is 90% or less, the power supply value is set equal to the maximum power that can be received by the mobile object 20, and when the SOC exceeds 90%, the power supply value is reduced as the SOC increases.

[0070] In step S105, the contactless power feeding device 10 feeds power contactlessly to the moving object 20 based on the feed power value. The battery 21 of the moving object 20 is charged with the power fed from the contactless power feeding device 10.

[0071] In step S106A, the contactless power supply device 10 transmits the supply power value to the edge server 30. The edge server 30 receives the supply power value from the contactless power supply device 10.

[0072] In step S106B, the edge server 30 transmits the supply power value to the mobile object 20. The supply power value is data related to contactless power supply. The mobile object 20 receives the supply power value from the edge server 30.

[0073] The process of block B1, which includes steps S103A, S103B, S104, S105, S106A, and S106B, is periodically repeated, for example, every 10 seconds.

[0074] After step S101A, the moving object 20 may determine a condition for stopping power supply (or a condition for stopping charging of the battery 21). In one example, the condition for stopping power supply may be whether or not the SOC is 100%. That is, the condition for stopping power supply may be whether or not the battery 21 is fully charged. In another example, the condition for stopping power supply may be whether or not the SOC is not 100% and the moving object 20 is moving. If the condition for stopping power supply is met, the process proceeds to step S107A. If the condition for stopping power supply is not met, the process of block B1 may be repeatedly executed.

[0075] In step S107A, the mobile object 20 transmits a power supply end request to the edge server 30. The power supply end request is data related to contactless power supply for requesting the end of power supply. The edge server 30 receives the power supply end request from the mobile object 20.

[0076] In step S107B, the edge server 30 transmits a power supply end request to the contactless power supply device 10. The contactless power supply device 10 receives the power supply end request from the edge server 30.

[0077] In step S108, the contactless power supply device 10 stops power supply.

[0078] 3, in step S11, the mobile entity 20 transmits a communication termination request to the edge server 30. The communication termination request is data requesting the termination of communication. The edge server 30 receives the communication termination request from the mobile entity 20.

[0079] In step S12, the edge server 30 updates the communication list based on the communication termination request. For example, based on the communication ID of the mobile object 20 that is the sender of the communication termination request, the edge server 30 deletes the communication ID of the mobile object 20 and the communication ID of the paired contactless power supply device 10 from the communication list. The deletion is performed, for example, by overwriting with an invalid value.

[0080] In step S13, the edge server 30 transmits a third notification to the mobile object 20. The third notification is data notifying that the pair between the wireless power supply device 10 and the mobile object 20 has been released and that communication via the edge server 30 has ended. The mobile object 20 receives the third notification from the edge server 30.

[0081] The processing of flow F is not limited to the above description. In step S7, if the communication ID of the contactless power supply device 10 cannot be identified based on the information related to the location, the edge server 30 may transmit a notification to the mobile object 20 indicating that the contactless power supply device 10 is not found. The mobile object 20 may transmit a communication termination request to the edge server 30.

[0082] The data relayed by the edge server 30 is not limited to the data described above. For example, the mobile object 20 may transmit the model of the mobile object 20 via the edge server 30. The contactless power supply device 10 may transmit, via the edge server 30, information indicating whether a foreign object has been detected.

[0083] When the radio wave propagation condition deteriorates and communication between the mobile object 20 and the edge server 30 becomes difficult, or when a power outage occurs, the edge server 30 may perform error processing. In the error processing, the edge server 30 may transmit a power supply end request to the contactless power supply device 10 paired with the mobile object 20, so that the contactless power supply device 10 stops power supply.

[0084] As described above, the contactless power supply system 1 according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes the contactless power supply device 10 and the edge server 30 that can communicate with the contactless power supply device 10 and the mobile object 20. The edge server 30 has a communication device 31 that relays data related to contactless power supply transmitted from either the contactless power supply device 10 or the mobile object 20 to the other. The contactless power supply device 10 does not directly communicate wirelessly with the mobile object 20.

[0085] A contactless power supply method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is executed by a contactless power supply system including a contactless power supply device 10 and an edge server 30 capable of communicating with the contactless power supply device 10 and a mobile object 20. The contactless power supply method includes a step of relaying data related to contactless power supply transmitted from one of the contactless power supply device 10 and the mobile object 20 by the edge server 30 to the other without performing direct wireless communication between the contactless power supply device 10 and the mobile object 20, and a step of contactlessly supplying power to the mobile object 20 by the contactless power supply device 10 based on the relayed data related to contactless power supply.

[0086] In the contactless power supply system 1 and contactless power supply method disclosed herein, data related to contactless power supply is transmitted and received between the contactless power supply device 10 and the mobile body 20 via the edge server 30. No wireless communication is performed between the contactless power supply device 10 and the mobile body 20. There is no need to provide a wireless communication device or the like for direct communication with the mobile body 20 in or near the contactless power supply device 10. There is also no need to consider the positional relationship between the contactless power supply device 10 and the mobile body 20 for wireless communication, the location of the antenna of the mobile body 20, and the like. This simplifies the configurations of the contactless power supply device 10 and the mobile body 20, and can support communication between the mobile body 20 and the contactless power supply device 10.

[0087] When there are a plurality of pairs of mobile objects 20 and contactless power supply devices 10, contactless power supply may be performed for each pair. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 2, the mobile object 202 and the contactless power supply device 102, the mobile object 203 and the contactless power supply device 103, and the mobile object 205 and the contactless power supply device 107 are paired, respectively. The mobile object 202 and the contactless power supply device 102 execute flow F via the edge server 30, and contactless power supply is performed from the contactless power supply device 102 to the mobile object 202. The mobile object 203 and the contactless power supply device 103 execute flow F via the edge server 30, and contactless power supply is performed from the contactless power supply device 103 to the mobile object 203. The mobile object 205 and the contactless power supply device 107 execute flow F via the edge server 30, and contactless power supply is performed from the contactless power supply device 107 to the mobile object 205. These contactless power supplies may be performed simultaneously in parallel.

[0088] The present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0089] [First Modification] 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overview of a contactless power supply system 1A according to a first modification. The contactless power supply system 1A differs from the contactless power supply system 1 in that it includes an edge server 30A instead of the edge server 30. The edge server 30A applies the functions of the edge server 30 of the present disclosure to an edge server that performs data communication related to an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) of a mobile object 20. The following describes the contactless power supply system 1A, focusing on the differences from the contactless power supply system 1.

[0090] A communication line for data communication related to the advanced driver assistance system and a communication line for data communication related to wireless power supply are shared between the mobile object 20 and the edge server 30A. The communication line is independent for each mobile object 20. In the present disclosure, the advanced driver assistance system includes an automated driving assistance system.

[0091] The control device 25 of the moving object 20 may perform processing required for the advanced driver assistance system using the information about the position acquired by the position information acquisition device 23. For example, the control device 25 may recognize the situation around the moving object 20 using information about the position acquired by a camera or GNSS.

[0092] The edge server 30A includes a communication device 31, a storage device 32, a support unit 33, and a selection unit 34. The communication device 31 further transmits data D1 related to the advanced driver assistance system to the mobile object 20. The support unit 33 generates the data D1 related to the advanced driver assistance system. The selection unit 34 switches the priority of the data D2 related to wireless power transfer and the data D1 related to the advanced driver assistance system. The data D1 related to the advanced driver assistance system may be, for example, an image captured by a camera installed on a road and transmitted to the edge server 30A. In one example, the image indicates whether a vehicle or pedestrian is present in a location that is not directly visible (a blind spot) from the mobile object 20. The functionality of the advanced driver assistance system can be enhanced by utilizing information obtained from the edge server 30A in addition to information obtained from sensors installed in the mobile object 20.

[0093] The communication device 31 may transmit the data D2 related to wireless power supply or the data D1 related to the advanced driver assistance system to the mobile object 20 based on the priority. The communication device 31 may transmit the data with higher priority first and reserve the transmission of the data with lower priority.

[0094] The selection unit 34 may determine the power supply state between the wireless power supply device 10 and the mobile object 20 and switch the priority depending on the power supply state. For example, the selection unit 34 may determine the power supply state depending on the stage of each process. In one example, when a process other than step S10 is being performed, the selection unit 34 may determine the power supply state to be "not supplying power." When step S10 is being performed, the selection unit 34 may determine the power supply state to be "supplying power." In other words, while the mobile object 20 and the wireless power supply device 10 are not communicating via the edge server 30, the selection unit 34 may determine the power supply state to be "not supplying power." While the mobile object 20 and the wireless power supply device 10 are communicating via the edge server 30, the selection unit 34 may determine the power supply state to be "supplying power."

[0095] In another example, before the second notification is transmitted in step S9, the selector 34 may determine the power supply state to be "not supplying power." After the second notification is transmitted in step S9 and before the third notification is transmitted in step S13, the selector 34 may determine the power supply state to be "supplying power." After the third notification is transmitted in step S13, the selector 34 may determine the power supply state to be "not supplying power."

[0096] The selection unit 34 may determine the power supply state based on data related to wireless power supply. For example, the selection unit 34 may determine the power supply state based on a power supply value. In one example, if the power supply value is zero (or equal to or less than a threshold), the selection unit 34 may determine the power supply state to be "not supplying power." If the power supply value is greater than zero (or greater than a threshold), the selection unit 34 may determine the power supply state to be "supplying power."

[0097] The selection unit 34 may increase the priority of data related to wireless power supply when the power supply status indicates that power is being supplied. The selection unit 34 may increase the priority of data related to an advanced driver assistance system when the power supply status indicates that power is not being supplied.

[0098] When the data D1 related to the advanced driving assistance system has a high priority, the communication device 31 may prioritize and transmit the data D1 related to the advanced driving assistance system sent from the assistance unit 33 to the mobile object 20. The communication device 31 may store the data D2 related to contactless power feeding, which has a low priority, in memory without transmitting it. When the data D1 related to the advanced driving assistance system is not sent from the assistance unit 33 (when there is no data D1 related to the advanced driving assistance system to transmit), the communication device 31 may read the data D2 related to contactless power feeding from memory and transmit it to the mobile object 20 or the contactless power feeding device 10.

[0099] When the data D2 related to contactless power supply has a high priority, the communication device 31 may preferentially relay the data D2 related to contactless power supply transmitted from the contactless power supply device 10 or the mobile object 20. The communication device 31 may store the data D1 related to the advanced driver assistance system, which has a low priority, in memory without transmitting it. When the data D2 related to contactless power supply is not transmitted (when there is no data D2 related to contactless power supply to relay), the communication device 31 may read the data D1 related to the advanced driver assistance system from memory and transmit it to the mobile object 20.

[0100] By giving priority to transmitting high-priority data, it is possible to speed up communication of high-priority data (reduce delays). Communication of low-priority data is delayed. Here, for example, in flow F of FIG. 3, when processing other than step S10 is in progress, the mobile object 20 is moving, so delays in data D1 related to the advanced driver assistance system need to be suppressed. However, since power is not being supplied and wireless power supply control is not being performed, delays in data D2 related to wireless power supply are acceptable. When processing step S10 is in progress, the mobile object 20 is being supplied with power, so control of wireless power supply needs to be continued at all times, so delays in data D1 related to wireless power supply need to be suppressed. However, delays in data D1 related to the advanced driver assistance system are acceptable. For example, in the case of wireless power supply performed while the mobile object is stopped, the mobile object 20 does not move during power supply, so there is no need to use the advanced driver assistance system to assist the movement of the mobile object 20. Furthermore, in the case of contactless power supply while driving, in order to perform contactless power supply without hindrance, the area in which the contactless power supply device 10 is installed is structured to prevent or make difficult the intrusion of other moving bodies 20 and pedestrians, etc. Furthermore, in the case of contactless power supply while driving, in addition to the structure of the area described above, power is supplied while driving in a certain driving lane, so there is no need for an advanced driver assistance system to provide advanced support for the movement of the moving body 20. Therefore, even if communication of low-priority data is delayed, there is no hindrance to the advanced driver assistance system or contactless power supply.

[0101] As described above, in the contactless power transfer system 1A, the communication device 31 further transmits data D1 related to the advanced driving assistance system to the moving object 20. In this case, the contactless power transfer system 1A can use an edge server that performs data communication for the existing advanced driving assistance system, so there is no need to add a new device.

[0102] In the contactless power transfer system 1A, the edge server 30A has a selector 34 that switches the priority of data D2 related to contactless power transfer and data D1 related to the advanced driver assistance system. The communication device 31 preferentially transmits high-priority data and suspends transmission of low-priority data. In this case, by increasing the speed of communication of high-priority data and allowing delays in communication of low-priority data, it is possible to share the communication line for the data D2 related to contactless power transfer and the data D1 related to the advanced driver assistance system.

[0103] In the contactless power supply system 1A, the selector 34 determines the power supply state between the contactless power supply device 10 and the moving object 20, and switches the priority according to the power supply state. In this case, the priority can be determined simply, and therefore the processing load can be reduced.

[0104] In the contactless power transfer system 1A, the selector 34 increases the priority of data related to contactless power transfer when the power transfer status indicates that power is being transferred, and increases the priority of data related to the advanced driver assistance system when the power transfer status indicates that power is not being transferred. In this case, even if communication of low-priority data is delayed, there is no disruption to the advanced driver assistance system or contactless power transfer.

[0105] [Second Modification] In the above embodiment, the mobile object 20 and the edge server 30 communicate with each other, but this is not limiting. The edge server 30 may also wirelessly communicate with a handheld terminal (worker terminal) carried by a worker who installs or maintains the contactless power supply device 10. The handheld terminal may communicate with the contactless power supply device 10 via the edge server 30.

[0106] The handheld terminal may have the same functions as the position information acquisition device 23. For example, in one example, the handheld terminal may acquire, as position information, latitude and longitude indicating the current position of the worker acquired using GNSS. In another example, the handheld terminal may use a camera to capture an image of a character string displayed near (for example, on a wall) the contactless power transfer device 10 that is the work target. The handheld terminal may perform character recognition on the captured image to acquire the character string as position information. The handheld terminal may transmit the position information to the edge server 30.

[0107] The list of contactless power transfer devices may further store a password. The edge server 30 may compare the password entered by the worker via the handheld terminal with the password stored in the list of contactless power transfer devices. If the comparison results in a match, the edge server 30 may determine that the contactless power transfer device 10 and the handheld terminal are capable of communicating. In other words, the edge server may allow only workers who know the password to access the contactless power transfer device 10.

[0108] Since there is no need to provide a circuit for direct communication between the contactless power supply device 10 and the handheld terminal in the contactless power supply device 10, the configuration of the contactless power supply device 10 is simplified. Furthermore, since there is no need to provide a connector for connecting a communication line for communicating with the handheld terminal in the contactless power supply device 10, the waterproofness of the contactless power supply device 10 is not reduced.

[0109] [Third Modification] The edge server 30 may communicate with an owner terminal, which is a terminal of the owner (possessor or user) of the mobile object 20. The owner terminal may be a smartphone or the like installed with an application for acquiring information on the power supply status or charging status of the mobile object 20 from the edge server 30, or may be a terminal with dedicated functions. The information on the power supply status or charging status may be, for example, part or all of data related to wireless power supply, or information obtained by processing such data. In one example, the information on the power supply status or charging status may be the SOC, the power supply power value, or the SOC and the power supply power value. In another example, the information on the power supply status or charging status may be billing information calculated based on the SOC history, the power supply power value history, or the power supply power and power supply time.

[0110] The communication line between the edge server 30 and the owner terminal may be a high-speed communication such as 5G, or a low-speed communication such as 4G. Access from the owner terminal to the edge server 30 may be via a global cloud. Even if the owner terminal is located very far from the mobile object 20, the charging status can be checked.

[0111] Since information is sent to the owner terminal from the edge server 30, the contactless power supply device 10 does not need to have a communication function for transmitting information to the owner terminal. The edge server 30 may request information (such as a code, password, or PIN) for identifying the owner of the mobile object 20 from the owner terminal.

[0112] [Fourth Modification] 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overview of a contactless power supply system 1B according to a fourth modification. The contactless power supply system 1B differs from the contactless power supply system 1 in that it includes an edge server 30B instead of the edge server 30. The edge server 30B executes some or all of the control related to contactless power supply. The following describes the contactless power supply system 1B, focusing on the differences from the contactless power supply system 1.

[0113] The edge server 30B includes a communication device 31, a storage device 32, and a control unit 35. The control unit 35 performs a process of storing the maximum receivable power based on a power supply start request received from the mobile object 20. For example, the control unit 35 may store the maximum receivable power in the storage device 32. The control unit 35 determines the power supply value based on the maximum receivable power and the state of charge (SOC) of the mobile object 20. The communication device 31 transmits the power supply value to the wireless power supply device 10. The wireless power supply device 10 supplies power based on the power supply value received from the edge server 30B.

[0114] According to the contactless power supply system 1B of the fourth modification, the processing executed by the contactless power supply device 10 is reduced, so the processing capability of the control device 12 built into the contactless power supply device 10 may be low. This allows the control device 12 of the contactless power supply device 10 to be simplified. Furthermore, the manufacture, installation, and maintenance of the contactless power supply device 10 can be simplified.

[0115] The edge server 30B may also be capable of communicating with a global cloud. The edge server 30B may be configured so that the program of the edge server 30B can be updated without human intervention by downloading the program from the global cloud. Updating the control program of the edge server 30B enables updating of the contactless power transfer control. As a result, it is no longer necessary to update the control program for each of the multiple contactless power transfer devices 10.

[0116] The control unit 35 of the edge server 30B may execute other functions that are performed by the control device 12 of the contactless power supply device 10. The control unit 35 may process data transmitted from the contactless power supply device 10 to the edge server 30B and then relay the data to the mobile object 20.

[0117] The processing of the contactless power supply system 1 according to the embodiment and the processing of the contactless power supply system 1B according to the fourth modified example may be mixed. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, in the communication between the mobile object 202 and the contactless power supply device 102 and the communication between the mobile object 203 and the contactless power supply device 103, part or all of the control related to contactless power supply may be executed in the control unit 35 according to the processing of the contactless power supply system 1B according to the fourth modified example. In the communication between the mobile object 205 and the contactless power supply device 107, data received according to the processing of the contactless power supply system 1 according to the embodiment may be transferred as is.

[0118] 7 is a sequence diagram showing another example of the power supply process. The process of step S20 shown in FIG. 7 is executed by the contactless power supply system 1B instead of step S10 shown in FIG.

[0119] In step S201, the mobile object 20 transmits a power supply start request to the edge server 30B. The power supply start request includes the maximum power that can be received by the mobile object 20. The edge server 30B receives the power supply start request from the mobile object 20.

[0120] In step S202, based on the power supply start request, the edge server 30B stores the maximum power that can be received by the moving object 20. For example, the edge server 30B stores the maximum power that can be received by the moving object 20, which is included in the power supply start request, in a predetermined storage device.

[0121] In step S203, the edge server 30B transmits a power supply start request to the contactless power supply device 10. The contactless power supply device 10 receives the power supply start request from the edge server 30B.

[0122] In step S204, the mobile entity 20 transmits the SOC to the edge server 30B. The edge server 30B receives the SOC from the mobile entity 20.

[0123] In step S205, the edge server 30B determines a power supply value that is equal to or less than the maximum power that can be received and that corresponds to the SOC.

[0124] In step S206, the edge server 30B transmits the supply power value to the contactless power supply device 10. The contactless power supply device 10 receives the supply power value from the edge server 30B.

[0125] In step S207, the contactless power feeding device 10 feeds power contactlessly to the moving object 20 based on the feed power value. The battery 21 of the moving object 20 is charged with the power fed from the contactless power feeding device 10.

[0126] In step S208A, the contactless power supply device 10 transmits the supply power value to the edge server 30 B. The edge server 30 B receives the supply power value from the contactless power supply device 10.

[0127] In step S208B, the edge server 30B transmits the supply power value to the mobile object 20. The supply power value is data related to contactless power supply. The mobile object 20 receives the supply power value from the edge server 30B.

[0128] The process of block B2, which includes steps S204, S205, S206, S207, S208A, and S208B, may be periodically repeated, for example, every 10 seconds.

[0129] After step S201, the moving object 20 may determine a condition for stopping power supply (or a condition for stopping charging of the battery 21). In one example, the condition for stopping power supply may be whether or not the SOC is 100%. In other words, it may be whether or not the battery 21 is fully charged. In another example, the condition for stopping power supply may be whether or not the SOC is not 100% and the moving object 20 is moving. If the condition for stopping power supply is met, the process proceeds to step S209A. If the condition for stopping power supply is not met, the process of block B2 may be repeatedly executed.

[0130] In step S209A, the mobile object 20 transmits a power supply stop request to the edge server 30 B. The edge server 30 B receives the power supply stop request from the mobile object 20.

[0131] In step S209B, the edge server 30B transmits a power supply end request to the contactless power supply device 10. The contactless power supply device 10 receives the power supply end request from the edge server 30B.

[0132] In step S210, the contactless power supply device 10 stops power supply.

[0133] [Fifth Modification] 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overview of a contactless power supply system 1C according to a fifth modified example. The contactless power supply system 1C differs from the contactless power supply system 1B in that it includes an edge server 30C instead of the edge server 30B. In addition to the functions of the edge server 30B, the edge server 30C controls contactless power supply across pairs of multiple mobile objects 20 and multiple contactless power supply devices 10. The following describes the contactless power supply system 1C, focusing on the differences from the contactless power supply system 1B.

[0134] The edge server 30C performs control to limit the sum of the power values ​​supplied from the multiple wireless power supply devices 10 to the mobile object 20 so that the sum is equal to or less than the power supply capacity of a local power grid (e.g., an external power grid P). If the wireless power supply devices 10 and the mobile object 20 have a V2G (Vehicle to Grid) function, the edge server 30C may perform control to discharge the battery 21 of the mobile object 20 to supply power to the local power grid. The edge server 30C includes a communication device 31, a storage device 32, a control unit 35, and an integrated control unit 36.

[0135] The control unit 35 calculates a power supply value for each pair of the mobile object 20 and the contactless power supply device 10. For example, the control unit 35 calculates a power supply value W1 for the pair of the mobile object 202 and the contactless power supply device 102, a power supply value W2 for the pair of the mobile object 203 and the contactless power supply device 103, and a power supply value W3 for the pair of the mobile object 205 and the contactless power supply device 107.

[0136] The maximum amount of power that can be supplied from the local power grid to the wireless power supply device 10 connected to the edge server 30C is defined as Wmax. The maximum amount of power that can be supplied may be determined, for example, by a contract with a power supply company. The maximum amount of power that can be supplied may vary depending on the amount of solar radiation in solar power generation or the influence of wind power in wind power generation.

[0137] The integrated control unit 36 ​​controls the sum of the power supply values ​​to be equal to or less than a maximum value Wmax. For example, the integrated control unit 36 ​​acquires the power supply values ​​W1, W2, and W3 from the control unit 35. The integrated control unit 36 ​​calculates the sum Ws of the power supply values ​​by adding the power supply values ​​W1, W2, and W3.

[0138] If the sum Ws of the power supply values ​​is equal to or less than the maximum value Wmax, the integrated control unit 36 ​​instructs the control unit 35 to use the calculated power supply values ​​W1, W2, and W3 as they are.

[0139] If the sum Ws of the power supply values ​​exceeds the maximum value Wmax, the central control unit 36 ​​instructs the control unit 35 to reduce the power supply value for each pair. Examples of the instruction to reduce the power supply value include, but are not limited to, the following methods (first to third examples).

[0140] As a first example, the central control unit 36 ​​may instruct the control unit 35 to multiply the power supply value by Wmax / Ws. The central control unit 36 ​​uniformly reduces the power supply value for each pair at a constant rate.

[0141] As a second example, the integrated control unit 36 ​​selects a combination of power supply values ​​such that the sum of the power supply values ​​is equal to or less than Wmax. The integrated control unit 36 ​​instructs the control unit 35 to leave the selected power supply value as is. The integrated control unit 36 ​​instructs the control unit 35 to set the unselected power supply values ​​to zero. For example, if the sum of the power supply value W1 and the power supply value W2 is equal to or less than Wmax, the integrated control unit 36 ​​instructs the control unit 35 to leave the power supply values ​​W1 and W2 as is. The integrated control unit 36 ​​instructs the control unit 35 to set the power supply value W3 to zero. Alternatively, the integrated control unit 36 ​​may preferentially select a mobile unit 20 that is willing to pay a larger amount for power supply.

[0142] As a third example, when the wireless power supply device 10 and the mobile object 20 have a V2G (Vehicle to Grid) function and the battery 21 of the mobile object 20 stores dischargeable power (for example, the SOC is 50% or more), the integrated control unit 36 ​​may instruct the mobile object 20 to set the supply power value to a negative value. In this case, the mobile object 20 discharges the battery 21, transmits power to the wireless power supply device 10, and supplies power to the local power grid.

[0143] As described above, the contactless power supply system 1C includes the control unit 35 that calculates the power supply value for each pair of the mobile object 20 and the contactless power supply device 10, and the integrated control unit 36 ​​that controls the sum of the power supply values ​​to be equal to or less than the maximum value of the amount of power that can be supplied. In this case, contactless power supply from the multiple contactless power supply devices 10 to the multiple mobile objects 20 can be managed in an integrated manner, so that contactless power supply can be performed stably.

[0144] [Sixth Modification] In the above embodiment, the contactless power supply device 10 is described as being connected to the communication network N via power line communication using the first power line communication modem M1 and the second power line communication modem M2. However, this is not limiting. For example, the contactless power supply device 10 may be connected to the communication network N using a communication cable separate from the power cable, without using power line communication. In this case, the first power line communication modem M1 and the second power line communication modem M2 are not required, which simplifies installation and maintenance of the contactless power supply device 10. The communication cable may also be an optical fiber. In this case, the power cable can be installed adjacent to or close to the communication cable while preventing noise from being mixed into the communication cable. All or a part of the communication cable (particularly the portion close to the contactless power supply device 10) may be laid underground, or may be laid in an underground wiring duct.

[0145] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the moving body 20 is an automobile, but the moving body 20 may be an aerial drone or the like. In this case, information regarding the position of the moving body 20 may be three-dimensional information (for example, latitude, longitude, and altitude).

[0146] [Note] The present disclosure includes the following summary. [1] a contactless power supply device; an edge server capable of communicating with the wireless power supply device and a mobile object, the edge server has a communication device that relays data related to contactless power supply transmitted from one of the contactless power supply device and the mobile object to the other, The non-contact power supply device does not directly communicate wirelessly with the moving object. Contactless power supply system. [2] The wireless power supply system according to [1], wherein the communication device further transmits data related to an advanced driver assistance system to the mobile object. [3] the edge server has a selection unit that switches priorities of data related to the wireless power supply and data related to the advanced driver assistance system, the communication device transmits the high-priority data preferentially and suspends transmission of the low-priority data; [2] The contactless power supply system according to [2]. [4] The wireless power supply system according to [3], wherein the selection unit determines a power supply state between the wireless power supply device and the moving body, and switches the priority according to the power supply state. [5] [4] The wireless power supply system according to [4], wherein the selection unit increases the priority of data related to the wireless power supply when the power supply state indicates that power is being supplied, and increases the priority of data related to the advanced driver assistance system when the power supply state indicates that power is not being supplied. [6] a control unit that calculates a power supply value for each pair of the moving object and the contactless power supply device; and an integrated control unit that controls the sum of the power supply values ​​to be equal to or less than a maximum value of the amount of power that can be supplied. The contactless power supply system according to any one of [1] to [5]. [7] A method executed by a contactless power supply system including a contactless power supply device and an edge server capable of communicating with the contactless power supply device and a mobile object, relaying data related to contactless power supply transmitted from one of the contactless power supply device and the mobile object to the other by the edge server without performing direct wireless communication between the contactless power supply device and the mobile object; and wirelessly feeding power to the moving object by the wireless power feeding device based on the relayed data related to the wireless power feeding. Contactless power supply method. [Explanation of symbols]

[0147] 1, 1A, 1B, 1C Contactless Power Supply System 10. Contactless power supply device 11 Power circuit 12 Control device 20 Mobile 21 Battery 22 Power circuit 23 Location information acquisition device 24 Wireless communication devices 25 Control device 30, 30A, 30B, 30C Edge Server 31 Communication equipment 32 Storage device 33 Support Department 34 Selection section 35 Control Unit 36 Integrated Control Unit M1 First power line communication modem M2 Second power line communication modem N Communication Network P power grid

Claims

1. a contactless power supply device; an edge server capable of communicating with the wireless power supply device and a mobile object, the edge server has a communication device that relays data related to contactless power supply transmitted from one of the contactless power supply device and the mobile object to the other, The non-contact power supply device does not directly communicate wirelessly with the moving object. Contactless power supply system.

2. The wireless power transfer system according to claim 1 , wherein the communication device further transmits data relating to an advanced driver assistance system to the mobile object.

3. the edge server has a selection unit that switches priorities of data related to the wireless power supply and data related to the advanced driver assistance system, the communication device transmits the high-priority data preferentially and suspends transmission of the low-priority data; The contactless power supply system according to claim 2 .

4. The contactless power supply system according to claim 3 , wherein the selection unit determines a power supply state between the contactless power supply device and the moving body, and switches the priority in accordance with the power supply state.

5. 5. The wireless power transfer system according to claim 4, wherein the selection unit increases the priority of data related to the wireless power transfer when the power transfer state indicates that power is being transferred, and increases the priority of data related to the advanced driver assistance system when the power transfer state indicates that power is not being transferred.

6. a control unit that calculates a power supply value for each pair of the moving object and the contactless power supply device; and an integrated control unit that controls the sum of the power supply values ​​to be equal to or less than a maximum value of the amount of power that can be supplied. The contactless power supply system according to claim 1 .

7. A method executed by a contactless power supply system including a contactless power supply device and an edge server capable of communicating with the contactless power supply device and a mobile object, relaying data related to contactless power supply transmitted from one of the contactless power supply device and the mobile object to the other by the edge server without performing direct wireless communication between the contactless power supply device and the mobile object; and wirelessly feeding power to the moving object by the wireless power feeding device based on the relayed data related to the wireless power feeding. Contactless power supply method.

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